May 24th, 2025

Alumni Trailblazer Interview with Chaitali Sengupta (B.tech/CSE/1992)

IITKGP Foundation 

In this episode of Alumni Trailblazers, we feature a conversation with Chaitali Sengupta, a distinguished IIT Kharagpur alumna, having earned her B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering in 1992. She further advanced her education with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University. Chaitali then built an impressive global career in wireless communications: as Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Texas Instruments, she was named one of MIT Tech Review’s “Top 100 Innovators Under 35” in 2004. Later, she held leadership roles at Qualcomm and Reliance Jio, and is now CEO and co‑founder of Cirrus360, a startup delivering 5G RAN‑automation solutions.

In this enlightening conversation, Chaitali shares:

• Her evolution from IIT KGP to leading-edge careers — from foundational research and industry trailblazing to executive leadership in telecom .
• Breakthroughs in wireless innovation — her role in reducing power consumption for 3G devices, earning her MIT recognition.
• Startup insights — the story behind Cirrus360’s mission to automate 5G Radio Access Networks and the challenges of pioneering in this space.
• Reflections on female leadership in tech — her path as a woman in STEM, balancing vision and impact at each career milestone.

Tune in to discover how Chaitali's IITKGP roots shaped a powerful trajectory in global innovation, what motivates her drive today, and the lessons she’d pass on to the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.

In this episode of Alumni Trailblazers, we feature a conversation with Chaitali Sengupta, a distinguished IIT Kharagpur alumna, having earned her B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering in 1992. She further advanced her education with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University. Chaitali then built an impressive global career in wireless communications: as Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Texas Instruments, she was named one of MIT Tech Review’s “Top 100 Innovators Under 35” in 2004. Later, she held leadership roles at Qualcomm and Reliance Jio, and is now CEO and co‑founder of Cirrus360, a startup delivering 5G RAN‑automation solutions.

In this enlightening conversation, Chaitali shares:

• Her evolution from IIT KGP to leading-edge careers — from foundational research and industry trailblazing to executive leadership in telecom .
• Breakthroughs in wireless innovation — her role in reducing power consumption for 3G devices, earning her MIT recognition.
• Startup insights — the story behind Cirrus360’s mission to automate 5G Radio Access Networks and the challenges of pioneering in this space.
• Reflections on female leadership in tech — her path as a woman in STEM, balancing vision and impact at each career milestone.

Tune in to discover how Chaitali's IITKGP roots shaped a powerful trajectory in global innovation, what motivates her drive today, and the lessons she’d pass on to the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.