Amit Zavery graduated from Texas ECE in 1993 with a BS in Electrical Engineering.  We sat down with Amit to learn more about what he is doing now and how Texas ECE helped lead to his success.  

Tell us a little bit about what you are doing now. 

I’m currently Vice President and General Manager and Head of Platform for Google Cloud. In this role I’m responsible for strategy and development of Cloud based Business Application Platform that helps customers build and integrate applications. I’m also responsible for Business Operations of Google Cloud business. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Google Cloud leadership team that grew Google Cloud from around $5B in annual revenue in 2019 to more than $30B in 4 years.   

How did you end up at UT and what path led you there? 

One of my relatives who was a graduate of Texas ECE was visiting India when I was in high school and told me about the great experience and education he had at UT. Given my interest in wanting to study Computer Engineering and based on the recommendation I applied to UT and fortunately got admitted. It was a fortunate meeting that led to an amazing adventure and outcome.   

What is one of the proudest moments in your career in ECE? 

Graduating with Highest Honors while completing a challenging ECE Honors Thesis with Dr. Vijay Garg. If you could provide one positive memory of your time at UT that stands out, what would that be? Has to be the football games and the school spirit. I made so many friends during my undergrad days who I still remain close with even today. The overall welcoming nature of the student body especially for someone like me who was coming to the USA for the first time from India in the pre-Internet days and to make so many friends easily was amazing. There is real application for everything I learnt in my ECE courses at UT and it is important to get a deep understanding of the concepts since most of the technical problems at work can be solved if you understand the key concepts. Also communication skills and narration matters a lot so don’t ignore the liberal arts classes and opportunities to improve communication and presentation skills.  

Who has been a major influence on your life? 

My mother for sure. She was someone who really believed in education and wanted to make sure I went to good schools, got a good education and remained focused on learning. She was a very good STEM student but unfortunately never got to fulfill her potential so she has always guided me and made sure I keep learning and hone my technical skills regularly. 

What is the important lesson you have learned in your career that you wish you could go back and tell your younger self?

There is real application for everything I learnt in my ECE courses at UT and it is important to get a deep understanding of the concepts since most of the technical problems at work can be solved if you understand the key concepts. Also communication skills and narration matters a lot so don't ignore the liberal arts classes and opportunities to improve communication and presentation skills.  

Anything you would like to add for our alumni?

UT changed my life and I'm sure it also changed the lives of many of the alumni. I hope UT alumni stay connected and continue providing their valuable insights and support to ECE department so it remains a top destination for aspiring ECE students around the world.