Palash Waghmare champions diversity, from working with a wide range of Ansys tools and technology to being authentically himself at work.
My Career Journey
I joined Ansys in September and work as an embedded expert for our fluids business unit in the North American region, which is quite a big chunk of our business.
During my aerospace engineering studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, as well as my previous job, I frequently used Ansys tools for modeling and simulation. After earning my Master of Science, I became more interested in technology and multidisciplinary simulation, which Ansys does a ton of work in now. At the same time, I am a very social person. The position I applied for demanded a good mix of engineering and soft skills, so I feel it all aligned in the right way and at the right time for me.
Graduating with a master's in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in May 2023
How I’d Explain My Job to a Kindergartener
My job is essentially to build “fake” models on a computer, trying to make them look right and function as realistically as possible. And then we just make sure they would look correct and work properly when someone makes a real skyscraper with the help of our computer model.
What I Actually Do
I work as an embedded expert with one of our industrial clients. My expertise is mainly computational fluid dynamics, but with the diversity of tools that Ansys provides, I help evaluate all kinds of physics and simulation needs for the client. It has been a major industrial account for more than 12 years. We compete with some of the biggest companies in our everyday work and come out on top with successful customer stories that go on to better our products. Finally, I connect with the right people to provide the best solutions using our tools.
My Best Advice
As a new employee, it sometimes feels overwhelming with the breadth of engineering tools and applications we have at Ansys. Impostor syndrome can get the better of you. Being courageous in such situations and stepping with confidence and honesty will help you grow and be a valuable team player.
Be authentic, be brave to try new things given the diversity of areas that our tools work in, always connect with new people, and ask limitless questions. There's endless knowledge at Ansys, so one can keep learning forever!
Why I Choose Ansys
Ansys has a combination of extremely supportive people and a plethora of cool engineering problems to always work on — any engineer dreams of these factors. One thing that I really appreciate is the general feeling of humility and honesty from all my peers while being extremely talented in their own fields. It's very rare to find such incredible people to work with.
Additionally, the work culture and balance are great. Being held responsible and trusted to do the right thing by my supervisors and peers instills an immense sense of pride.
Getting Involved
Marching in my first pride parade in San Francisco in June 2023
A long-exposure self-portrait of me and my friend pondering the universe against a glistening Milky Way in New Hampshire in July 2022
I have been working in the corporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging space throughout my career, and I wanted to continue that at Ansys. I am active in oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), a nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ individuals in the STEM community. The nonprofit's annual conference brings together LGBTQ+ recruiters, students, and leaders in STEM fields. In fact, I met Ansys representatives at the oSTEM 2022 conference and got to know about the cool work here at Ansys. Fast forward a few months, and I had the opportunity to be an Anys representative at the oSTEM 2023 conference in Los Angeles. Small world, I know! It was truly surreal to share my journey and story with volunteers and visitors there.
A Sense of Belonging
Belonging means feeling safe to be yourself wherever you feel is important to you and propagating a feeling of safety to your peers. The fact that I had the opportunity to join and get involved in the Ansys Pride Alliance employee resource group in such a short time definitely added to my sense of belonging as well.
Representing my previous organization, along with the head of global diversity, at the RISE diversity conference in Bengaluru, India
Among the Ansys Pride Alliance representatives at the Ansys booth during the oSTEM 2023 conference in California
One Ansys Family
Ansys’ theme this year for Pride Month is “One Family.” Chosen families are extremely important because humans are social animals and everyone has bad days. The world seems to be becoming more hostile toward queer individuals, and hate speech is rampant on social media. In this hyperdigital world that lacks frequent physical connection, it is even more important for LGBTQIA+ individuals to have a support system to feel heard and seen. Having a safe space or a friend you can call and talk to about things can make all the difference. Love should not be conditional, and everyone deserves to give and receive it as much as one wants and needs.
Scuba diving with friends in some of the clearest waters on Earth at the Phi-Phi Islands, Thailand, in January 2023
What You Might Not Know
I am a semiprofessional photographer.
I have played guitar in various bands and performed in more than 10 live shows so far.
I love adventure and traveling. I have covered 21 U.S. states in the past two years and aim to grow that number!
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"Having a safe space or a friend you can call and talk to about things can make all the difference."
— Palash Waghmare
