Product Owner
Meet Israt Herminghuysen, a true Buckeye through and through! With over two decades of service at Ohio State, this dedicated product owner on the Enterprise Business Solutions (EBS) team has played a key role in some of the university’s largest tech transformations—from PeopleSoft to Workday. Originally from Bangladesh, she got her start as a cashier in her uncle’s Manhattan pharmacy before becoming a proud first-generation Ohio State graduate. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking for her family, planning travel adventures—especially to national parks—and winding down with movies and meaningful time at home.
Q: What is your role at the university? I am one of the product owners in the Enterprise Business Solutions (EBS) team supporting Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, Absence, and Security functions.
Q: How long have you worked at Ohio State? I joined Ohio State in September 2003.
Q: Have you worked on any large projects since you’ve been here? I have contributed to several major implementations at Ohio State, including the initial rollout of PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (SIS), the Student Semesters Conversion project, the PeopleSoft 9.2 upgrade for Human Capital Management (HCM), and most recently, the Workday implementation.
Q: What are you currently working on? What does a typical day look like for you? We recently launched an updated Absence Calendar in Workday, which is used for submitting time-off requests. A typical day involves collaborating with team members to drive operational and enhancement projects forward, preparing for meetings with business stakeholders, identifying opportunities for future initiatives, and coordinating with other EBS leaders to align resources.
Q: What do you like best about your job? I enjoy collaborating with the team and contributing to solving complex issues whenever possible. There's always something new to learn, and I continue to grow every day.
Q: How do you create and innovate? By staying engaged with the team when designing solutions for business users. I also lead EBS quarterly professional development days by identifying relevant topics, supporting team members in preparing their sessions, and fostering cross-functional learning and innovation.
Q: Did you always know this is what you wanted to do as a career? I had always dreamed of becoming an architect, but during my freshman year, I realized that working with 3D drawings just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Q: How did your career path bring you to work for us? I was recruited for a temporary 6-month developer position on PeopleSoft Finance 8.4 upgrade project.
Q: Why did you choose to work at Ohio State? As a Buckeye I wanted to contribute to the overall success for Ohio State and make a difference for the Ohio State community.
Q: Of what are you most proud? Personally, being a mother. Professionally, Deployment of Workday system during a pandemic.
Q: What was your very first job? I worked at my uncle’s pharmacy as a cashier in Manhattan.
Q: Where did you go to college? I am a first gen grad from Ohio State.
Q: Where are you from originally? Bangladesh
Q: What is your favorite place to visit? Paris, France
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? We just returned from visiting the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Zion—and honestly, we haven’t stopped talking about planning our next trip out West to explore more national parks.
Q: Can you tell us about your family? I have two boys, Nyle and Naveen, both Ohio State students and my husband, Kris. My siblings and my mother all live around Columbus.
Q: What do you do for fun outside of work? Do you have any hobbies? I love to plan for vacation trips when I have time.
Q: What kinds of things are you passionate about outside of work? Cooking & meal planning for the family.
Q: What is something most people might be surprised to know about you? I was born in Bangladesh, lived in NYC for a few years with my extended family before moving to Ohio.
Q: Favorite place to eat in Columbus? I like to eat at Alladins and Windchimes.
Q: Favorite quote? “The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie? Pride and Prejudice
Q: It’s 9 p.m. on a Saturday. What are you doing? Watching a movie with my family and/or debating about what to stream.
Q: Give three adjectives that best describe yourself. Confident, Smart, Reliable
Employee Spotlight June 2025