Ajit Kapoor
Meet Ajit! Originally from Kangra, India, Ajit Kapoor made his way to Ohio State as a contractor-turned-full-time staff member. Ajit is a Senior Integration Developer on our Enterprise Business Solutions team. This problem-solver has never met a challenge he didn't enjoy solving with research and team collaboration. Ajit had early dreams of being a musician (his favorite band is Journey!), but quickly found that technology was more his jam. When he’s off the clock, Ajit enjoys hiking, gardening, playing sports with family and friends, and baking Indian breads—he can make eight different varieties!
Q: What is your role at the university? Senior Integration Developer in Enterprise Business Solutions (EBS Team) Supporting - Workday ERP Applications
Q: How long have you worked at Ohio State? 15 plus years full time (earlier 2.5 years as a contractor)
Q: Have you worked on any large projects since you’ve been here? Yes, I have worked on large projects like PeopleSoft 9.2/Autosys r11 Upgrade 2014 and the Workday Implementation Project in 2020.
Q: What are you currently working on? What does a typical day look like for you? Currently I support Workday Integrations for the EBS Supply Chain Team/Business area primarily. A typical day looks like supporting production, enhancing projects in Integrations for Functionality/break-fixes, and supporting and Workday. I work on the fulfillment of business area requests by partnering with OTDI teams and OSU partners like Suppliers.
Q: What do you like best about your job? I like the challenges my job offers to resolve production issues in Workday Integrations area (could be related to anything from networking to partner systems to break-fix). Working with individuals within OTDI teams and business users is the best aspect of my job.
Q: How do you create and innovate? I try to do research for multiple solutions to solve an issue and seek my team’s inputs and provide the best solutions for supporting business areas for applications that can be reused on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Did you always know this is what you wanted to do as a career? I was not sure this would be my career in my early childhood. When I graduated from high school, I had some idea that my job would be technical in nature. In childhood I thought I would become a musician or work in the Army.
Q: How did your career path bring you to work for us? I started working at OSU as a contractor in 2007 on a short-term project that lasted two and a half years. After that, I joined OSU full time after applying to an open position in a similar role in 2009.
Q: Why did you choose to work at Ohio State? Great co-workers, benefits, regular opportunities for professional growth, and supportive leadership.
Q: Of what are you most proud? I am most proud of the repo I’ve built with coworkers at work, and relations with extended family/community in general.
Q: What was your very first job? Software Support Executive (field job at client sites)
Q: Where did you go to college? Delhi University, India
Q: Where are you from originally? Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Q: What is your favorite place to visit? Somewhere near mountains and lakes like the Colorado Rocky Mountains and Interior Himalayas.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? I would love to visit Kashmir, India again (I’ve been there once as a Scout for camp when I was a freshman in high school). It’s a beautiful place surrounded by scenic mountains and lakes, and great hiking trails.
Q: Can you tell us about your family? We are a family of four: I have been married to my wife Anjali for 17 years (she works in a bank); daughter Jayati 15 and son Avin 11 are in high and middle schools.
Q: What do you do for fun outside of work? Do you have any hobbies? As a family we like walking or hiking in metro parks, our neighborhood, and state/national parks. I like to ride my motorcycle Honda Night Hawk 1997 sometimes on weekends or ride to work when possible.
Q: What kinds of things are you passionate about outside of work? I like to do gardening, work around the house, playing volleyball or some other game when get chance with my kids or friends and maintain old items.
Q: What is something most people might be surprised to know about you? I can cook a variety of Indian breads (8 plus or so) like Chapati, Paratha (potato or some other vegetables stuffed bread), and Poori (fried bread). Helped my family/grandparents in farming in early childhood; we used bulls in tilling/ploughing fields.
Q: Favorite place to eat in Columbus? Usually eat at home but occasionally like to go to Brassica Mediterranean and for spicy Indian food Hyderabad House here in town.
Q: Best concert you’ve ever been to? I haven’t been to one in-person, but do like see in videos – Journey and similar artists.
Q: Favorite quote? “Don’t stop believing!”
Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie? Favorite book is “My Experiments with Truth” by MK Gandhi. I enjoy movies like Jurassic Park and Forrest Gump.
Q: It’s 9 p.m. on a Saturday. What are you doing? Mosty at home with family watching a movie or some shows, sometimes visiting friends or having them over for weekend fun.
Q: Give three adjectives that best describe yourself. Sincere, Truthful, Social