Pune’s 21-year-old Sayonee Yazad Bhumgara, from MIT ADT University – School of Computing, achieved a significant academic milestone by being the only undergraduate student to be honored with a gold medal, during her convocation ceremony, which marked the completion of her Bachelor’s degree in Technology in Computer Science Engineering.

Consistently ranking first among 340 students in the Computer Science Engineering department, across all eight semesters, Sayonee achieved the distinction of being the top-ranking student across all engineering disciplines for the 2020-2024 cohort. With a CGPA of 9.34, she was the only undergraduate student to be honored with a gold medal, which was presented to her by the Governor of Maharashtra, C P Radhakrishnan, during the convocation ceremony, on 23^rd September, 2024.

Having completed her schooling from St. Felix High School (2018), and HSC (Science) from Nowrosjee Wadia College (2020), Sayonee brushed her business skills with an online course during her college tenure, and went on to launch her own venture, ‘Stikurrr’, offering digital illustrations, customised stickers, gift hampers, and handwritten letters – thus nurturing her creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

But there’s more to Sayonee’s dynamism! Speaking with Parsi Times, Sayonee shares, “Beyond academics, I have presented research papers at multiple international conferences, demonstrating my passion for applying technology to real-world challenges.” A fierce advocate for women in technology, she’s actively involved in communities including Google Women Techmakers and IEEE Women in Engineering, where she works toward empowering women in the tech space. She also enjoys traveling and graphic design, which further fuels her creative pursuits through her enterprise – ‘Stikurrr’.

And what’s plans for the future? “Currently, I’m working as a Software Engineer at UBS India. Looking forward, I aim to transition into a product management role with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence. In the long term, I aim to make a meaningful contribution to the tech industry by developing innovative products that positively impact lives and champion the advancement of women in technology.”

Here’s wishing Sayonee the very best in her future endeavours!