Pushing the boundaries of global technology
With over 14 years of experience, the young and spirited Devakinandan Panda has consistently pushed the boundaries of technology with groundbreaking projects at Amazon Fulfillment, Amazon Last Mile, and Roblox. Dedicated to innovation, leadership, and delivering impactful results, he’s passionate about sharing his knowledge with others and committed to the success of the teams he works with.
Devakinandan’s passion lies in using technology to solve complex challenges and improving people’s lives. “I’m drawn to industries where there is a real problem to solve and technology can create a real impact rather than pure profitability, and I thrive in environments that challenge me to think strategically while still diving deep into the technical details. Whether it’s optimizing delivery routes or improving user experience in a metaverse, my ability to see both the big picture and the technical aspects allow me to develop solutions that are both scalable and efficient.”
Devakinandan was born and raised across India. His father worked as a government servant and his mother is a homemaker. The family moved around a lot due to his father’s job and thus, Devakinandan discovered technology very early in his life. He always enjoyed Maths and Physics in school and as he got into college, his fascination for technology also grew. He would spend hours in science and computer labs. As part of a science project, he even built a robot which could lift objects and move them.
This is when he knew that he wanted to contribute to the industry by building systems that could solve real-world problems. It led him to pursue a B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Calicut.
He then began his career at Amazon at Hyderabad, India, where he worked on re-inventing amazon’s reverse-logistics. After 3 years, he then moved to Seattle, USA to lead the Amazon Inventory organization and eventually Amazon’s Last Mile technologies. He spent over 10 years designing and building large-scale systems that transformed reverse logistics, inventory management systems, and delivery systems. He led teams in Amazon’s Last Mile and Amazon Inventory organizations, leading projects with multi-million dollar impact.
After Amazon, he joined Roblox, continuing to lead high-impact projects. At Roblox, Devakinandan works on making the avatar experience seamless and rich in the metaverse.
The idea behind his career has always been to push the boundaries of technology, whether through enhancing operational efficiency or creating engaging user experiences. Through both triumphs and challenges, his focus has always been on solving complex problems and delivering meaningful results that positively impact customers and businesses.
Among his biggest challenges has been balancing professional and personal life, especially in a high-demand industry like technology. “Technology is constantly changing and I need to keep up with it. I focus on setting clear priorities and managing my time efficiently. I exercise, eat healthy, and sometimes meditate. I also believe in the importance of taking breaks and recharging mentally to maintain productivity and creativity. Being transparent with my team and family about my commitments has helped me create a healthy balance. Additionally, leveraging a support system and learning to delegate tasks effectively has allowed me to meet the demands of both my professional and personal responsibilities.”
As a result, Devakinandan has received numerous awards for excellence in operational excellence, project management, and innovation. He is most proud of leading and building Amazon’s Grocery delivery technology initiative, which helped customers get grocery delivery within 2 hours at affordable prices. He is also proud of many other initiatives he worked on, such as the Rolling-Stone migration which resulted in billions of dollars in savings for Amazon. At Roblox, he led high-impact projects that helped scale Roblox from 22 million DAU to 80 million DAU in just 2 years.
His strengths include problem-solving, strategic thinking, and collaboration. His ability to lead teams through complex challenges is something which has helped him immensely. On the other hand, a learning area for him has been learning when to delegate. Earlier in his career, Devakinandan would try to handle too much himself, but he has since learned the importance of trusting his team and empowering them to take ownership of tasks.
Today, he has emerged as a promising leader in the global tech industry. Sharing his mantra for others, Devakinandan says, “The tech industry is ever-evolving, and staying ahead requires both adaptability and curiosity. Don’t be afraid to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. Success comes from perseverance, collaboration, and the desire to push the boundaries of what may seem impossible. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the tech industry, and I’m committed to being a part of the positive changes that lie ahead.”
