Left to right (top row): Erica Kim, Daisy De Leon Perez, Steve Pham, Rene Mendoza. Left to right (bottom row): Ashwin Goyal, Niti Shah, Karthik Bhat. (Photo credit: Steve Pham)
USC Viterbi’s Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science and USC Mark and Mary Stevens School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence hosted the first alumni panel, themed “From Trousdale to Tech: Software Engineering,” on April 16, bringing back recent graduates working at top technology companies including Amazon, Google and IBM.
Held at the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall, the program featured a moderated panel discussion followed by a 45-minute speed networking session designed to facilitate smaller group conversations between current students and alumni, as well as an exclusive tour of the building for the alumni. During the speed networking, groups of students rotated between alumni speakers, having a more intimate and personalized discussions on career preparation, technical interviews and navigating the transition into industry.
The event also highlighted the department’s broader effort to strengthen community and prepare students for careers in industry. The event’s organizers emphasized the role of Ginsburg Hall as a collaborative “home base” for students, designed to mirror the atmosphere of modern technology workplaces. During a tour of the building, alumni noted that the study pods, conference rooms and open collaboration spaces reflected office environments they now experience at companies like Amazon and IBM.
USC CS alumni, panelists and current students have discussions after the panel (Photo credit: Steve Pham)
Panelists, Karthik Bhat, a software development engineer at Amazon; Ashwin Goyal, a staff software engineer at IBM; and Niti Shah, a software engineer at Google, shared insights on topics including work-life balance, transitioning from university to industry, and navigating the recruitment and interview process.
“USC CS program played a big role in shaping how I think about building systems at scale,” said Bhat during the panel. “The mix of practical coursework, assignments, and being around ambitious peers really helped me grow and ultimately land where I am today.” Goyal resonated and added that his time at the computer science department gave him “more than just technical depth— the hands-on projects and access to incredible professors pushed me to think beyond the classroom.”
Tips on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Technical Interviews
Throughout the discussion, panelists shared candid advice about entering the technology industry, particularly for international master’s students navigating recruiting and workplace expectations for the first time.
A major theme of the conversation centered on impostor syndrome and the uncertainty many students experience early in their careers.
“Not everyone knows what they’re doing all the time,” panelists said during the discussion.
Reflecting on when they first started their full-time roles, panelists recalled initially believing that their managers and coworkers “knew everything,” only to later realize that many of their peers are “faking it until they make it,” and that self-doubt and mistakes are common, but it is reassuring to know that not everyone is still learning.
When asked about technical interviews, Goyal also encouraged students to show personality and avoid treating the process as purely transactional, explaining that breaking the ice by trying to be humorous when appropriate can help. He further advised students that showing your human side can make interviews feel much less intimidating.
Mentorship and support beyond the classroom
The panelists reflected on the mentorship and support systems that shaped their professional journeys after USC.
Bhat emphasized the long-term impact of the department’s collaborative culture at the school and how the relationships they built outside the classroom continued after graduation.
Goyal recalled computer science professor Laurent Itti as an important mentor who helped him launch his career after graduation.
“During my time at USC, Professor Itti organized a competition in which students designed AI agents to play the game of Go,” Goyal said. The class applied concepts such as minimax algorithms, evaluation functions and search strategies, with student-built agents competing against one another throughout the course. As an incentive, Itti offered Google referrals to the top performers, and Goyal said he finished in the top 10.
“That referral helped me get an interview with Google, so his mentorship and support had a very meaningful impact on my early career journey,” Goyal added.
Itti is a professor of computer science and psychology at the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science.
USC CS alumni panel panelists on stage (Photo credit: Steve Pham)
The event was aimed to foster community and provide students with practical insights and advice into the software engineering field as students finish their journeys at USC. Many students who attended the panel emphasized that the enthusiasm from the panelists and smaller group discussions allowed more intimate and in-depth discussions.
Following positive feedback from both students and alumni, the computer science department plans to expand the alumni panel into a recurring series aimed at strengthening mentorship, industry engagement and community connections.
Published on May 15th, 2026
Last updated on May 15th, 2026