| who is reverent of his upbringing and culture. Kalla is the owner and CEO of Symphony Corporation, an IT company in Madison that provides global consulting and technology services. His career choice makes sense considering where he came from. Hyderbad is considered one of the most "developed" cities in India and has been called the emerging IT and biotech hub of India. At the same time, Hyderbad is a city that is rich in culture, history, and architecture. The city was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1590 and has all of the majestic architecture to reflect its rich history. In its own way, Hyderbad is a city filled with dichotomy or as some have called it, "a potpourri of both old and new." On one hand, the city reflects an emerging tech-savvy future. On the other, Hyderabad is a 400-and-some-year old city where Hindus and Muslims have coexisted for centuries. Kalla was raised in Hyderabad during a time of social change in the Indian government. His father ran a privately owned power company (and still does) and his mother stayed at home with him and his three sisters. Kalla and his family were the very privileged few in India. They were among the elite 2% of the population that owned the majority of the land. They had a nice home, cooks, gardeners, and chauffeurs. Kalla, however, was not unaware of the poverty that surrounded him. "I was quite privileged growing up," Kalla said. "You grow up accepting things." But Kalla saw a level of poverty in India that he says goes well beyond the level of poverty in the United States. "It's difficult for people here to understand," he said. "'Poor' here often means not have a nice [vehicle] or a nice apartment." Although they were among the wealthy, Kalla said his family was also very progressive. When the Indian government initiated a land reform program to promote a more equitable distribution of land among landless farmers, Kalla's family willingly complied. Many more landowners found loopholes to avoid the state-initiated program. "I grew up at a time when very few people in India controlled the land," Kalla said. "Our family made a conscious decision to give away a lot of our land. My family is very socially conscious and wanted to do it." Although some dispute on whether different land-reform initiatives have been successful in India existed, Kalla observed that the country was at least working for a more equitable distribution of land. His youth was also a time of social reform in India, with the government initiating programs to alleviate discrimination stemming from India's long-standing caste system. Kalla's family supported this push towards equality. Kalla attended undergraduate school in India and obtained a degree in engineering. He came to the United States to attend graduate school at UW-Madison where he received a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering, as well as structural engineering. He was drawn to Madison because of its "friendliness" and diversity. In the end, it was these things that drew him back to the city to start his own company. "I realized after working in other places [in the United States], that people may not realize what they have here," Kalla said. "It is a very culturally diverse place. Madison is my home. I wanted to stay here." Kalla decided that the best way to stay in Madison was to develop his own job opportunity. He saw the future in technology. "Technology is changing so much," he said. "I thought there must be some opportunity in technology." Since 1997, Kalla has owned and operated Symphony Corporation. Symphony works with a variety of clients including Fortune Global 100 companies and the Wisconsin government. He said his company is at the very forefront of software technology and development. From conception to implementation, Symphony Corporation prides itself on fast development times for its customers and personalized software solutions. Symphony Corporation is also a community partner, giving to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and the UW Health Foundation. They host around three to four Indian events in the local Madison area. In many ways, Kalla is following in the footsteps of his family and the very city he was raised in. Like his parents, he is successful and progressive. Reminiscent of his city, he is a technology leader in Madison, yet he holds on tightly to his cultural identity. It is all of these things that define Kalla and his company. "Assimilation is important, but so is keeping your identity," Kalla said. "Without an identity, you are not an American." |
| Ravi Kalla Blending modern technology and a rich cultural tradition in a symphony by Laura Salinger |
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| Ravi Kalla grew up in the heart of India in a city that is known for both its high-tech economy and ancient cultures. Born in Hyderabad, the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and meeting point for north and southern India, Kalla is a little like the city he grew up in. He is both a high-tech mastermind and a man |
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