In an industry defined by constant change and fierce innovation, few professionals manage to stand out as both technical leaders and community contributors. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Rakesh Kumar Mali, a Delivery Module Lead at Mphasis Corp USA, IEEE Senior Member, Peer-Review Board Member at International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology, Mentor, Independent Researcher, Judge at the prestigious Globee Awards and Fellow at Soft Computing Research Society. With over 14 years of experience in building and delivering scalable enterprise solutions, Rakesh has made remarkable contributions to modern application architectures, cloud transformation, and technology leadership.
In this candid conversation, Rakesh Kumar Mali shares insights on leadership, continuous learning, and the importance of giving back to the tech community.
Q1: Congratulations on your impressive journey so far! Can you start by telling us a little about your current role as a Delivery Module Lead at Mphasis Corp USA?
Rakesh Mali: Thank you for having me! As a Delivery Module Lead, I’m responsible for end-to-end ownership of several mission-critical software delivery modules. My role sits at the intersection of technical leadership, solution architecture, and project execution. I lead a cross-functional team of developers, architects, and QA engineers, ensuring that we deliver scalable, high-performance microservices-based applications that meet both business and technical requirements.
In addition to managing timelines and deliverables, I work closely with product owners, stakeholders, and client teams to translate complex business problems into technical solutions—often involving cloud-native technologies, Java, Spring Boot, and modern DevOps practices. I also mentor team members, promote engineering best practices, and continually look for ways to improve velocity, quality, and collaboration across the development lifecycle.
Ultimately, my goal is to ensure we deliver value, not just software, and to lead with a mindset that balances innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction. It’s a role that demands a balance between technical depth and strategic thinking, and I truly enjoy the challenges it brings every day.
Q2: You’ve been recognized as a Senior Member of IEEE and Fellowship from Soft Computing Research Society. What does that honor mean to you, and how has it impacted your professional journey?
Rakesh Mali: Being recognized as a Senior Member of IEEE and receiving a Fellowship from the Soft Computing Research Society has been a deeply humbling and motivating milestone in my career. It’s a recognition not just of years of experience, but also of professional contributions to the field of engineering and technology. It has opened new doors for collaboration, peer networking, and has deepened my commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.
These honors are not just acknowledgments of past work—they represent a responsibility to contribute more meaningfully to the field and to the broader community of technology professionals and researchers.
These recognitions have validated my commitment to technical excellence, lifelong learning, and innovation, particularly in areas like distributed systems, cloud computing, and AI-integrated architectures. They’ve also expanded my professional network globally, allowing me to collaborate with fellow researchers, contribute to publications, and participate in high-impact conferences and peer reviews.
More importantly, they’ve encouraged me to mentor young professionals, promote knowledge sharing, and advocate for ethical and forward-thinking approaches in tech. I see these honors as both a reward and a responsibility—to keep pushing boundaries while uplifting others in the process.
Q3: You’re also a peer reviewer for a leading international journal. How has working on a review board shaped your perspective on software engineering research?
Rakesh Mali: Serving as a peer reviewer for a leading international journal has significantly broadened my perspective on software engineering research. It places me at the intersection of emerging academic innovation and practical industry application. Reviewing papers has given me early exposure to cutting-edge ideas—some of which challenge conventional thinking and push the boundaries of what’s possible in areas like AI-driven development, system optimization, and security frameworks.
It has also sharpened my critical thinking. Evaluating research for clarity, originality, and technical depth forces me to consider: Is this idea scalable? Can it be applied in real-world systems? What are its ethical and security implications? These are the same questions I now ask more rigorously in my day-to-day engineering leadership.
Most importantly, being a reviewer instills a sense of responsibility—not just to uphold academic standards, but to nurture innovation by providing constructive, respectful, and actionable feedback. It’s a role that deepens my appreciation for the rigor behind impactful research and reminds me that the best engineering solutions often begin with thoughtful inquiry.
Q4: Speaking of mentoring, you volunteer as a mentor at Medium.com and CodePath.org. What motivates you to dedicate time to mentoring, and what advice do you give aspiring engineers?
Rakesh Mali: Mentoring is incredibly rewarding. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who believed in me, and I believe it’s important to pay that forward. I tell aspiring engineers to stay curious, embrace continuous learning, and never be afraid to ask questions. Growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone, and mentoring gives me the chance to help others see and seize those growth opportunities.
Q5: You have authored research papers yourself. What topics do you focus on, and how do you approach writing technical papers?
Rakesh Mali: Yes, I’ve had the privilege of authoring research papers, and my primary focus areas include cloud-native application design, AI integration in enterprise systems, secure microservice architectures, and performance optimization strategies in distributed environments. A good paper not only solves a real-world problem but also contributes new ideas to the academic community. I usually start with a strong hypothesis, validate it with real data, and present the results in a clear, structured manner.
I believe research should be grounded in relevance, so I often reflect on recurring issues or gaps in current technology practices. From there, I explore existing solutions, their limitations, and potential areas for innovation.
My writing process emphasizes clarity and structure. I aim to make complex topics accessible without diluting the technical depth. I also ensure my papers are backed by evidence from implementations, performance benchmarks, or case studies, which adds practical value and credibility.
Most importantly, I treat technical writing as a way to contribute to the community—sharing insights, sparking dialogue, and inviting collaboration. It’s incredibly rewarding to see your ideas evolve into solutions that others build upon or adapt in new ways.
Q6: Being appointed as a Judge at the Globee Awards is another remarkable achievement. How does it feel to be in a position to evaluate innovation at such a high level?
Rakesh Mali: It’s a humbling and inspiring experience. When I get to review groundbreaking technologies and innovative ideas from around the globe, it reminds me how dynamic our industry is and reinforces the idea that learning never stops. It also motivates me to continually raise my own standards of excellence.
Q7: You recently were invited as keynote speaker at an International Conference by the International Scientific Society. How was that experience.
Rakesh Mali: Being invited as a keynote speaker by the International Scientific Society was truly an honor and a great experience. It offered me the opportunity to not just share insights, but also to connect with a global audience of researchers, technologists, and industry leaders who are just as passionate about innovation as I am.
My talk focused on “Reimagining Logistics: The Role of Generative AI in Logistics and Supply Chain Transformation”, a topic that’s both timely and deeply relevant. Preparing for it challenged me to distill complex ideas into a narrative that was insightful, accessible, and forward-looking. What made the experience especially rewarding was the active engagement, where I could see how the ideas resonated with people from diverse technical backgrounds.
But beyond the presentation itself, the experience reaffirmed how critical global collaboration and knowledge-sharing are in shaping the future of technology. It also gave me renewed motivation to keep learning, mentoring, and contributing back to the community.
Q8: You wear so many hats—Delivery Lead, Researcher, Mentor, Judge and Fellow Member. How do you manage your time and maintain balance?
Rakesh Mali: Prioritization and passion are key. I align my activities with my core values: learning, contributing, and leading. I’m meticulous about managing my schedule, setting clear goals, and being present in whatever I’m doing at the moment. It’s not always easy, but when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work—it feels like purpose.
Q9: Finally, what’s next for you? Are there any exciting projects or goals you’re working towards?
Rakesh Mali: Absolutely—there’s a lot I’m excited about moving forward. Right now, I’m deeply involved in leading the modernization of legacy enterprise systems into cloud-native microservices architectures, which not only drives performance and scalability but also aligns with sustainability goals through more efficient computing.
I’m also exploring AI-driven DevOps automation, where predictive analytics and generative tools can transform how we deploy, monitor, and manage applications. On the research front, I’m working on a paper that explores the intersection of AI ethics and enterprise software systems, which I believe is a timely and necessary topic.
Longer term, I aim to contribute more to the global tech community through mentorship, publications, and speaking engagements, while continuing to drive innovation within my organization. It’s an exciting time in tech, and I’m eager to keep pushing the boundaries.
