HOW ONE IMMIGRANT FOUND BOTH A HOME AND A CALLING

Tel Ganesan wears many hats. He is an entrepreneur and owner of Kyyba Inc., an international consulting conglomerate founded in Michigan more than 20 years ago. He is civically engaged, serving as a board member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, an organization that facilitates business relationships among Asian and U.S.based companies. He is an advocate for education who has created, through his Kyyba Kidz Foundation, a vehicle for improving the lives and educational outcomes for underprivileged kids, assuring they ‘rise to great heights’. He is a community builder, who promotes entrepreneurship and created Pitch Club Michigan to fund startups.

The Indian-born Ganesan grew up in the U.S and attended both Wayne State and the University of Michigan. A mechanical engineer by education and training, he resisted the solicitations from Silicon Valley to build a life and career in the state. “This is the place that made me who I am, and it is ingrained in me to give back to this community. I’m just loyal he laughs.”

Ganesan is one of 4.6 million Asian Indians living in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 22.9 people of Asian descent live in the country and trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, each with unique histories, cultures and languages, far from monolithic. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) and it is appropriate to take this month to revisit the history and contributions by Asian Americans to this country. In fact, Ganesan believes that the rash of violence against Asians associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in this country is derived from a lack of knowledge.

AAPI recognition happens in May for two reasons. First, to commemorate the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843; secondly, to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which upwards of 20,000 Chinese workers helped to construct. The month pays tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the United States’ history and are instrumental in its future success. Ganesan is part of that future as he employs nearly a thousand people working on future-looking technologies like the internet of things (IoT), AI analytics, and cybersecurity.

Reflecting on the fact that the country was founded by immigrants Ganesan says that diversity is the “secret recipe” upon which this country was built. And he notes wryly that you “can’t take Colonel Sanders out of the mix and expect to get the secret recipe right.” Further, he notes that considering the changing demographics, that show the U.S. is becoming a majority-minority, fear-mongering among a few, as it relates to ethnic and racial minorities, only serves to drive class distinctions and create animosities. All of which is bad for our country. Rather, working together to create jobs and opportunities for everyone has a multiplier effect he says.

Dispelling ignorance he says is important, and perhaps he’ll found a school himself to do just that he says. And it wouldn’t be far afield from what he’s done to date pushing an education agenda for his home state. What he knows for sure is what science teaches, we are all evolved from a common DNA no matter our skin color. If America is to remain competitive he says we must fight against divisive politics and infighting. “Real leadership is called for now more than ever. Leadership that ensures our children are properly educated and trained, leadership that puts an end to the opioid crisis once and for all, leadership that keeps America competitive and is alert and responsive to the threats outside our borders,” Ganesan concludes.