Miss Kumudini Gupta (Kumu) is the only indo –american woman, who has ever
“ Sang the american national anthem at a Giants baseball game! “
besides being a single woman, hi tech professional/entrepreneur, community philanthropist and oldest among 5 children, living in USA on her own and giving direction to her siblings and community for past 20 years. Kumu came as a F-1 visa foreign student and today, is a STAR and US Citizen- Things she achieved through her hard work, blessing of parents and God.

Kumu is a hi tech professional, 10 year veteran of Silicon Valley, world headquarters to hi tech and an entrepreneur with her own consulting firm- KUMU Consulting, established in 1995. Kumu came to the US in 1980, at the early age of 18years, for her undergraduate studies to State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNY) and continued for her Master’s degree in Materials Science & Engineering. She was able, on her own effort, to get an independent scholarship from Brookhaven National Labs, for her master’s. During undergraduate, Kumu was often if not the only girl, among 5 female students in a class of 30 engineering students. At Stony Brook, Kumu was an RA (Resident Asstt.) in international dorms, for 3 years in a row and hosted (and produced) LIVE- “Jhankar”, 2years in a row, Indian radio show on WUSB 90.1FM which was listened to, all over Long Island community. Kumu was also Secretary for SWE (Society of Women Engineers).

After completing master’s, just with her pillow and teddy bear, in hand, Kumu came to CA to her friend in Berkeley to pursue her golden dream of working for Applied Materials, in Silicon Valley. Kumu joined Applied in 1988 as a Semiconductor Process Engineer, her dream, for love of semiconductors and since has worked for world class companies like LAM Research and LSI Logic. During her career, Kumu has earned many accolades like Filing a patent on a process she championed, being nominated in Corporate Board of Directors meeting for bonus, due to dedication to customer satisfaction and saving a 700,000$ account during sales cycle, for which she was given title of Executive Champion. In 1995, Kumu was encouraged by close friend and father of Etch technology, Dr. Brian Chapman, to start her own consulting –KUMU Consulting. KUMU Consulting has provided worldwide Sales & Marketing and technical services to renowned clients like Dr Dan Flamm- University of Berkeley and Kaiser Electronics.

Besides work, Kumu has volunteers her time, toward the good of the indo american community and the ‘global community’. Kumu was on the Board of Directors of FIA (Fed. Of Indo-American Ass) 2 terms in a row and Marketing Committee for TiECon’99 in Silicon Valley. Kumu is also advisor to CRY. Kumu was a speaker at the 50th Ann of Human Rights Declaration, Fremont-CA. Kumu worked closely with Consul General Abhyankar for Computers to India project. In 1999, Kumu founded the Indo American Center for Performing Arts, for aspiring artists in music and was able to get funding from Silicon Valley Arts Council and Office of the Mayor of San Jose and Santa Clara Country Supervisor. Kumu’s is also featured on the International Channel website _”We the Citizens”- story’s of prominent US immigrants. During the very first NRI Global Conference, 1998, Kumu worked closely with and was special guest of Chief NRI Commissioner for the Conference, in Delhi (Chaired by PM Vajpayee) and was interviewed on Zee Business for her furthering hi tech trade between India and US and PIO Card. Kumu has appeared on numerous occasions in India Abroad, India West, India Post, Silicon India for her service to Indian community and was approached by Wall Street Journal for write up on women entrepreneurs. Kumu was recognized for her pioneering role in the organizing committee for Hari Om Sharan concert, USA Tour during Iskcon Bicentennial Celebrations. Kumu has also been on BBC Live broadcast, on Hard Talk with Tim Sebastian.

In her spare time, Kumu writes poetry and her poem “Frozen Moment “ was published in American Poetry Anthology and to be released on CD by International Library of Poets. Kumu first started writing in high school and her poem “Mother of Mine” was published in Kuwait Times newspaper. Kumu also writes in hindi and marathi.

Kumu was born in India, but grew up in Kuwait since age 1.5yrs, where her father was with the Ministry of Telecommunications for 30yrs before Desert Storm. Kumu was in top 3 of her class, in high school – Indian School, Kuwait (CBSE affiliated to Central Board-Delhi) and scored highest in TOEFL among the students from her school (2nd highest in all students appearing in Kuwait).

Off late, Kumu was selected to be on the Task Force for Governor Mitt Romney, of Massachusetts (where she is visiting her family) –for appointing more women to the State House, post elections.