Engineering What’s Next: Celebrating Engineers Week 2026

Engineers at Coupa are shaping what’s next, through code, curiosity, impact, and a shared commitment to building better systems for people and businesses.


In celebration of Engineers Week 2026, we asked a few of our engineers how they’re transforming the future: their own, Coupa’s, and the communities we serve.


Their answers reflect a profession grounded in purpose, growth, and possibility.

From Curiosity to Customer Trust: Abhishek Pandey, Software Engineer


Abhishek’s engineering journey began by experimenting with modded apps in school and trying to understand how systems worked beneath the surface.


“That early spark still drives me today, whether I’m digging into a complex issue or collaborating across teams to solve real customer problems.”


At Coupa, Abhishek owns a microservice responsible for inbound invoicing for a government client, a critical component of compliant invoicing.

 During the implementation, he helped resolve integration challenges by focusing on root causes and aligning the right teams quickly.


For Abhishek, engineering goes beyond functionality. “When systems work seamlessly, customers can focus on growing their business instead of fighting technology. What we build isn’t just code, it’s trust.”


Joining Coupa as a newcomer to Ruby on Rails, Abhishek was given the time and trust to deeply understand the platform. That ownership changed his perspective.


“Engineering stopped being about making things work. It became about building systems that are reliable, secure, and scalable.”


His advice for aspiring engineers: “Stay curious. Learn by building. Focus on understanding why something works — not just how.”

From Hardware Roots to System Design: Nitin Salunke, Senior Lead Engineer


Nitin’s path into engineering started with hardware and a fascination with how physical components worked together. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a passion for software architecture.


“Hardware provides the skeleton. Software provides the soul.” Today, as a Senior Lead Engineer, Nitin oversees architecture within the Sourcing Module, an infrastructure that supports millions of RFQs and auctions globally.

“At Coupa’s scale, even small optimizations create real-world impact. We’re building infrastructure for global trade.”


Nitin is currently helping integrate AI Agents into sourcing workflows, moving beyond traditional UI toward intelligent systems that reduce cognitive load and enable more strategic decision-making.


“We’re implementing AI in real-world environments where accuracy and reliability are non-negotiable.”


His growth at Coupa mirrors that evolution. Starting as a “team of one” in India, he expanded into architectural stewardship, mentorship, and global collaboration.


“An engineer’s value isn’t just in the code they write but it’s in the standards they uphold and the teams they help build.”


His advice: “Focus on the problem you want to solve. Keep building. Engineering is a craft — and your perspective is an asset.”

More Engineers Shaping What’s Next


Engineers Week is also an opportunity to revisit the stories of Coupanians whose journeys continue to inspire.

From Relocation to Belonging: Mehnaz Bano, Lead Software Engineer

In her first year at Coupa, Mehnaz relocated from Berlin to Pune and discovered more than professional growth. She also found belonging. Her story reflects how engineering excellence and human connection go hand in hand. Read more: #My1stYearatCoupa:
Four Stories of Growth, Purpose, and Community.

From Problem Solver to Inventor: Chien-Yi Tsai, Patent Holder

Chien-Yi wasn’t thinking of earning a patent but set out to solve meaningful problems. His curiosity about smarter supply chain route modeling led to U.S. Patent No. 12481936, demonstrating how innovation happens when curiosity meets opportunity. Read more: The Power of Curiosity:
How Chien-Yi Tsai Turned an Idea into a Patent at Coupa

Engineering Simplicity at Scale: Anand Deshpande – Smart Intake & Orchestration

Anand helped lead the development of Smart Intake & Orchestration (SIO), transforming complex request workflows into intuitive, human-centered experiences across the Coupa platform. His work exemplifies innovation rooted in empathy. Read more:
Building Simplicity Through Smart Intake & Orchestration

Scaling the Cloud with Precision: Krati Bansal – Sr. Cloud Software Engineer

A Standout Performer award winner, Krati has led critical frontend containerization efforts that make Coupa’s cloud infrastructure faster, more resilient, and more scalable. Beyond technical excellence, she’s a mentor and force multiplier for her peers. Read more:
Shining Bright: Meet Coupa India’s Standout Performers

Engineering the Future, Together


At Coupa, engineering isn’t just about technical skill:

  • It’s about curiosity that drives deeper understanding.
  • Ownership that accelerates growth.
  • Architecture that scales with intention.
  • Innovation that serves real businesses.


And above all, it’s the impact that extends beyond code.


As we celebrate Engineers Week 2026, we honor the engineers who are transforming their futures while shaping ours.


If you’re inspired by these stories and ready to build systems that power global commerce, explore
Coupa Careers and join our Talent Community.


At Coupa, the future isn’t just imagined, it's engineered!

By Nora Clark March 11, 2026
Meaningful progress is driven by people who take ownership, collaborate deeply, and consistently raise the bar for what’s possible. Each month, Coupa’s India Leadership Team recognizes individuals who exemplify our values through the Standout Performer Award . This recognition celebrates Coupanians whose contributions make a tangible impact on our teams, our customers, and the business while living our values to Drive Success for #AllOfUs, Own Our Results, Cultivate Belonging, and Build Tomorrow Together. We’re proud to spotlight our December 2025 India Standout Performer Award winners, whose work reflects the heart of Coupa’s culture: proactive, innovative, and people-centered. Meet the winners:
By Nora Clark March 11, 2026
At Coupa, we believe that progress happens because of people who go beyond what’s expected to drive impact, support others, and help shape what’s next. That’s why recognition is such an important part of our culture. As part of our continued commitment to celebrating standout contributions across the business, Coupa’s India Leadership Team recognizes employees each quarter through the Extra Mile Award . This award honors individuals who exemplify our values: Drive Success for #AllOfUs, Own Our Results, Cultivate Belonging, and Build Tomorrow Together through meaningful, real-world impact. We’re proud to spotlight our Q4 2025 India Extra Mile Award winners , whose dedication and leadership continue to raise the bar for excellence at Coupa. Meet the winners:
March 5, 2026
Leading Change Through Everyday Impact As we kick off Women’s History Month , our Coupa Empower employee resource group is honoring the women whose leadership, influence, and care move our teams, culture, and communities forward — often in ways that aren’t always visible. This year’s theme, Leading the Change , recognizes the builders, mentors, problem-solvers and quiet leaders whose impact shapes how we grow and work together. The Unsung Heroines program highlights employees whose journeys, advocacy, and influence create lasting progress — not just for Coupa, but for the people around them. These are the stories that remind us that recognition isn’t a single moment. It's something we build into our culture every day.
By Nora Clark February 20, 2026
As we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, our global village comes together to celebrate Lunar New Year — a moment for renewal, reflection, and bold forward momentum for #AllOfUs. This year’s celebration is led by our Coupa Exceed Employee Resource Group, whose leadership continues to create space for cultural connection, shared learning, and deeper belonging across our communities. Through its programming and storytelling, Exceed ERG helps turn moments like this into meaningful global experiences for all Coupanians. In the lunar zodiac, the Horse symbolizes energy, progress, and determination. The Fire element brings passion, visibility, and transformation. That spirit comes to life in how Exceed leads this celebration: Moving with purpose Amplifying voices and traditions Bringing our global community closer together From red envelopes and reunion dinners to travel, lanterns, and time with loved ones, Lunar New Year reminds us that while our backgrounds may be different, the values that connect us are shared.
February 11, 2026
As we continue our Black History Month celebration, Coupa’s Engage employee resource group is proud to spotlight more voices whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of Black innovation in technology. Building on our first feature, this blog highlights Coupanians whose paths into tech weren’t always linear but whose perspectives are shaping how technology, people, and possibility intersect at Coupa. Through the stories of Elise Huggins, Rashida Jones, and Johnny White, we’re reminded that innovation is strongest when it’s grounded in imagination, inclusion, and human purpose.
February 9, 2026
As Coupa celebrates 20 years of innovation, growth, and impact, it’s the people who’ve grown alongside the company who best reflect what that journey really looks like. For Sukhada Bardapurkar, Partner Success Manager, the last 10 years at Coupa have been shaped by curiosity, connection, and a deep sense of ownership in the results she helps deliver. “At every stage of my career here, I’ve genuinely cared about the impact of my work and how it enables both me and the team to move forward,” Sukhada shares. “Owning results motivates me and it pushes me to stay curious and solve problems proactively.”
February 6, 2026
At Coupa, we believe great work deserves to be recognized, not just for outcomes but for the commitment, ownership, and impact it brings. From weekly wins to milestone achievements, celebrating excellence is part of how we show up for one another. As part of our evolving rewards and recognition program, the Coupa India Leadership Team introduced the Standout Performer Award (Monthly) and Extra Mile Award (Quarterly) to spotlight Coupanians whose contributions drive individual, team, and business success. We’re proud to recognize our Stan dout Performer Award winner for November 2025 and invite you to join us in celebrating his achievement.
January 30, 2026
As we celebrate Black History Month, Coupa’s Engage employee resource group honors the resilience, creativity, and leadership of Black pioneers whose innovation has shaped technology and artificial intelligence. This year’s theme, “ Innovation and the Impact of Black Pioneers in Tech and AI ,” recognizes trailblazers who challenged barriers, introduced new ways of thinking, and built pathways for future generations. Through the voices of Coupanians across our organization, we celebrate how those legacies continue to inspire us to innovate with purpose, push boundaries, and help shape what’s next at Coupa.
Team sitting at table enjoying lunch
By Nora Clark January 16, 2026
Chien-Yi Tsai’s career hasn’t followed a straight line, and that’s exactly what led him to innovation. Looking back, Chien-Yi doesn’t see a single defining moment that made him an inventor. Instead, he sees a series of questions, challenges, and moments of curiosity that gradually shaped him into the engineer he is today. His focus was never on earning a patent, but on continuous learning, solving meaningful problems, and pushing beyond what felt comfortable. “I never set out with the goal of becoming a patent inventor,” Chien-Yi shares. “I was focused on learning, solving real problems, and pushing myself beyond what felt comfortable.” That mindset ultimately led him to Coupa, and to invention. A Career Built on Curiosity Like many engineers, Chien-Yi’s early career was about building strong foundations: understanding how systems work, weighing technical tradeoffs, and learning how technology can solve real business challenges. Each role added depth such as stronger technical skills, broader systems thinking, and a growing appreciation for collaboration. When Chien-Yi joined Coupa, he entered an environment that actively encouraged curiosity. The challenges weren’t neatly packaged; they were complex, evolving, and deeply connected to real-world supply chain operations. That complexity pushed him to think bigger and approach problems more creatively. Before Coupa, Chien-Yi didn’t consider himself an “inventor.” He saw himself as a problem solver. Over time, he realized the distinction wasn’t as clear as he once thought. “I didn’t think of myself as an inventor but more of a problem solver,” he says. “Over time, I realized those two things aren’t very different.” The Spark Behind the Patent The idea that eventually became a patent began with a simple question: How can supply chains become smarter, faster, and more efficient as new delivery methods emerge? As delivery models continue to evolve, Chien-Yi became increasingly interested in how emerging transportation capabilities could be thoughtfully integrated with traditional logistics networks. That curiosity led to deeper exploration of how different modes of delivery could operate together within a single system. As Chien-Yi thought more about the increasing viability of drones, it became clear to him that they could play a meaningful role in logistics. But integrating aerial delivery with traditional ground transportation introduced an entirely new layer of complexity. What started as informal conversations and rough concepts evolved into a structured exploration of how to model routes that intelligently combine aerial and ground delivery assets, accounting for capabilities, constraints, and user preferences. The challenge wasn’t just technical; it required rethinking how multiple transportation modes could operate as one unified system. Chien-Yi credits his colleague at the time, Hafiz Hasan, as a key partner in the ideation and patenting process. “Hafiz played a major role in shaping the idea and writing the patent,” Chien-Yi notes. “I learned a tremendous amount from working with him.”
January 9, 2026
Innovation doesn’t always start with a job description. In some cases, it starts with curiosity. For Keerthi Raghavendra, now an Associate Product Manager on Coupa’s AI & Analytics team, that curiosity turned into a passion project, and ultimately, a career-defining opportunity.
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