麻豆传媒

By Elizabeth Egan

The Dean’s Award for Achievement is the highest honor presented by the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), presented annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves through an exceptional professional career.

Akella came to Buffalo from India to pursue a master’s degree in operations research at UB. Akella’s strong affinity for mathematics naturally drew him to the field. After completing his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, Akella said he was attracted to UB for its renowned faculty and accessible tuition, especially in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Akella noted that having come from one of the warmest regions of India, his first Buffalo winter was a memorable first impression to a new way of life. Despite the adjustment to a dramatically different climate, he looks back fondly on his time at UB, especially due to the close relationships he built with his professors.

One of those key mentors was Rajan Batta, now a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and SEAS associate dean for faculty affairs and recognition, who served as Akella’s advisor. Akella credits Batta with inspiring him to pursue a PhD at UB, which was an inflection point that he said shaped the trajectory of his entire career.

He also fondly remembers Moises Sudit, a professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engienering,  whose ability to weave humor into complex topics helped to ease the pressure of some of Akella's more intense PhD courses. Akella said this served as a reminder that even the most rigorous academic journeys can benefit from a touch of humor.

“For the past 20 years, in every chapter of my professional journey—from the roles I’ve taken to the recognitions I’ve received—my doctorate has been a cornerstone,” Akella reflected. “There’s no question that bringing a deep scientific background into corporate decision-making has helped propel my career forward”.

This has remained true in his current position as the senior vice president leading strategy for Walmart US end-to-end operations.

Akella leads Walmart Centroid, a name he coined to represent the fusion of Walmart’s physical asset strategy and digital transformation teams. Akella has served as the the architect behind Walmart’s supply chain transformation, leading initiatives responsible for over $20 billion in capital investment, redefining the company’s logistics and delivery networks.

From the efforts of Akella and his team in last mile catchment design, Akella said Walmart can now reach 93 percent of households in the United States in under 3 hours. He added that the company has seen a significant transformation in eCommerce delivery speeds over the last five years, thanks to a scientific approach in positioning assets and inventory closer to customers.

During his 12-year tenure at Walmart, Akella has also championed digital innovations across inventory, simulation, store productivity systems, and operational intelligence in addition to the physical asset transformation.

Among his proudest accomplishments has been the transformation that he led during his two years at Sam’s Club, Walmart’s membership-based division, where Akella oversaw supply chain operations for eCommerce.

“In that role, I had the opportunity to re-architect the Sam’s Club eCommerce Supply Chain, transitioning the company to a completely different network resulting in significant value in cost, speed of delivery and customer NPS,” said Akella. “Those two years were among the most fulfilling of my career.”

Another milestone that Akella cherishes was his team’s recognition with the prestigious Franz Edelman Award, the highest honor in operations research, for their groundbreaking work in perishable network design.

Prior to joining Walmart, Akella spent two years at Apple in reverse logistics and five years with Deloitte Consulting in supply chain, strategy and operations.­­

In his commencement address, Akella plans to speak about the power and promise of artificial intelligence—and will encourage graduates to prioritize human connection, drawing from two decades of balancing high-stakes leadership with meaningful personal relationships.

Akella currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.