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At Carnegie Mellon, innovation is at the heart of everything, which is exactly what drew Saisri Akondi in. Motivated by her grandfather’s struggles with diabetes, she joined the Master of Integrated Innovation for Products and Services program with a vision for preventing diabetic foot complications.

At CMU, she grew from a skilled engineer into a multifaceted innovator, co-founding D.Sole, a smart insole that helps catch early signs of diabetic foot issues. With support from the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, she won the McGinnis Venture Competition and caught the attention of investors.

The university’s emphasis on collaboration and leadership helped her navigate the human side of team dynamics and refine her product to meet real-world demands. Now a Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Saisri sees CMU as the launchpad for her mission — a place that gave her the tools, support and inspiration to make real change in diabetic care.

By Eric Hoffman and Kate Flynn