Piyush Shah on Agentic AI, Masala Chai, and Two Decades of Transformation at Bridgenext

With 20 years at Bridgenext, Piyush Shah has seen just about everything—from building engineering teams from the ground up to spearheading next-gen digital transformations. As Vice President of Engineering, he’s still energized by the challenge of solving complex problems and empowering teams to drive meaningful change. In this conversation, Piyush opens up about his journey from medical school to software innovation, his favorite fuel for productivity, and why agentic AI could redefine the future of work:

Bridgenext Team Stats:

• Name: Piyush Shah
• Location (City, Country): Chicago, IL
• Role at Bridgenext: Vice President of Engineering
• How long have you been with Bridgenext? 20 years (yes, two decades!)
• What’s your favorite go-to snack or drink to power through a workday? A warm cup of Masala Chai is my ultimate fuel. It’s the perfect pick-me-up that keeps me going through long meetings and brainstorming sessions.
• What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I’m a big fan of kids’ cartoon series and animated movies—Disney is my absolute favorite. I never miss a good animated adventure, and I probably enjoy them just as much (if not more!) than my kids.

• How did you get into the field of engineering and technology? Share your career journey:

  Believe it or not, it started in medical school—briefly! A few months in, I realized I was more passionate about logic than life sciences. I switched to engineering, drawn by a love for math and computers. After earning my B.E., I began at a multinational firm but quickly realized I thrived better in the fast-paced, curious world of startups. I joined a small team, dove into systems programming, and never looked back. Along the way, I took a couple of meaningful detours—earning a master’s in computer science and co-founding a healthcare startup. But what really stuck with me was the joy of solving real-world problems and building things that mattered.

• What excites you most about leading transformational digital initiatives at Bridgenext?

  Seeing real impact. For me, it’s not about building tech for tech’s sake—it’s about unlocking value. Leading transformation initiatives means helping businesses reimagine how they operate, scale, and serve, using technology as a growth engine. The best part? Watching innovation go from concept to measurable change.

• Tell us about a project that you’re particularly proud of. What was the impact?

  A recent legacy modernization project for a logistics client stands out. We migrated 18+ Polymer-based apps to React—on a tight deadline. We approached this by crafting a tailored, AI-augmented migration strategy that allowed us to accelerate the process without compromising quality. It wasn’t just about rewriting code—it was about reimagining the front-end experience to align with modern standards and future scalability.

  The impact was significant:

  • Faster Time-to-Market – Our automated approach sped up delivery by 40%.
  • Cost Efficiency – We helped reduce operational costs by 30%.
  • Future-Proofing – Migrating to React ensured long-term maintainability, better developer support, and alignment with evolving technology standards.

  Beyond the numbers, it was the synergy between teams and the bold, modern architecture we delivered that made it a standout project for me.

• What’s a tech trend that you think will reshape the industry in the next 5 years?

  One of the most transformative trends we’ll see over the next five years is the rise of agentic AI—autonomous, goal-oriented systems capable of independently executing complex tasks across entire workflows. Unlike traditional automation which follows rigid scripts, agentic AI can reason, adapt, and make decisions based on dynamic inputs.

  We’re moving from “assistive” AI to AI that can act independently – optimizing operations, handling customer support, writing code, or driving insights. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about working alongside them to supercharge productivity.

  In industries like transportation & logistics, healthcare, financial services, and software development, agentic AI will help organizations respond faster to change, uncover insights sooner, and deliver more personalized experiences at scale. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility—governance and transparency will be key.

• Which tool, software, or framework do you rely on daily and why?

  Python’s my go-to, especially for automation, prototyping, or data wrangling. On the leadership side, I lean on tools that give visibility into delivery health, architecture decisions, and team velocity.

  I like staying close to both the code and the customer—it keeps my work grounded and strategic.

• What’s one innovation in digital transformation that you find particularly exciting?

  One innovation that I find particularly exciting is AI-powered business automation. As someone focused on enabling organizations to leverage technology effectively, I see this as a powerful leap forward. It builds on efforts to modernize legacy processes and takes them to the next level by integrating machine learning, natural language processing, and intelligent automation. It is a game changer.

  Think smarter operations, better customer experiences, and real-time decision-making – while freeing up teams to focus on higher-value work. It’s not just automation, it’s orchestration for the modern enterprise.

• What do you love most about working with your team at Bridgenext?

  The energy. We’re a bunch of curious, creative people who love solving problems together. It’s a culture where every voice matters, and innovation is everyone’s job.

  The team’s openness, adaptability, and shared hunger to build meaningful solutions is what makes it a joy to show up every day.

• How do you foster innovation and collaboration within your team?

  For me, fostering innovation and collaboration starts with creating a culture where people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to think differently. I focus on a few core principles to make this happen:

  • Open communication – No idea is too small or too wild.
  • Cross-functional collabs – Fresh perspectives = better outcomes.
  • Safe space to experiment – We learn by trying, failing, and iterating.
  • Growth mindset – Encourage exploration, training, and tinkering.
  • Agile culture – Fast feedback loops keep us sharp and aligned.
  • Celebrate wins – Big or small, recognition fuels momentum.

  At the heart of it is trust—people do their best work when they feel seen, supported, and inspired.

• What’s a defining moment in your career that shaped your leadership style?

  I began my career deep in systems programming—living and breathing operating system kernels. I was a hardcore technologist, with strong opinions and very specific preferences when it came to tools and architecture. The real shift came when I was asked to get things done through others, rather than doing everything myself. That changed everything. I moved from being the one writing the code to enabling others to do it better, faster, and smarter.

  Now, I focus on empowering teams, aligning with outcomes, and building a space where people can thrive. That transformation shaped my style into one that’s collaborative, outcome-driven, and focused on empowering others. And honestly, it’s made the journey a lot more fun and meaningful.

• What’s your favorite productivity hack or habit?

  “Draft first, perfect later.”

  I believe in brain-dumping first—typos, half-baked ideas, all of it. Perfection can wait. Momentum can’t.

• Favorite quote or motto that inspires you?

  “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Whether it’s navigating legacy codebases, leading cutting-edge AI transformations, or just embracing the messy magic of a first draft, Piyush’s journey emphasizes that progress is rarely linear, but it’s always rewarding. It’s about staying curious, building with purpose, and collaborating with a team that makes the ride worth it.

Here’s to bold ideas, collaborative energy, and chasing the next challenge—with a little humor and a whole lot of heart.

Stay tuned for more insights from our engineering leadership team in future editions of Meet the Team.