Kristy Sundjaja (W’99, ENG’00, GEN’00) is currently the Chief People Officer at Taboola, an advertising and tech company best known for providing a recommendation engine for websites such as NBCU. In this Q&A, Sundjaja reflects on her time at Penn as a first-generation student and recalls a professor who taught her a memorable lesson about engineering one of life’s most complex problems: human interactions.
Tell us about your experience at Penn.
My experience at Penn was truly transformative. One of the things that set Penn apart was the academic freedom it offered. I had the opportunity to design my own interdisciplinary program, drawing from various departments to create a truly personalized education that aligned perfectly with my interests.
On campus, I met so many bright individuals from all over the world, each with their own unique passions and perspectives. It was inspiring to see how driven everyone was to make a difference in their communities and beyond. And of course, it wasn’t all work and no play. I have amazing memories of Penn’s social scene — the parties, the performances, and even those late nights in the lab (believe it or not, those could be fun too!). I met some truly incredible people there who are still my closest friends today.
What was your most impactful moment at Penn?
I can still picture it: I said goodbye to my brother and stepped into the Quad. As an international, first-generation student, everything felt new and unfamiliar. I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about this brand-new chapter of my life.
That moment was significant because it truly marked the beginning of my journey in the United States. The next five years at Penn were a period of immense growth and learning for me. The campus is a place that reminds me of all the possibilities that the University helped create in my life.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’m a huge foodie whose passion for cooking actually blossomed at Penn. I also took a preceptorial course about writing restaurant reviews, which led to a fantastic perk: a free meal at Susanna Foo. Let’s just say writing a 5-star review for that meal wasn’t exactly a challenge!
Which professor had the greatest impact on you and why?
Dr. Nelson Dorny, who is now a Professor Emeritus in Electrical and Systems Engineering. I learned an invaluable lesson in his Systems 390 class that has stayed with me throughout my career. He emphasized that we need to collaborate effectively with diverse individuals who have different perspectives, personalities and goals.
In Systems 390, we worked in groups of three, and Dr. Dorny intentionally paired us with classmates who had both similar and completely opposite personality types. I remember begging him to switch my group at one point because it was so challenging to work with certain individuals, but he insisted that as engineers, we had to learn to problem solve, even when the “problem” was related to human interaction.
That experience taught me so much about leadership, management, compromise and enrolling others in a shared vision. It also laid the foundation for my career path. It’s probably no coincidence that 15 years later, I find myself as the Chief People Officer at a tech company.
What inspires you to give to Penn?
Education transforms lives. My time at Penn was truly formative, and I want to ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunities to discover themselves and reach their full potential. Supporting Penn means investing in a place that fosters intellectual curiosity, encourages innovation and empowers students to make a positive impact on the world.