Kavit Antani
BMW
Greer, SC USA
"It’s a setback only if you call it a setback. I call a setback opportunity."
Career Roadmap
Kavit's work combines: Business, Engineering, and Building Things
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Mechanical Engineering
University of Mumbai
Graduate Degree
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Auburn University
Doctorate
Automotive Engineering
Clemson University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Assembly Plant Manager:
Bachelor's Degree: Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Degree: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Doctorate: Automotive Engineering
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born and raised in India.
2.
Growing up, I enjoyed building things and had a mechanical inclination, so I gravitated toward robotics and mechatronics clubs in high school.
3.
I earned my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mumbai in India.
4.
I spent a year working as an engineer in India before moving to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University.
5.
After graduating, I spent 11 years working in the manufacturing industry for DeWalt Power Tools building things like circular saws and drills for professional home builders.
6.
One of my professors from Auburn recommended me for a working Ph.D. program with BMW at Clemson University, so I pursued a Ph.D. in automotive engineering while doing research at BMW.
7.
After earning my Ph.D., I continued to work for BMW as a quality engineer for the X5 and X6 powertrain assembly.
8.
I worked my way up through various positions in assembly to my current role now as the assembly plant manager for the BMW X3 and X4 sports activity vehicles.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I didn't do that right. I should've done that differently.
How I responded:
Growing up through school and into my first few jobs, I was my own worst critic. Discouragement and doubt are human and natural but I think being self-critical can actually be a helpful skill in a way if it's not over the top. When you fall, the key is being able to get up, dust yourself off, and move on. Setbacks will happen routinely in life but a setback is only a setback if that's what you call it. I call setbacks opportunities. It's something to learn from and move on.