The North Shore

Name: Santosh Krishna Perla
Age: 29
Occupation: Project Manager, Vivisimo
Birthplace: Born in Ongole, India. Raised in Zambia
Years in U.S.: 10
Years in Pittsburgh: 4
What brought Santosh to Pittsburgh: Work
Neighborhood: Squirrel HillSantosh Perla turned down a job in Silicon Valley to come to Pittsburgh four years ago. “People said I was crazy,” says Perla, who was born in India and raised in Zambia, where his father worked as an accountant. He came to the United States to study and eventually landed a job at Vivisimo, a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off software firm based in Squirrel Hill.

Today, Perla’s the vice president of internal affairs of NetIP North America, a Network of Indian Professionals, which affords him a chance to network with South Asians from around the country. His parents now live in India, and Perla still lists Zambia as the place he’s from. But “home” is Pittsburgh, and as a tech worker, that works, says Perla. “Google’s here, Microsoft is here, Intel is here, Apple is here. Definitely on the technology front, and the biotechnology front, Pittsburgh’s on the right track.”

Dos & Don’ts:

Do: See Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline. Drive through the Fort Pitt tunnel to get a breathtaking view of the city! Go kayaking on the river. Explore the historic neighborhoods. Try out the various brunch places.
Don’t: Forget to visit Pittsburgh at least once in your life. We have a lot to offer! If you move here as a young professional you may not like it at first. But Pittsburgh will grow on you.

My favorite place in Pittsburgh is:

Crepes Parisiennes in Shadyside. I get the vegetarian crepe with soytang sauce.

How I find people from India:

Initially, by accident! When I moved to Pittsburgh I knew no one. A few months later I went to a Garba (Indian dance) event at the University of Pittsburgh. I randomly bumped into two family friends I knew from Zambia. I had no idea they were in Pittsburgh.

In 2006, I joined the Pittsburgh chapter of NetIP. I took it over in 2007 and for two years my life revolved around it, bringing home the “Best Small Chapter” Award for 2007 and 2008. I also won “Best Small Chapter President” Award for 2008. Because of NetIP, I’ve met many many South Asians around Pittsburgh and all over the country.

What I miss most about home:

I miss the widespread popularity of soccer. I watch live games at Piper’s Pub on the South Side. I get Indian food at the various Indian restaurants around the area but I like trying cuisines from around the world. Most importantly, I miss family. It was tough moving halfway around the world 10 years ago for school. It’s something I’ve gotten used to over the years. I try to visit my parents every couple of years.