The journey from earning a B.Tech degree to contributing to the development of self-driving vehicles is not just about academic excellence—it's about cultivating a visionary mindset and relentless pursuit of innovation. First, it begins with the ability to think big, think broadly, and think ahead. The most transformative ideas come from those who are not bound by current limitations, but who imagine what the future could look like and work backwards to make it a reality. Second, success in cutting-edge fields demands a long-term perspective. It’s essential to think in terms of decades, not months or years. True innovation, like autonomous driving, is the result of consistent effort and learning over an extended timeline. Third, one must be deeply engaged with ongoing research. Research not only informs you of what’s happening now but also prepares you for what’s coming next. It serves as a compass pointing toward the future of technology and helps you stay relevant and innovative. Finally, the real breakthroughs happen when you dare to go to the edge of human knowledge. Pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and stepping into the unknown is where real transformation takes place. This journey requires curiosity, resilience, and the courage to dream boldly. From B.Tech to building self-driving vehicles, the mindset matters more than the roadmap Sumit Dey is a deep-tech innovator building the future of autonomous mobility. As a System Software Engineer at NVIDIA Germany, he develops real-time computer vision and sensor fusion systems that power self-driving vehicles. With past roles at TomTom and research at KU Leuven, Sumit brings a rare blend of academic insight and industry execution. From visual-inertial odometry to AI-powered localization, his work is shaping how machines perceive and move in the real world. A robotics enthusiast since his college days in India, Sumit’s journey reflects the power of curiosity, code, and continuous learning on a global scale. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx