The 2021 Top 25 Consultants: Atit Danak

Atit is a principal at Zinnov with more than 10 years of technical and general management experience working with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth start-ups. He has spearheaded strategic projects across Asia, Europe, and North America to effectively bolster business footprints, improve processes and operational efficiencies, launch new products, and scale innovation programs.

He has worked in India and China in areas of business development, product development, operational strategy, and material management. During this period, he developed strong leadership, project management, client servicing, and analytical skills as he successfully led teams executing strategic projects in Asia, Europe, and North America for Global clients.

Atit is currently focusing his energy to give shape to open innovation and corporate-startup collaboration ecosystem globally. He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India.

What does winning this award mean to you?

"At my core, I see myself more as an operator versus a consultant. When I joined Zinnov as a consultant, I deeply desired to prove that the best consultants are people with deep-domain and hands-on experience. For example, one can learn specific nuances of company building only by doing. In the absence of the proper context, no exposure allows one to be an influential advisor and implementation partner to a seasoned operator (client). Winning this award confirms merit in the core thought process and that I am on the right pathway."

What's been the biggest factor in your success?

"The most significant factor in my success is my team – seniors, peers, and partners in crime within the CoNXT practice. In consulting, people are the asset. You are only as good as the people you work alongside. I have been quite lucky that we have had great client partners. It has allowed us to be partners; one unified team focused on solving the problem. Not getting caught up in the vendor-client dynamics allows us the freedom to execute while reducing risk exposure for the client."

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

"To give more than I take."