Life is not a template and neither is mine. Like several who have worked as journalists, I am a generalist in my over two decade experience across print, global news wires and dotcom firms. But there has been one underlying theme in each phase; life gave me the chance to observe and tell a story -- from early days tracking a securities scam to terror attacks and some of India's most significant court trials. Besides writing, I have jumped fences to become an entrepreneur, as an investment advisor -- and also taught the finer aspects of business journalism to young minds. At Forbes India, I also keep an eye on some of its proprietary specials like the Rich list, GenNext and Celebrity lists. An alumnus of Xavier Institute of Communications and H.R College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, I have worked for organisations such as Agence France-Presse, Business Standard, The Financial Express and The Times of India prior to this.
Image: Aditi Tailang for Forbes India; Location Courtesy: Shizusan Shophouse & Bar, High Street Phoenix; Styling: Eshaa Amiin & Team; Wardrobe Courtesy: Jacket And Pants- Hugo Boss; Shirt – Gas; Shoes - Dune ; Hair and Makeup Partner: Jean Claude Biguine
Aditya Sharma | 29 Partner, McKinsey & Company Aditya Sharma, unlike most others on Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 List, has earned his stripes by working as a professional. Less than seven years into his stint at global consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, he has already risen to become a partner—the only 20-something to do so in India.
He leads multiple teams and helps several clients make big bets and build businesses, leveraging his command over data and analytics. Over the past 18 months, he has helmed a range of projects, including creating the digital and analytics strategy of a private sector bank and transforming the existing digital business capabilities of a state-run bank. “All of these projects ensured clients are better placed to make big bets,” he says.
The seeds to success, for Sharma—an IIT-Kharagpur chemical engineer, who also completed an MBA-equivalent from IIM-Ahmedabad—were sown early. He spent his childhood in six cities in India, thanks to his banker father’s transferable job. “Being constantly on the move made me ready to face change,” he says.
Sharma began by working across financial services, real estate, infrastructure and education until over time, he saw greater scope to specialise in banking and data and analytics.
“He [Sharma] has shown enormously high levels of maturity and is keen to take on responsibility,” says Renny Thomas, who heads McKinsey’s financial services practice in India.
At a time of exponential growth of new data, Sharma says he hopes to continue to build McKinsey’s regional capabilities in this space. That is true data talk.