From books to boardrooms: Turning strategy into a way of life

The foundations of curiosity: librarians, engineering and dreams of writing

Growing up in a household that mixed academia with engineering, Atul’s direction was strongly influenced by his family. His mother, a librarian, encouraged his love for books, while his father’s career as an engineer introduced the idea of a technical profession. “I wanted to be a writer as a kid,” he shares. “But in India, those playful dreams often take a back seat to practicality.”

By the time university beckoned, practicality had won—mechanical engineering became his major. However, Atul soon realised that passion isn’t something you can ignore forever. “I realised fairly quickly that mechanical engineering wasn’t for me. I made the leap into software development, which felt a better fit.”

A three-month stay that became a lifetime in Oslo

Atul’s adventurous spirit took him from Delhi to Norway, initially for a short consulting project. Norway captivated him with its balanced pace of life—a “big city vibe in a small city setting,” as he describes it. What was meant to be a three-month stint turned into three years, driven by Oslo’s charm.

At this point, however, he was still finding his path and decided to make another career transition away from software as he moved briefly to Paris to pursue an MBA at HEC Paris.

“I thought I was done with Oslo, but when the time came to pick a semi-permanent location to set up a base, I couldn’t think of a better place.”

A role filled with variety—and people

After completing his MBA, Atul joined one of Norway’s most prestigious strategy consulting firms. During this time, he worked on several projects with Signicat and Nordic Capital and was left with a lasting impression. "It was an easy choice," he recalls of his decision to join Signicat full-time in 2021. “Signicat was a great place, with a fantastic team and a compelling vision and mission.”

At Signicat, Atul refers to his current role as “the best job in the company.” His work blends high-stakes decision-making with constant interaction among a variety of stakeholders, from C-level executives to startup founders. “Every day is a decision day,” Atul shares. “What makes this job extraordinary is the people. In my opinion, your job is only as good as the five people you work with most closely, and I’m fortunate to collaborate with some very smart colleagues every day.”

Atul’s most significant learning at Signicat has been understanding people. “Getting M&A deals done is very much about understanding what different people need and bridging the gaps. You give some, you take some, until you find a balance that is optimal for everyone involved. This learning is useful in literally every question, interaction, and decision I need to take in life.”

Strategising life as the key to balance

While his professional life occupies much of his time, it doesn’t overshadow his other passions—particularly writing. Atul describes writing as “a second job,” one that has seen him publish a crime fiction novel. “I don’t see it as a task, it is who I am.” On balancing a very busy job with a budding writing career, he answers, “The first five minutes are the toughest. Even on the busiest days, I try to carve out five minutes to push my stories forward and more often than not, I realise I have more energy, ideas or time than I thought I had before I sat down for those five minutes.” He prioritises activities with military precision.

“Critical needs come first—my health. Unless I’m healthy, all my responsibilities towards my family and my work are affected. Then come my family’s critical needs. Then come my company’s demands. The first 100% I put down in delivering things to the best quality. All of this takes up roughly 70% of the time I have. The rest of the time is between balancing my family’s wants, my company’s wants and my wants. Usually, the remaining 20-25% of my time is split between doing things with the family or pushing extra hard on the most important projects at work. It’s a constant balancing act so that neither is neglected. The last 5%, when I have it, goes to my writing.”

Late nights, early mornings: mastery in multitasking

If Atul’s schedule were a story, it would start with his mornings packed with meetings, followed by deep dives into data analysis, strategic discussions with colleagues, and stakeholder interactions. Evenings often include the gym, cooking with his wife, and some downtime with television. Later, he returns to his desk for another burst of work before ending the night scrolling Instagram—because even high-performing professionals need to think about nothing from time to time.

Cooking is a creative outlet. On rushed evenings, he opts for simple, nutritious meals, but when time allows, he enjoys crafting intricate Indian dishes. Chicken biryani, a family favourite and carries with it the familiar aroma and taste of home.

Closing the Chapter—For Now

After more than four years at Signicat, Atul still views his role as one of immense opportunity and growth. Among his proudest achievements is leading the acquisition of Sphonic, a UK-based company and Inverid, Signicat’s largest and most recent acquisition.

If he could speak to his younger self on his first day at Signicat, Atul would confidently say, “You’ve made the right choice. You’ve found a place where your talents are valued, where challenges will push you to grow, and where you’ll collaborate with exceptional people.”

For someone who seamlessly weaves creativity and calculation, logic and passion, Atul has found harmony. Whether he’s drafting Signicat’s next strategic move, experimenting in the kitchen, or crafting his next novel, Atul’s life is an inspiring narrative—proof that living with purpose and exploration is an art in itself.