Ankush Kumar Sonkar — Product Manager

Hi, I’m Ankush, a strategy and business consulting professional with experience across advisory consulting, market research, project management, and operations optimization. At Zinnov, I worked on projects spanning organizational maturity, product positioning, competitive benchmarking, and go-to-market strategies for global capability centers (GCCs) and Automation & AI firms. I partnered closely with CXO-level stakeholders, including serving as Chief of Staff to the India Centre Head of a global SaaS-based product firm, where I drove initiatives in product rationalization, cost optimization, and market engagement through market research, ecosystem analysis, and competitive benchmarking. Earlier, I worked at Maruti Suzuki as an Assistant Manager in production engineering, where I led cross-functional initiatives focused on process stabilization, cost optimization, and quality improvements for new model launches. I hold an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, with a focus on strategy and management, and a B.Tech in Paint Technology from Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, which built a strong foundation in technical and analytical problem-solving.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Strategy Consultant with expertise in SaaS and Automotive industries.

Location: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Experience: 2 yrs 9 mos

Skills

Management Consulting
Project Management
Artificial Intelligence (ai)
Market Research
Business Analysis
Lean Manufacturing
Total Quality Management (tqm)

Career Highlights

Led strategic initiatives for global SaaS firms.
Expert in market research and competitive benchmarking.
Recognized for excellence in project delivery.

Work Experience

Zinnov

Project Lead - Business Advisory, GCCs (8 mos)

Project Lead - Automation & AI Strategy (8 mos)

Capgemini

Sales Strategy Consultant (2 mos)

Maruti Suzuki India Limited

Assistant Manager - Vehicle Engineering (9 mos)

Graduate Engineer Trainee - Vehicle Engineering (8 mos)

Graduate Engineer Trainee - Paint Shop (3 mos)

Axalta

Trainee (1 mo)

Paint and Coating Technologists' Association (PACT)

Editor, Student Core Committee (5 mos)

Paint Technology Department-HBTU Kanpur

Training and Placement Representative (1 yr 7 mos)

Raksa Solution

Graphic Designer (5 mos)

Education

Master of Business Administration - MBA at Indian Institute of Management, Indore

Bachelor of Technology - BTech at Harcourt Butler Technical University

Intermediate at City Model Inter College

High School at Mount Carmel High School

Play Group/Kindergarten at Children's Care School

Ankush Kumar Sonkar

Product Manager

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India2 yrs 9 mos experience

AI EnabledAI ML Practitioner

Key Highlights

Led strategic initiatives for global SaaS firms.
Expert in market research and competitive benchmarking.
Recognized for excellence in project delivery.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Strategy Consultant with expertise in SaaS and Automotive industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Management ConsultingProject ManagementArtificial Intelligence (ai)Market ResearchBusiness AnalysisLean ManufacturingTotal Quality Management (tqm)

Other Skills

Stakeholder ManagementBusiness Advisory ServicesResearchConsultingBusiness OperationsBusiness StrategyCross-team CollaborationAutomationLeadershipProblem SolvingBusiness InsightsDeadline OrientedEmotional IntelligenceData AnalysisMicrosoft Excel

About

Experience

2 yrs 9 mos

Total Experience

1 yr 4 mos

Average Tenure

Current Experience

Zinnov

2 roles

Project Lead - Business Advisory, GCCs

Promoted

Dec 2024 – Aug 2025 · 8 mos

Served as Chief of Staff to the India Centre Head of a global SaaS-based product firm, aligning the center’s long-term vision with global strategic objectives and driving initiatives to strengthen operations.
Led programs on product rationalization, cost optimization, media engagement, and ecosystem research, which enhanced governance, leadership ownership, and center-wide visibility
For my agility in delivering critical outcomes, I was recognized with the firm’s internal Excellence Award

Stakeholder ManagementBusiness Advisory ServicesBusiness AnalysisManagement ConsultingProject ManagementMarket Research+5

Project Lead - Automation & AI Strategy

Apr 2024 – Dec 2024 · 8 mos

Led a product positioning & strategy engagement for a leading automation firm leveraging Generative AI
Advised the client through competitive benchmarking, gap analysis, and market diagnostics, while guiding a team of sales executives to shape a go-to-market and communication strategy, incorporating insights from 10+ industry experts and culminated in a detailed SWOT analysis against key competitors
Managed two research associates to build a database of 1,500+ automation platforms, enabling robust benchmarking and deeper market insights

Stakeholder ManagementArtificial Intelligence (AI)Cross-team CollaborationConsultingBusiness AnalysisAutomation+6

Capgemini

Sales Strategy Consultant

Apr 2023 – Jun 2023 · 2 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

Assessed emerging macroeconomic patterns in the Middle East & identified 4 high-priority sectors in Saudi Arabia with strong exposure & risk-reward potential
Conducted investment trends analysis across the GCC by compiling insights from 800+ articles, evaluating sector-level exposure and industrial shifts
Reviewed peer group strategic deployments across the Middle East in regulated sectors like Energy, Health & Defence to assess market positioning

Cross-team CollaborationDeadline OrientedConsultingBusiness AnalysisEmotional IntelligenceData Analysis+7

Maruti suzuki india limited

3 roles

Assistant Manager - Vehicle Engineering

Sep 2021 – Jun 2022 · 9 mos · On-site

Collaborated with cross-functional teams on process optimization, facility development, and procurement for new model launches
Successfully completed prototype trials for four models, including shade stabilization for Alto 2022
Standardized key paint process parameters with detailed documentation to streamline production readiness
Managed the planning, procurement, and quality assurance of 57 types of jigs and equipment, achieving cost savings of INR 4.5 lakhs through vendor negotiations and resource repurposing
Implemented a vision-camera-based Poka Yoke solution that reduced verification time by two seconds per vehicle
Trained 20-member associate team to improve productivity, safety, and paint quality, collectively driving measurable improvements in efficiency and timely production

Lean ManufacturingCross-team CollaborationDeadline OrientedEmotional IntelligenceTeam ManagementEngineering+12

Graduate Engineer Trainee - Vehicle Engineering

Jan 2021 – Sep 2021 · 8 mos · On-site

Lean ManufacturingCross-team CollaborationDeadline OrientedEmotional IntelligenceEngineeringFacility Development+9

Graduate Engineer Trainee - Paint Shop

Sep 2020 – Dec 2020 · 3 mos · On-site

• Served as Quality In-Charge in the Paint Shop and reduced dust particle accumulation on sill areas by implementing revised inspection protocols, enhancing vehicle finish quality

Total Quality Management (TQM)Process ImprovementRoot Cause AnalysisRoot Cause Problem Solving

Axalta

Trainee

Jun 2019 – Jul 2019 · 1 mo · Savli, Gujarat, India · On-site

Undertook a project on 'Standardization of Media Management Program' analyzing the change in several grinding mill parameters
Identified co-relation between decrease in power consumption (kWh) & weight (kgs) of grinding media teared down inside mill

Cross-team CollaborationDeadline OrientedData AnalysisMicrosoft ExcelProcess ImprovementMicrosoft Office