FROM PASSION TO PROFESSION

BINDU GOPAL RAO SPEAKS WITH FITNESS EXPERT AVINASH MANSUKHANI TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HIS PASSION FOR FITNESS, AND HIS VOYAGE TO HAPPINESS

- BINDU GOPAL RAO

Avinash Mansukhani’s story is one that we can all relate to. The quintessential Indian boy – he was academically bright and set on his path to becoming an engineer. Ultimately, he decided to follow his passion. Join us as we embark on his journey from finding his calling to cementing his career.

While the plan was to get an MBA after completing his degree in engineering, Avinash admits that he almost dropped out because he hated it! “But I ended up topping that semester and so was convinced that I was meant to do this.” He then joined Accenture where he won awards for tech excellence, but he remained unhappy. This time, he quit and decided to start his own creative tech company whyIT Solutions. “Within two years we got acquired by the McCann Worldgroup and I ended up heading the digital arm pan India. I then worked at the Mullen Lowe Lintas Group as their Creative Technology Head, and won a Clio and 2 Effie's (advertising and marketing awards) along the way.” But still, something was missing. “I wasn’t happy, I was just good at what I did.”

Avinash persevered and decided to go ahead with applying for an MBA – assuming at this point that the Ivy League was well within reach given his impeccable academic record and work experience. “I only applied to the top four schools, but reality hit me hard as I got rejected by them all. This was one of the turning points of my life.”