For Aritra Jana, the switch from an industry role to management consulting was a very natural progression. “I began my career with Indian Oil Corporation, where I received invaluable experience on the ground before moving into a role at headquarters,” he recalls. “So I learned how to get things done in the business before taking on an internal consulting role, which served as a good on ramp for me to earn my MBA and then join the consulting industry.”

Aritra spent three years with another management consultancy before coming to Kearney in 2017. “I was attracted to Kearney because the firm has a reputation in the industry as a highly collaborative place where people partner in a friendly, supportive manner, and I’ve learned just how true that is over my time here,” he says. “I think the ease with which we collaborate is part of why we bring such an impact to our clients, along with the fact that we oftentimes work through the implementation of our strategies to help companies succeed in their transformations.”

Strategic transformation projects are something of a specialty for Aritra. On one of his most memorable projects, he worked with an energy company that needed to reset its strategy and portfolio to help it through the transition to sustainability. “I worked with very senior stakeholders at the CXO and board level to make a series of bold decisions around potential divestments that saw the company exit some high-emission business lines even though they were still the ‘cash cows.’ Shareholder value had to be preserved, so we had to find a balance by making some trade-offs,” he reveals. “Ultimately, we had to perform and transform at the same time. The company’s moves were very well-received in the marketplace and media, and most importantly the client was very happy with the results.”

Just about every aspect of the consultant’s job appeals to Aritra. “I find our work to be very stimulating; we address unique problems in a structured fashion to deliver practical solutions to the sort of problems that keep CEOs awake at night. I also enjoy all of the smart, highly talented people I work with, both at the firm and on the client side,” he notes.

Aritra credits his wife, an architect, with complementing his analytical mindset through her more creative perspective. The pair likes to travel to explore new places and cultures together. At home, Aritra enjoys taking his mind off of things by doing experimental fusion-style cooking, though his best dish is a more traditional one, lamb biryani. He also likes playing sports, including badminton and cricket.

Education

MBA, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
MBA Exchange, Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management
Bachelor of Technology, Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur

About Kearney Southeast Asia

Offices

Bangkok

Jakarta

Kuala Lumpur

Manila

Singapore