Studio portrait of Manu Menon, arms crossed, against a black background

About

Engineer by training. Strategist and entrepreneur by choice.

I grew up between India and Qatar, studied chemical engineering at NIT Warangal, then strategy at EDHEC in France. Since then, more than a decade shaping strategy in a dozen countries.

I've been a consultant in Europe, a strategist for Schneider Electric in Hong Kong, and spent six years at Bosch building AI and IoT businesses from scratch. Today I am building Skillstr, while also writing, speaking and advising on how physical AI is reshaping industries. I try to blend the best of Eastern and Western thinking in all of it.

English · Malayalam · Hindi · French

How I think

Driven by intellectual curiosity, and by a vision to make an impact.

Living across continents taught me to borrow the best from each, and to bring technology and business together.

India

Timelessness

The civilisation that gave the world zero.

America

Capitalism

Technology and markets that scale.

Europe

Policy

Institutions built to last.

Middle East

Chutzpah

The nerve to build boldly, and fast.

China

Efficiency

Speed and execution at scale.

Path

2025–now Founder and CEO, Skillstr. AI that helps professionals lead better at work.
Independent strategy advisor · SDV, humanoids and physical AI.
Trainer for leadership teams · 60+ strategy and leadership programmes on three continents; latest cohort rated 4.6/5.
2018–2024 Bosch · India, Germany, Singapore, China, Mexico. Strategy manager to head of strategy, digital business division; head of new business for connected mobility across the EU, US and Japan. Recognised as global leadership talent.
2019 Executive Education, University of California, Berkeley.
2016–2017 Strategic Marketing Consultant, Schneider Electric · Hong Kong. A €500M+ field-service business across 20+ Asia-Pacific countries.
2015–2016 MSc in Strategy and Organisation Consultancy, EDHEC Business School, France. Rank holder; thesis on utility business models, highest grade.
2014–2015 Strategy Consultant, bmp Consultants · Germany, France, Netherlands. Growth and market entry in energy, telecom and high-tech.
2013–2014 Master in Management (MiM) and MSc in Strategy, EDHEC Business School, France.
2009–2013 Chemical Engineering, NIT Warangal. Internships at National Industrial Gas Plants, Doha.

Recognition

Global leadership talent, Bosch
National finalist, KPMG International Case Competition (France)
Winner, Digital Transformation Case Competition
EDHEC Foundation Scholarship
Featured in EDHEC Alumni's Impact Around the World
Prime Excellence Award
Certified in Software Defined Vehicles
AI & IoT Practitioner, AIoT User Group

Recommendations

From leaders I worked for, people I led and professors who taught me, on LinkedIn ↗

The leaders I worked for

Future leader

“He was instrumental in not only designing but also leading the execution of our IoT strategy and building the portfolio and business… One of my few directs from whom I have learnt a lot. Believe strongly that he is one of the future leaders to look out for.”

Vishwas V S
Chief Business Officer, oorja · managed Manu

Strategy workshops

“An excellent combination of strategic mindset, entrepreneurial spirit and great result orientation… An excellent communicator, moderator. Outstanding in conducting strategy workshops.”

Venkatesh V R
Head of Digital Transformation, Bosch · managed Manu for 5+ years

Independent judgement

“He has the courage to take a different view from a group if necessary and doesn't get intimidated by the context… He can get into a technical topic deeper as needed and at the same time extract the essence for leadership decisions.”

Aravind Raman
AI-led transformation and GCC leader · hired and managed Manu

The people I led

Coach and mentor

“You rarely come across standout talent like Manu… I was lucky enough to report to a manager like Manu, who is also a coach and mentor. Connecting to people and bringing out the best in them comes naturally to Manu.”

Deepanshu Purwar
Strategy, Insights and Commercial, Bain & Company · reported to Manu

Bringing out the best

“Manu is one of the best mentors I have ever had. He has a unique blend of being an exceptional communicator as well as a great listener while being able to bring out the best in people.”

Amit Bhat
AI and Digital Transformation Consultant · reported to Manu

The professors who taught me

Presence

“An excellent student who could both contribute to the class and entertain his classmates, a precious skill.”

Marc Kitten
Founding Partner, Candesic; Visiting Professor, Imperial College · taught Manu

On the ground

From expo floors to strategy rooms.

Manu Menon at the podium during the launch of Bosch's Spark.NXT campus — **Anchoring the Spark.NXT campus launch,** for Bosch's centenary in the market, in the presence of the Prime Minister.

Manu Menon working through documents with two colleagues at Schneider Electric's Hong Kong office — **Schneider Electric, Hong Kong.** Strategy across 20+ Asia-Pacific markets.

Beyond work

Reader, junior biohacker (workouts, swimming, squash) and trekker: seven of South India's 14 peaks done. On Pangarchulla I turned back 150 metres short of the summit, and learned more than the summit would have taught me.