Siddhesh Dongare

Siddhesh Dongare
Born	1987 Mumbai, India
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	India
Alma mater	MIT School of Distance Education (MITSDE) Mumbai University
Occupation	Technical Product Manager Agility and Technology Consultant IT Tutor Website Designer Career Mentor Book Author
Organization	MasterCard Open Finance Satyam InfoTech - Computer Education Institute Skill india Digital Hub
Height	6 ft (183 cm)
Parents	Suryakant Dongare (father) Seema Dongare (mother)
Relatives	Swapnil Dongare
Website	shiftlifeperspective.com agilityconsultant.org

Siddhesh Dongare born in 1987 is an Indian information technology professional, project management expert, agility coach, inventor, author, life coach, and mentor. With over 15 years of professional experience, he has established expertise in data driven program, product, and project management, stakeholder management, strategic leadership, and go to market strategy.

Siddhesh Dongare is a senior product management professional for the Global Open Banking business at Mastercard Open Finance, one of the largest payment processing companies globally. He has held multiple techno functional roles across several technology organizations, including Evia Information Systems, Riinfotech, Ergode IT Services, and Paper Plane Solutions.

Siddhesh Dongare is the author of his debut book Shape Your Life by Changing Perspective, which focuses on helping individuals struggling with negative thoughts and emotional challenges by encouraging shifts in perspective. His more recent book “The Unknown Face Above Us: A Timely Reminder of Human Intelligence in the Age of AI” reflects on the evolving relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that the core challenge lies not in machines becoming too intelligent, but in people becoming too passive. The book explain that the future of intelligence depends less on what artificial intelligence can achieve and more on humanity’s ability to continue thinking critically and independently.

Early life and Education

Siddhesh Dongare was born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, as the younger son of his parents, Suryakant Dongare, a branch manager at MSC Bank, and his mother, a housewife. He completed his secondary and higher secondary education through the Maharashtra State Board.

In 2006, Siddhesh Dongare enrolled at Vidya Vikas Education Society’s Vikas College of Arts, Science and Commerce, earning a bachelor's in information technology in 2008. He obtained a master’s in management systems (information technology) from the Mumbai Institute of Management and Research in 2010. Siddhesh Dongare also holds a post-graduate diploma in project management from MIT School of Distance Education (MITSDE).

Siddhesh Dongare holds various globally recognized certifications in agile and project management, including CAL-E®, CAL-T®, CAL-O®, PAL-EBM®, ICP-ENT®, PMP®, PMI ACP®, and SAFe® 5.1 Scrum Master. He is also certified as a Lean Six Sigma White and Yellow Belt.

Career

Early Years

Siddhesh Dongare started his career in 2007 as a visiting IT tutor at the Quantum Education Centre, where he gained foundational insights into the IT education sector. In 2008, he joined Satyam Infotech, where he still serves as a visiting faculty member.

Professional Journey

After completing his master’s in 2010, Siddhesh Dongare started his project management career. Over the years, he has worked with several companies in human resources, e-commerce, web-based information technology, and AI payment solutions. He started his career in 2010 as a project coordinator at Evia Information Systems, followed by positions at Riinfotech, Ergode IT Services, and Paper Plane Solutions.

In October 2021, Siddhesh Dongare joined MasterCard Open Finance, the second-largest payment processing company globally. He was promoted to senior product management specialist in August 2023. Siddhesh Dongare is influential in driving artificial intelligence-powered open banking APIs, product innovation, and strategic initiatives of Global Open Banking business at Mastercard Open Finance.

In March 2024, he was promoted to Senior product manager for Global Open Banking business at Mastercard Open Finance. He leads strategy and execution for data centric products including foundational data platforms Data Enrichment as a Service and downstream analytics solutions supporting markets across the US, Australia and Europe.

He operates at the intersection of product management, data science and engineering providing vision and direction to globally distributed cross functional teams. His work spans roadmap planning go to market strategy product innovation and delivery of scalable compliant analytics solutions in highly regulated financial environments.

Siddhesh Dongare brings deep expertise in Agile and hybrid delivery models including Scrum, and Kanban with CI/CD practices with a strong emphasis on measurable business value. A notable contribution is the creation of the Agile Iteration Process for Data Mining (AIP-DM) a framework that adapts agile principles to data science workflows to accelerate experimentation and improve analytical outcomes.

His progression at Mastercard from Senior Technical Program Manager to Senior Specialist Product Management and then Technical Product Manager reflects increasing ownership of product strategy influence and decision making in Open Finance initiatives.

Life Coach and Mentor

As a life coach and mentor Siddhesh Dongare supports students and professionals with academic guidance, career direction and personal stability. He encourages individuals to embrace change develop empathy and navigate life’s complexities with an open and evolving perspective. He believes in empowering people to take ownership of their growth and move toward a more fulfilling life.

Siddhesh Dongare is also a certified Scrum Master and Agile Coach who acts as a change catalyst within teams and organizations. He helps improve performance collaboration and customer focus by aligning people processes and organizational culture.

Book Authored

Siddhesh Dongare is a pathfinder of perspectives, a storyteller of growth, and an advocate for the transformative power of changing perspectives. Emphasizing this viewpoint, he has authored a book titled “Shape Your Life by Changing Perspective," a compelling exploration of the power of perspective in shaping our experiences, decisions, and overall lives. The book provides insights into life’s challenges, presenting a pragmatic approach to self-discovery and empowerment.

Published in November 2023 by The Write Order publication, the book has received a positive reception from Indian audiences and is available on Amazon.

Additionally, Siddhesh Dongare's insights have been quoted in "The Art of Self-Discovery in Psychotherapy," a feature in Psychologs, India’s first mental health magazine.

Siddhesh Dongare also recently authored Human Intelligence Book in the Age of AI. The Unknown Face Above Us: A Timely Reminder of Human Intelligence in the Age of AI book's hope lies in the fact that our abilities are not lost, only underused. Like unused muscles, they can be rebuilt if we choose to engage them. That means doing some thinking before asking a tool to do it for us, questioning a recommendation instead of obeying it, and reserving human judgment for choices where ethics and responsibility matter.

Technology should expand our capacity, not replace our agency. We can let machines handle the calculation, pattern recognition, and data overload, while we retain responsibility for purpose and direction. The conductor decides what the orchestra plays; the instruments do not choose the music.

Siddhesh Dongare's message is not about machines becoming too intelligent. It is about people becoming too passive. The future of intelligence depends less on what AI can do and more on whether we continue thinking for ourselves.

Agility Methodology and Framework Initiatives

Agile Iteration Process for Data Mining (AIP-DM)

The Agility Initiative by Siddhesh Dongare is centered on the Agile Iteration Process for Data Mining (AIP-DM), a framework designed to manage data science and AI projects with a strong emphasis on adaptability collaboration and ethical value creation. AIP-DM combines agile principles with a process first mindset to address common challenges in data projects such as misalignment risk and low business impact.

The initiative introduces a structured six phase methodology covering initiation goal definition proof of concept model development deployment and ongoing operations while remaining flexible to evolving insights. Guided by the S.T.A.R. Q.U.E.S.T. principles, the framework promotes stakeholder collaboration transparency quality user centric design and sustainable development.

Siddhesh Dongare’s agility initiative positions AIP-DM as a holistic approach that integrates mindset people process and outcomes to deliver measurable business value while fostering compassionate and responsible data practices.

UnLeASH (Universal Lean Agile Simplified Hierarchy)

Siddhesh Dongare initiated the UnLeASH Agile Methodology Universal Lean Agile Simplified Hierarchy as a practical approach to address limitations in traditional agile adoption across both IT and non IT industries. The initiative focuses on blending core lean principles with agile thinking to create a flexible execution model that adapts to varied organizational contexts rather than enforcing rigid frameworks.

UnLeASH is designed to manage diverse work types including new initiatives recurring operations and issue resolution while improving collaboration workflow efficiency and value delivery. The methodology emphasizes cultural transformation through continuous improvement iterative learning and outcome driven decision making and has been applied in real world organizational settings to streamline processes enhance cross functional collaboration and improve stakeholder satisfaction.

Awards and Recognitions

Siddhesh Dongare has received various awards and accolades from his employers and educational institutions, acknowledging his contributions and professional abilities.

• Siddhesh Dongare was honored A 40 Under 40 Leader Driving Agility, Innovation, and Empowerment.
• Siddhesh Dongare was honored with the Business Mint Nationwide Awards for Entrepreneurs and Industry Experts under 40 in 2024.
• He was also recognized as the "Agile Coach of the Year" at the India Agile Awards 2024, organized by UNICOM.

MasterCard Open Finance

• Recognized for his contributions to embodying the "Create Value (The Mastercard Way)" approach in March 2023 and September 2022.

Paper Plane Solutions

• Credited with the "Elephant Memory Award" in June 2021.
• Titled "Fab Fundae Presenter" in June 2021.
• Received the "Helping Hand Award" in September 2018.

Ergode IT Services Pvt. Ltd.

• Awarded the "Best Presentation" in April 2016.
• Named "Most Agile Employee of the Year" in December 2014.

Vikas College of Arts, Science and Commerce

• Honored as "Best Student of the Year" in 2008 and 2007.

Website Design Intercollegiate Competitions

1. Won the Website Design Competition at the Fiesta IT Event 2006–07 held by the University of Mumbai in February 2006.
2. Secured Second Prize in the Website Design Competition at the Science Technology Fair 2006–07 held by A R Mehta College in February 2006.
3. Secured Second Prize in the Website Design Competition at the Cyber Fiesta IT Event 2006–07 held by Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in September 2006.
4. Won the Website Design Competition at the TechAge 2006–07 event held by N G Acharya and D K Marathe College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in December 2006.
5. Won the Website Design Competition at the Cyber Fiesta IT Event 2007–08 held by Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in September 2007.
6. Won the Website Design Competition at the Byte IT 2006–07 and 2007–08 events held by Sathaye College in November 2007.
7. Secured Second Prize in the Website Design and Photoshop Competition at the Science Technology Fair 2007–08 held by A R Mehta College in November 2007.
8. Won the Website Design Competition during the Zingers IT Tech Fest 2008–09 held by SIES College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in January 2008.
9. Secured Second Prize in the Website Design Competition during the Spark IT 2008–09 event held by Khalasa College in February 2008.

Bibliography

• Shape Your Life by Changing Perspective (November 2023)
• The Unknown Face Above Us: A Timely Reminder of Human Intelligence in the Age of AI (November 5, 2025)

Patents

At MasterCard Open Finance, Siddhesh Dongare has collaborated with the open banking international data science and engineering team and has published three significant inventions, including:

• Agile iteration for data mining (AIPDM) using artificial intelligence.
• Artificial intelligence engine for entity resolution and standardization.
• Artificial intelligence engine for transaction categorization and classification.

Recently, Siddhesh Dongare is a key contributor to innovation in Open Finance having filed over 40 patentable ideas spanning Open Banking APIs data platforms and analytics driven financial products.

Personal Life

Siddhesh Dongare comes from a close-knit Maharashtrian family deeply rooted in culture, values, and traditions. Family holds significant importance to him, and he believes strong relationships are built on love, respect, and understanding.

Siddhesh Dongare resides in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In his free time, he watches fantasy and superhero movies, with favorites including the Avengers and Harry Potter series. Additionally, he enjoys listening to music, reading books, and playing chess.

Siddhesh Dongare is a thoughtful driven professional who enjoys building things that last whether they are products teams or systems. With over a decade of experience in technology and finance he has worked across global markets and learned the value of patience collaboration and continuous learning.

He is naturally analytical yet grounded and prefers clarity structure and honest communication. Colleagues often see him as dependable and mentoring oriented someone who enjoys guiding others and improving how teams work together. While ambitious he values balance integrity and long-term impact over quick wins.

Outside of work Siddhesh Dongare is curious by nature with a strong interest in learning teaching and sharing ideas. He believes growth comes from a balance of discipline and empathy and brings this mindset into both his professional and personal relationships.

Personal Links

• Official Book Website
• Siddhesh Dongare on LinkedIn
• Siddhesh Dongare on Instagram
• Siddhesh Dongare on YouTube
• Siddhesh Dongare on Goodreads
• Siddhesh Dongare on Medium