This is a profile image of Venkat Atluri

Venkat Atluri

Senior PartnerChicago

Leads McKinsey’s technology and telecommunications work globally. Delivers large-scale performance improvement through technology, innovation, and agility; builds and transforms businesses by pursuing cross-sector opportunities

Venkat is the global leader of the firm’s Tech and Telecommunication Practice. He collaborates with top executives, boards, and investors to create value through end-to-end performance transformation, programmatic M&A, and new business building from scale-up to IPOs. He is keenly focused on the future of technology, with special emphasis on the cross-sector opportunities at the intersection of new technologies and emerging business models. He serves clients in the high-tech, media and telecommunications, advanced industries, and consumer sectors. He has a passion for advising venture capital and private equity investors.

Venkat is a leading expert on vast and emerging opportunities created by the network connectivity of devices, systems, platforms, and people that are powered by software and hardware. He draws on this expertise to guide clients through the design and deployment of network and ecosystem-based businesses across sectors.

A thought leader at McKinsey, Venkat is a prolific author and sought-after speaker at industry events.

He has held many leadership positions throughout his tenure at the firm. Venkat cofounded and led McKinsey’s IoT (Internet of Things) Practice. He also created a group that aims to incubate new analytic and digital assets, develop innovative client offerings, and build alliances and partnerships with innovators.

He previously spearheaded digital, analytics, and tech-enabled transformations for clients in advanced industries, and also led the firm’s global efforts in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice to help clients fast-track and sustain transformational impact through leadership alignment, execution support, capability building, and leadership development via a distinctive set of assets and exceptional digital-learning programs.

Prior to joining McKinsey, Venkat held global operating leadership roles overseeing large businesses and functions, with a focus on product development, management, and deployment.

Outside of McKinsey, Venkat serves on the board of 1871, a world leading not-for-profit start-up incubator. He is the current chairman of the board and a founding member of Current Water, a not for profit that seeks sustainable solutions to water challenges through innovation and collaboration for developing and deploying the tools, practices, and technologies to promote sustainable blue economy growth.

Podcast

Strategies to win in the new ecosystem economy,” McKinsey & Company, August 2023

As sector borders dissolve new business ecosystems emerge,” McKinsey & Company, October 2017

Published work

Beyond the hype: Capturing the potential of AI and gen AI in TMT,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024

The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders, John Wiley & Sons, October 2022

The industrial CEO’s plan for the digital recovery,” McKinsey & Company, November 2020

Accelerating the impact from a tech-enabled transformation,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019

Why industrials should pursue a tech-enabled transformation now,” McKinsey & Company, November 2019

Tech-enabled transformations: A CEO’s guide to maximizing impact in industrials,” McKinsey & Company, September 2019

The trillion-dollar opportunity for the industrial sector: How to extract full value from technology, ” McKinsey & Company, November 2018

Competing in a world of sectors without borders,” McKinsey & Company, July 2017

How tech-enabled consumers are reordering the healthcare landscape,” McKinsey & Company, November 2016

Unlocking digital health: Opportunities for the mobile value chain,” McKinsey & Company, April 2015

New trends in smart devices,” McKinsey & Company, April 2014

Making smartphones brilliant: Ten Trends,” McKinsey & Company, June 2012

Past experience

General Electric
Various leadership roles

3M
Leader, product development and product launch

Education

University of Chicago
MBA, strategy and finance