Rignesh Soni - Brand Story

My journey began in a remote village in India, where the seeds of my fascination with technology were sown. As a child in school, I discovered the power of technology and science. In the 8th grade, I was captivated by computers, diving into WordStar and Logo Programming, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion.

Despite our family's limited access to technology, I envisioned a life transcending these boundaries where I could positively impact the world through technology.

My grandfather was a remarkable influence in my life. Having left Pakistan with just a single pair of clothes, he went on to build one of the largest and most successful businesses in our region. His dedication to giving back to the community taught me that our primary duty is to serve society and make an impact that transcends personal gain. I vividly remember accompanying him to hand out money to those in need, witnessing the transformation in their eyes as hope and light replaced despair.

Though my grandfather passed away, his spirit transcended beyond and guided me throughout my studies as I became enamored with the idea of building smart city technology to make society more prosperous and livable. My academic journey culminated in earning top honors with a Bachelor of Engineering in IT degree with Distinction. Along the way, I served as a Junior Scientist for Software Engineering at the State Government Space Application Center. I developed GIS software for the Government of Gujarat's Urban Planning division, representing our software at state conferences and IT symposiums.

Today, as the Director of Strategic Development, I focus on driving technology solutions and growth for all Smart Infrastructure and City Offerings under my leadership. As a member of the Smart Cities Council and Forbes Council and a pioneering IoT CTO, I am driven by a profound belief in the transformative power of technology to create urban environments that are not only smarter but also deeply interconnected, sustainable, and human-centric.

My purpose is to revolutionize how cities move, operate, and interact with their inhabitants, ensuring that technological advancements enhance the quality of life for all residents. Through a visionary approach, I am dedicated to integrating advanced IoT systems, AI, and quantum computing with urban planning to build cities that learn, adapt, and thrive harmoniously with their natural surroundings.

Beyond technology, I am also an advocate for Transcendent Leadership, a leadership philosophy that blends modern advancement with timeless wisdom. I firmly believe that yesterday's ancient spiritual practices can strengthen our vision to integrate tomorrow's cutting-edge technology.

More than just an advocate for smart city technologies and enterprise cloud solutions, my mission is to catalyze real city change, implementing holistic solutions that address the most pressing urban mobility challenges of our time with innovative thinking that leads to a more prosperous, smarter, and more humanly-connected future for all.

On a mission to create a paradigm shift toward the transcendence beyond the traditional boundaries of smart cities, urban mobility, leadership, technology & the self.