Suryansh Singh joined Prodigal in 2023 and is a Strategy and Ops Lead, heading the Digital Execution vertical. He brings a problem-solving mindset and analytical rigour from his previous consulting experience.

Where did you grow up, and where are you based now?

I’ve spent my entire life in Mumbai—right from school to college. After graduating, I joined YCP Auctus and had projects in both Mumbai and Gurgaon. After 1 year and 5 months there, I moved to Prodigal, which brought me to Bangalore, where the Digital Execution (DEE) team is based.

What’s your educational background, and what were your previous work experiences before joining Prodigal?

I studied Mechanical Engineering at IIT Bombay, but my time there was less about engineering and more about exploring different interests. I was part of the racing team, dabbled in machine learning projects, participated in the Literary Arts Club focusing on quizzing and board games, and was involved in the student mentorship program. I’ve always had the urge to explore new things, and that’s what led me to my first job in consulting.

I joined YCP Auctus immediately after college and spent 1 year and 5 months there. I worked on projects in both Mumbai and Gurgaon, primarily in the airport sector. It was an exciting experience, but over time, I realized that my idea of consulting and the reality of it started to diverge. While I initially enjoyed learning new things, I didn’t like the multiple layers of corporate decision-making. The impact of my work would take a long time to materialize, and I wanted something more direct, hands-on, and impactful.

What attracted you to join Prodigal, and how has your role evolved since you started?

I had a couple of close friends who had been raving about Prodigal throughout my final year, so I already knew about the company. The first thing that attracted me was the people—I saw that the team here was incredibly strong, and I’d heard great things about the culture.

But what truly convinced me was my initial conversation with Raag, who I now work with. He described a role where my work would directly impact the business, and I’d have full ownership and responsibility for my projects. That level of responsibility excited me. Prodigal was at the perfect maturity level for me—it wasn’t too early-stage where the job would be vague and chaotic, but it also wasn’t a large, bureaucratic company where corporate culture would start creeping in. The DEE team was still relatively new, and I saw a lot of scope to build and innovate. That was exactly what I was looking for.

Can you share a significant project or achievement you’re proud of during your time here?

One of the most exciting projects I worked on was optimizing a client’s dialer strategy as part of our omnichannel outreach efforts. Instead of spamming everyone with calls, we focused on identifying the right people to call and the best time to reach them. This ensured that we weren’t harassing customers who didn’t want to be called but instead were targeting those who were likely to respond.

The impact was massive—we saw a 30-40% increase in payments collected. It was particularly satisfying because the results were a direct outcome of my work, not just one factor among many. We started with an A/B test, comparing our strategy against the client’s existing approach, and the difference was clear. The client was so happy with the results that they decided to end the test early and fully adopt our approach. That kind of validation is incredibly rewarding.

What are your favorite hobbies or activities outside of work?

I’m a huge football enthusiast—I love playing, watching, and even playing FIFA. Football is a big part of my life.

I’m also deeply into quizzing. I was very active in college and continued when I moved to Gurgaon, where I was one of the founding members of a quiz club. I love the mix of problem-solving and random trivia—it keeps my curiosity alive.

Do you have any personal projects or passions you’re currently pursuing?

I’ve been looking for a good quiz club in Bangalore to join so I can stay involved in the community and meet like-minded people. More recently, I also picked up pickleball. Once I’m back in Bangalore, I want to play more regularly.

Which of Prodigal’s values resonates with you the most, and why?

I’d say Bias for Action. One thing Shantanu once told me really stuck: we often assume that every suggestion is a strict rule, but in reality, some things are just guidelines. Understanding that distinction allows us to move faster.  Also, when I'm able to pull things off in this manner, I get a distinct rush that is incredibly rewarding. That mindset doesn’t always come naturally to me, but I’m working on applying it more often.

Is there an interesting fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know?

During my final semester of college, I checked off a bucket-list goal by going blonde. I haven't experimented since then, but blue seems like an exciting next step—maybe I'll give it a shot someday!

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