Hello, This is Swapnil Kandalkar. I'm the Sales and Applications Expert in Automotive Adhesives, Seating systems, BIW, Composites, and Auto EV components.

The Story of My Journey: From Engineering Foundations to Strategic Leadership

The Beginning: A Foundation in Engineering

My journey began with a deep-seated curiosity for how things are built and optimized. I started my academic path with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Maharashtra Board of Technical Education. Driven to deepen my expertise, I pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at Savitribai Phule Pune University, where I graduated with first-class distinction. This period was marked by hands-on learning, including a pivotal internship where I explored emerging technologies like thermoacoustic refrigeration using Arduino.

The Career Launch: Mastering Data and Manufacturing

I entered the professional world by stepping into the cutting-edge field of autonomous vehicles as a Process Executive at NVIDIA Graphics. There, I led data tagging efforts for high-profile projects with brands like Tesla, Audi, and BMW, ensuring the datasets powering their machine learning models were of the highest quality.

From there, I transitioned into the core of the automotive industry at TATA AutoComp Systems. Over five years, I evolved from a Graduate Engineer Trainee into a versatile Deputy Manager. I navigated complex roles across the Composites and TM Seating divisions, where I managed the complete RFQ lifecycle for global giants like Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen, and Tata Motors. My work wasn’t just about technical specifications; it was about securing multi-million dollar contracts and bridging the gap between engineering complexity and commercial success.

The Strategic Shift: Versatility in Action

As my career progressed, I sought to blend my technical “versatile” background with high-level business strategy. This led me to the Masters Programme in Business Leadership at Tata Tomorrow University, in collaboration with the London Business School. This flagship program sharpened my ability to lead pan-India teams and manage complex, high-pressure situations.

I brought this strategic mindset to STANLEY Engineered Fastening (Stanley Black & Decker) as a Deputy Manager of Sales & Application Systems. In this role, I was instrumental in driving new business development and technical wins for major automotive OEMs, including Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, and Stellantis. I specialized in translating high-level corporate strategies into actionable sales targets and customer engagement plans.

Today: Driving Global Technical Wins

Currently, I serve as a Territory Sales Engineer for Key Account Management (OES) at Henkel Adhesives Technologies. My mission is to drive technical wins and revenue growth by leveraging over eight years of experience across global markets, including the US, UK, EU, and ASEAN regions.

Whether I am navigating a brownfield project for Forvia Europe or optimizing supply chain logistics for JLR UK, my approach remains the same: combining deep technical expertise in seating systems, composites, and robotic welding with a sharp, assertive business acumen.

I am a builder of solutions, a driver of strategy, and a lifelong learner committed to the next frontier of automotive innovation.