Meet the Team: Atanu
ROI’s Meet the Team Series is meant to showcase some of our exceptional team members and share in their passion for all things economic development. We also have a little bit of fun to help you get to know the ROI Team more personally.
We’ve got a team of superheroes here at ROI. And today, you’re about to meet one of our finest. Meet Atanu, Senior Economic Development Manager. He’s a jack of all trades and master of all. Atanu currently leads a team of Economic Associates. He can also take on any region and uncovers the most amazing opportunities. Lastly, he has proven to be a Program Manager extraordinaire, wowing clients all over the globe. Learn more about him and other Economic Development trends he’s spotted.
Can you tell us more about yourself and how you discovered the world of economic development?
Moving from Bangladesh to Canada for university, I had the good fortune of gaining diverse work experience across various sectors. In that process, I stumbled upon economic development and fell in love with it. From understanding a region, to connecting with organizations, to witnessing the success story of a project – there was just something so satisfying about it! Plus, my love for connecting with people from different nations and cultures was an added bonus.
What is your role here at ROI?
As the Senior Economic Development Manager, I’m responsible for managing our diverse regional and national level clientele, understanding the mandate for the region and identifying investment opportunities across multiple sectors, along with ensuring that they are the right fit.
What trends are you seeing in the world of economic development? What are clients looking for?
In recent years, greentech, sustainable farming, and alternative energy sources have been the talk of the town, along with organizations being much more focused on global talent acquisition, ensuring a strong supply chain, and automation. Furthermore, since the pandemic and owing to the current economic downturn, organizations are much more strategic and are exploring new markets and regions for their next phase of growth.
What does economic development mean to you?
Economic development for me is a great opportunity to be part of a region’s growth, workforce development, diversification, and adaptations in our fast-changing future.
If there was one thing you wish everyone knew about economic development, what would it be?
It’s a one-stop shop for creating synergies between growing companies and regions. By working together, the company can learn about the region’s unique proposition and obtain all relevant information that decision-makers need to evaluate before its next expansion. This significantly shortens the research, bureaucracy, and admin time required for expansion and enables the company to carry out its plans faster.
Do you have an inspirational quote you enjoy?
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern” – William Blake
What’s the one song you can play on repeat all day long?
What would be your superhero power?
Who wouldn’t love to control Space and Time?
What animal do you identify with the most and why?
Haven’t really thought about it to be honest (in lieu of Atanu, we picked one that best suits him! The Eagle🦅! Why? Eagles are known to be determined, tenacious, and possess vitality. Atanu is not the type of person to seek attention and can be considered the strong, silent type. In short: Eagle-esque 🙂
Favorite podcast?
WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Infinite Monkey Cage