From India to Germany, Satyendra’s telecom journey spans mission-critical networks, global programs, and the evolution of Open RAN. Discover how curiosity, discipline, and farsighted planning drive his leadership and delivery excellence at Rakuten Symphony.
1) Tell us about your journey to Rakuten Symphony.
I come from a family of proud Army Veterans. In fact, I’m the first generation I know that didn’t fight in awar. That upbringing shaped my mindset early: discipline, responsibility, and standing with your team.
Curiosity has always been my default setting. I was deeply interested in physics and used to do practical experiments at home, until my room burned! That curiosity later found a safer outlet in telecom, which felt like a shining magnet: complex systems, real-world impact, and constant learning.
I started my career close to the technical side and then moved into project management early on, interestingly, at the request of customers. Over time, I realized I truly enjoy end-to-end delivery because it combines planning, execution, and working with many different people and teams.
After around a decade of telecom project work in India, I moved to Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) to work with a large telecom company, including on 4G, national broadband/FTTH and mission-critical programs. Later, I joined Altiostar (now Rakuten Symphony), first in Tokyo as Small Cell Program Manager, and then moved to Germany(Düsseldorf) as a Principal Project Manager, driving PoC and execution for Open/Virtual RAN.
2) What has been the highlight of your time at Rakuten Symphony?
Two highlights stand out for me:
The talent and intensity of the team culture. I’ve rarely seen such a strong concentration of highly capable and hard working people in one place, and that pushes you to raise your game every day.
The kind of work we get to do. Being trusted to drive high-visibility PoC and end-to-end execution across 4G, 5G Open/Virtual RAN is challenging, but that’s exactly what makes it exciting.
3) What are some of the most valuable lessons or advice you’ve received from your managers that have shaped your approach to work and leadership?
A few lessons have stayed with me:
'Doubt is your friend.' I take it as a productive doubt: challenge assumptions early, validate dependencies, and stress-test plans before execution. In delivery, small, unchecked assumptions can become big issues later, so doubt helps me manage risk, improve decision quality, and avoid surprises.
'Clarity beats speed.' If the goal, scope, and ownership are clear, execution becomes naturally faster and cost-effective eventually.
'Bring options, not just problems.' Propose practical paths forward.
Together, these principles shape how I lead, with farsightedness and transparency, and with a strong bias toward planning.
4) Discipline and strong work ethic are often behind long-term success—what daily habits or principles do you follow to stay focused and consistent in your performance?
A few habits keep me consistent:
Plan with far sight: I naturally look ahead for downstream dependencies, decision points, and risks, then plan mitigation early.
Use structure: Clear plans, RAID tracking (Risks/Assumptions/Issues/Dependencies), and regular stakeholder updates reduce noise and rework.
Stay a learner by habit: Telecom keeps evolving, so continuous learning is non-negotiable.
5) What are some hobbies you enjoy in your downtime?
Despite a busy telecom life, I’m fond of reading books and always looking for good recommendations.
I also enjoy meeting new people and discussing topics in depth; good conversations teach you a lot.
6) What advice would you give to new joiners at Rakuten Symphony?
Build cross-functional relationships. Work here is a team sport across engineering, product, QA, operations, partners, and customers.
Communicate early and clearly. In fast-moving projects, transparency prevents surprises and builds trust.
Take ownership and ask early. Drive progress, unblock others, and ask for help before issues become emergencies.
