Building Bridges Between Startups and Enterprises with Sunil David

Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Sunil David, Digital Technology Consultant |Ex-Regional Director(IOT)- AT&T  we discuss What does it take to evolve from installing multiplexers in the 90s to becoming one of India’s most respected IoT evangelists and startup mentors? In this episode, Sunil David shares his three-decade journey across telecom, IoT, and digital transformation. 

Early Career Foundations

Sunil began his professional journey in 1994, right after completing his Electronics and Communication Engineering. Unlike many peers who shifted to unrelated fields, he was one of the “lucky few,” as he puts it, to continue working in his chosen discipline for decades.

• First role – Multiplexers & Railway Networks
• His very first assignment was with a small company where he installed multiplexers across India’s railway network. These devices connected mainframe computers to remote terminals, ensuring reliable communication across long distances. This hands-on experience with infrastructure and connectivity became the bedrock for his later work in telecom.
• CMS Computers – Networking Era
• He then moved to CMS Computers, focusing on LAN and WAN networking solutions. This gave him exposure to enterprise IT and network integration, skills that were highly relevant when India’s telecom sector was on the cusp of privatization.
• Telstra Wecom (1996) – Entering Telecom’s Liberalization Phase
• A pivotal career move came in 1996 when Sunil joined Telstra Wecom, a joint venture between Telstra Australia and VSNL (later Tata Communications). This was just two years after India opened its telecom sector to private players—a historic shift.

AT&T and Passion for IoT

After short but formative experiences in networking, VSAT installations, and enterprise software, 2000 marked a turning point when Sunil joined AT&T. What began as a role in sales grew into a 14-year career where he rose to become Regional Head for South India, handling enterprise connectivity services.

• Focused on telecom and enterprise connectivity, including mobile, landline, and data services for large enterprises.
• Built strong CXO-level relationships, gaining insight into how enterprises viewed technology not just as infrastructure, but as enablers of business growth.
• Developed a strategic mindset: learning how to sell not just technology, but business outcomes—a skill that would become vital in his IoT work.
•  After a short return to Telstra, Sunil came back to AT&T in 2017—this time with a completely different mandate: to lead AT&T’s IoT business in India and ASEAN.
• This was when IoT adoption globally was still nascent, and in India it was just taking shape. Sunil recalls that he had been personally fascinated by IoT since 2011–2012, when the idea of “things being connected to the internet”—from cars to machines—caught his imagination.

Technology Evangelism & Mentorship

• Speaking engagements became not just a platform to promote AT&T’s services, but also a way to educate enterprises and build credibility in the ecosystem.
• At AT&T, Sunil saw how business and technology intersect—sparking his next chapter as a technology evangelist with a focus on strategy, startups, and purpose-driven innovation.
• His first keynote was on 9th August 2017.
• From there, he went on to speak at 400+ industry forums, covering IoT, AI, metaverse, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. He transitioned from corporate leader to solopreneur and mentor, working with startups in AI, IoT, sustainability, and climate change.
• His contributions to CII, NASSCOM, and initiatives like Women Wizards Rule Tech, where he has mentored thousands of women in digital skills.
• How he manages his time, creates content for 32,000+ LinkedIn followers, and leverages tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity to boost productivity.
• Practical advice for professionals: continuous learning, attending industry forums, building a legacy, and balancing financial, physical, and spiritual well-being.

At this time Sunil David, works on immersing himself in a specific set of fields to be a thought leader, and fully dedicate himself to mentorship, sustainability, and giving back.

Quotable Moments from Sunil David

“Imagine the value you can unlock when billions of assets—from machines in a factory to vehicles on the road—start generating data. The opportunities to monetize and transform industries are humongous.”

“We are clearly seeing the move from being reactive to predictive. Thanks to AI and IoT, enterprises can act proactively before something causes damage—whether it’s a machine on a shop floor or even human health.”

“Optimizing energy usage is not just good for the environment—it makes business sense. Lower energy bills mean direct savings, while reducing carbon emissions benefits the planet.”

“Learning never stops. We are in a lifelong journey of learning and unlearning. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing.”

“It’s not just about financial success. You have to ask yourself—what legacy am I leaving behind? Will people remember the impact I created?”

“My forte is B2B, especially AI and IoT for manufacturing and sustainability. Staying focused allows me to truly add value to startups, rather than spreading myself thin.”

About Sunil David

Sunil David is an Independent Digital Technology Consultant with over 30 years of experience in the IT and Telecom Industry . He’s spent almost 20 years with AT&T India. In his last stint with AT&T held from March 2017 until April 2022 , he was the Regional Director – IOT( India and ASEAN ). He’s had extensive experience in Business Strategy , Sales , Business Development and Alliance & Partnership building during my AT&T stints .

Sunil is associated as a Gold Mentor with T-Hub ( Telangana Hub) based in Hyderabad one of India’s largest startup incubators supporting some of India’s most innovative technology startups specifically focused on areas around Smart Manufacturing and ESG.

Sunil is a much sought after speaker in several industry forum on topics related to IOT, AI, 5G, Digital Transformation , Industry 4.0 and 5.0 , Gen AI, Metaverse, Future of Technology , Future of Work , Digital Marketing , Cyber security , Quantum Computing, ESG etc. He has also authored a number of articles for various technology websites, B2B Tech and telecom related publications and a few prominent media houses like Fortune India, Indian Express, Moneycontrol, ET Edge , Communications Today, Voice and Data, etc.

Sunil is actively engaged with Industry bodies like CII, NASSCOM , IET, IACC etc working on a number of National initiatives around Digital Transformation advocacy and awareness for Enterprises especially SMEs, Digital Skilling for Women, Startup-Corporate connect , ESG awareness etc.

Sunil is an alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune ( Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing )

Sunil can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-david-8165971/