Open banking and open finance demand more than technical skill. Success requires combining regulatory knowledge, scalable technology, product strategy and strong human leadership. This is where Siddhesh Dongare stands out.
As a Global Product Leader at Mastercard, he is shaping innovation in a highly regulated financial ecosystem. One standout indicator of his impact is the scale of his intellectual property work. Siddhesh Dongare has submitted over 40 patentable ideas in open banking, open finance and API design, with multiple filings already in the United States. In a domain where standards control market growth, this level of IP creation helps influence how secure data sharing and financial connectivity will evolve.
His career path began in IT education, an uncommon foundation for a technology leader. Teaching gave him the ability to explain complex systems clearly, a skill now essential for aligning legal, engineering, business and regulatory teams across borders. Before joining Mastercard, he built a techno functional base through roles that blended business requirements with technical execution. This balance enables him to design products that work both in code and in compliance.
Beyond corporate work, he is an author, coach and mentor. He has written books such as
Shape Your Life by Changing Perspective and The Unknown Face Above Us, A Timely Reminder of Human Intelligence in the Age of AI. His books focus on mindset and perspective, reflecting his belief that product leadership requires empathy and adaptability. His mentoring work reinforces this pattern. Siddhesh mentors internally at Mastercard and externally through initiatives such as Reliance Foundation Skills and Skill India Digital Hub. That shows a commitment to talent development beyond his own organization.
Two Agile methodologies he created demonstrate how he approaches innovation as a repeatable system. Agile Iteration Process for Data Mining (AIP-DM) manages data discovery through structured, adaptive cycles rather than forcing uncertain research into rigid delivery. Universal Lean Agile Project Management Framework (UnLeASH) applies lean agile principles beyond IT to reduce organizational bottlenecks in legal, compliance and procurement. Used together, they streamline both invention and delivery.
Testimonials from senior leaders further validate his professional impact. Senior Vice President Alexia Hagen, Head of Open Banking Business at Mastercard, describes him as a culture builder who combines collaboration, clear communication and process discipline with empathy and a strong focus on individual growth. She emphasizes his ability to challenge outdated structures without damaging trust, a crucial trait in risk-averse financial institutions. Direct manager Nick Baguley highlights his versatility across product leadership, program management, people management and technical writing, noting his reliability and ability to quickly adapt ownership models when strategies or constraints change. Peers recall high-pressure open banking programs where revenue was at risk and deadlines were tight. Under those conditions, Siddhesh stepped beyond assigned responsibilities, analysed complex data, contributed to product design and coordinated teams, demonstrating how his frameworks, certifications and leadership translate into performance under pressure.
Taken together, Siddhesh Dongare’s career is defined by deliberate synthesis. He combines technical depth in open banking, high volume IP generation, proprietary frameworks, mastery of agile and leadership standards, philosophical work on mindset and continuous mentoring. None of these elements alone are uncommon, but the integrated system he represents is rare. He designs the product, designs the organization that delivers it, designs the metrics that prove it works and teaches others to apply the same thinking, all within one of the world’s most regulated sectors.
For professionals aspiring to succeed in open banking and open finance, his journey offers a clear insight. Long-term impact requires more than expertise in a single layer. It comes from building a stack of capabilities that includes invention, structure, measurement, empathy and perspective. Those who can hold all of these dimensions together and still deliver when the stakes are high are the ones who shape the future of financial technology.
