Ronnie Dante, From Apprentice to Global Technical Leadership

Beyond Nuts & Bolts Ronnie Dante From early setbacks to global leadership, and a life built on discipline beyond work Current Role CEO, Liftinstituut Certification India Pvt. Ltd. Known For Global technical leadership, safety and quality excellence Where It Didn’t Begin As Planned Ronnie Dante’s journey did not begin with a clear roadmap. When his father’s company shut down, he had to discontinue his studies after HSC. The idea of becoming an engineer was put aside, and at 17, he entered the workforce as an apprentice at Otis. What could have remained a compromise became the foundation of something far greater. Curiosity replaced uncertainty. Within months, he was not just installing elevators, he was understanding them, questioning them, and going deeper into the systems behind them. Curiosity That Built a Career By his third year, Ronnie was already handling high-speed gearless elevator installations at the Reserve Bank of India. Alongside hands-on work, he pursued a diploma in Electrical Engineering, building both practical and technical depth simultaneously. Over time, projects, responsibilities, and geographies expanded. From leading large installations like the Gandhinagar Secretariat to resolving challenges internationally, each step strengthened not just his expertise, but his confidence. Building, Scaling, Leading His transition to Schindler during its early India phase marked a defining shift. Moving into a greenfield environment meant building from scratch, systems, suppliers, and credibility. It demanded belief before results. That phase shaped his leadership. What followed was a global journey across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and eventually Switzerland, leading technical compliance, audits, and global safety and quality functions. The Second Innings Retirement did not slow him down. It simply redirected him. In 2026, he helped establish Liftinstituut Certification India and now leads it as CEO, building its presence and contributing to the next phase of industry safety and certification in India. Beyond Work What defines Ronnie beyond his professional journey is discipline. During the COVID period, at the age of 60, he began jogging at home. What started small became a routine. Today, he runs over 12 km, multiple times a week. He has also taken up golf post-retirement, continuing to stay active, engaged, and constantly improving. The same mindset that built his career continues to shape his life, consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to keep moving forward. Brief Snapshot Ronnie Dante began his journey as an apprentice and went on to lead global technical, safety and quality functions across Schindler. Today, as CEO of Liftinstituut Certification India, he continues contributing to the industry, while maintaining a disciplined lifestyle through long-distance running and continuous learning.

Abhijit Dandekar – A Journey Beyond the Industry

ISEE Profiles, Beyond Nuts & Bolts A Journey Beyond the Industry Abhijit Dandekar Director, Codes & Standards (Asia Pacific), Otis Elevator Company Pty Ltd President, Pacific Asia Lift & Escalator Association (PALEA), Singapore Professional Journey An electronics engineer with post-graduation in Marketing Management, Abhijit is working as Director, Codes & Standards (APAC) at Otis’ Asia Pacific RHQ. With more than 38 years of experience at Otis, his expertise spans across multiple functions including R&D, Field Engineering, Training, Quality, Product Safety, Lean Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Codes & Standards. Responsible for product and process quality, reliability enhancement, customer satisfaction, and product safety improvements, he currently also serves as the President of Pacific Asia Lift & Escalator Association (PALEA), Singapore, with the objective of harmonizing elevator and escalator codes and standards across Asia Pacific and China. He is a member of ISO technical committee TC 178 and its workgroups, CEN TC10 Liaison Member, World Elevator & Escalator Federation (WEEF) and WEEF-GTAG. He has represented the India delegation from the Bureau of Indian Standards in multiple ISO TC178 plenary meetings held across Russia, USA, South Africa, Australia, India, Germany, France, and China. He is also a member of ETD25 (P4 panel), Elevator and Escalator Code Committee of Bureau of Indian Standards, and has liaised with government authorities on amendments to local elevator codes for Maharashtra and Gujarat. In addition, he is a member of CED46 (P16 panel) responsible for drafting the National Building Code of India. Beyond Work Abhijit is also an experienced mountaineer and rock climber. With over 50 pinnacles and walls to his name as first ascents in the Western Ghats, he has also been part of expeditions in the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Alps. He has completed both Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Courses from The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi, securing “A” grade in both. As an expert trekker and mountaineer, he possesses extensive experience navigating technical high-altitude terrain, mastering alpine skills, and executing complex expeditions safely. His background spans from leading technical trekking in remote regions to managing alpine risk, roped climbing, glacier travel, and challenging weather conditions across major mountain ranges. Key Competencies Technical Mountaineering: Proficient in rock and ice climbing, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and fixed-line systems. High Altitude Expertise: Experienced in expedition climbing and managing the physical and psychological demands of 6000m+ peaks. Risk Management: Skilled in assessing and managing risks related to avalanche, rockfall, and rapid weather changes. Leadership: Experienced in guiding expeditions, leading teams, and mentoring, with a strong focus on safety and high-altitude technique. His focus is on combining meticulous preparation with adaptability, viewing mountains as places for both deep personal challenge and refined skill application. His mountaineering journey has translated directly into corporate strengths, helping him build resilience, strategic planning ability, trust, and leadership in high-stakes environments. Photographic Moments With Sir Edmund Hillary, first man to climb Mount Everest, photographed at NIM, Uttarkashi, October 1987. With Peter Habeler, first man to climb Mount Everest without artificial oxygen in 1978, photographed in Mumbai, February 2012.

Dr. Abhijeet Ashok Joglekar

Dr. Abhijeet Ashok Joglekar Sales and Marketing Head, Arkel Electronic India Pvt. Ltd. A Sales and Marketing Professional having more than 2 decades of industrial experience in Vertical Transportation Industry. Talking about the pentagon situated on other side of the coin, this represents his journey as a Yoga Practitioner, Tabla Player, Feature Writer, Master of Ceremonies and RTI Activist. A Journey Beyond the Industry His passion for social service has been a life-changing and satisfying experience, cultivated over the years through music, yoga, narration and related pursuits since childhood. Along with his family, he has found harmony in life through the guidance of experienced mentors, close friends, supportive colleagues and his superiors, including the Arkel management. Yoga: Discipline, Balance, and Awareness He maintains his work-life balance through consistent yoga practice. Since the Covid era, his practice at home gained recognition through various Indian newspapers, published in multiple languages and reaching millions of readers across the country. In today’s stressful lifestyle, many individuals are benefiting from yoga and embracing the philosophy of “back to basics” for a better life. Even within the confines of home, yoga remains an accessible and effective way to maintain fitness. RTI Activism: Thinking Beyond the Obvious His inclination to think beyond conventional approaches found expression through his work as a Right to Information (RTI) activist, which was also noted by Elevator World Magazine. Through this work, multiple stakeholders, including elevator companies, component manufacturers and students, have benefitted. Music: A Universal Language For him, music is an ultimate gift to mankind. Through his monologues on varied subjects including Indian Classical Music, accompanied by the traditional Indian percussion instrument, Tabla, he has highlighted its principles for wider audiences in a simplified manner. He strongly believes that music has no boundaries of language, religion and region. Communication, Writing & Cultural Engagement His association with media professionals enhanced his article writing skills for newspapers, which further contributed to his presence at various trade and cultural events as a Master of Ceremonies. He continues to move forward with a commitment to preserving and promoting Indian culture and traditions within today’s ultra-modern world. Closing Note This journey reflects a rare blend of technical excellence and cultural depth, a professional rooted in industry, yet shaped equally by discipline, creativity and social impact. Advertisement Advertisement