"Building from scratch is not a disadvantage, it is the purest form of freedom."
Introduction
Every meaningful journey begins with experiences that shape the way a person sees the world. For Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare, the path from his early years in Goa & Mumbai to becoming a professional associated with global aviation, airport operations, PMO, mobility systems, and technology-driven transformation has been built through curiosity, perseverance, and a constant willingness to learn.
Born with roots connected to Goa and raised in Mumbai, his early life was influenced by a balance of tradition, practical learning, and exploration. The environment around him encouraged independence and responsibility from a young age. His childhood memories reflect a time of simplicity, where friendships were built outdoors, learning happened through everyday experiences, and curiosity became a natural part of his personality. The lessons he received at home, especially through the practical responsibilities given to him by his father, helped him understand the importance of awareness, discipline, and real-world learning.
During his academic years, Dr. Mitesh discovered something that no textbook could ever teach him. While pursuing his education in commerce, he found himself drawn to the mountains. Trekking and adventure activities became more than just hobbies, they became his classroom without walls. His involvement with mountaineering training took him to places he had only seen in pictures. He met people from different backgrounds, faced unpredictable weather, and learned that preparation was not just a word but a lifeline. Teamwork was no longer a theory, it became the difference between reaching the summit and turning back. These experiences left a deep imprint on him. During the internship at Kesari Tours, he realised that knowledge only becomes meaningful when it is tested, when it is applied, and when it helps you navigate the unpredictable paths of real life.
His professional journey began with an opportunity at British Airways, where he experienced the transition from academic learning to the demands of a professional environment. Those early years became a foundation for his understanding of project management, technology, communication, processes, and workplace responsibility. The exposure he gained there helped him recognise his interest in technology-based projects and structured problem-solving.
The next big chapter began with Emirates Airlines. He spent years there, not just working, but growing. Each role brought new responsibilities. Each responsibility deepened his expertise in aviation operations, technology, and project management. His journey inside the organisation was defined by one thing, a willingness to take on the toughest assignments and find solutions where others saw dead ends. He threw himself into initiatives that made flying better for passengers, introduced technology that simplified processes, and made operations run smoother. That was his signature, finding what needed fixing and fixing it.
His move to Abu Dhabi Airports marked another turning point. He stepped into large-scale project management and began untangling complex operational challenges that had long gone unsolved. What set him apart was not just his ability to see what was broken, but his skill at building clear, structured solutions and bringing the right people together to make them work. That ability became the backbone of his leadership journey.
“The places that raise you never truly leave you. They become the lens through which you see everything else.”
Phase 1: Roots, Identity and the Making of a Curious Mind
The story of Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare begins with a connection between two places that remained important throughout his life. Although he was born and brought up in Mumbai, his family roots belonged to Goa, a place that continued to hold a special place in his identity. He often describes himself as a Goan by origin, carrying the traditions and connection of his ancestral roots while being shaped by the environment and opportunities that Mumbai offered.
The journey of his family’s association with Mumbai began even before his birth. His father had a Portuguese birth certificate from Goa, and during his educational years, changing circumstances created a decision for the family. When his father was approaching Grade 10, certain rules related to the Portuguese system in Goa meant that continuing there could result in losing a year. To avoid that situation, his grandparents decided to move outside Goa, and that decision brought his parents to Mumbai, where they continued their education and built their lives.
Mumbai became the place where Dr. Mitesh spent his formative years. His early memories are connected with the Dadar area, where he was born, and later with Kurla East, where he grew up in Shivsrushti Colony. The environment around him was very different from the world children experience today. There was no internet, and entertainment was not centred around digital devices. The neighbourhood itself became the place where friendships were created and childhood was experienced.
Most of his time was spent outdoors with friends from the colony. The park, the roads, and the open spaces around his home became places where children gathered naturally. They played together, explored together, and created memories through simple everyday moments. Television arrived later in his childhood, and even then, viewing time was limited. He remembers that by around Grade 8 or 9, cable television had started becoming part of life, but it was still only a small part of his daily routine.
His school years were spent at King George School, Dadar, where he completed his Grade 10 education. As a child, he carried an energetic and playful personality. His primary school years were filled with curiosity and activity. He belonged to a group of students known for their mischievous nature, not because of conflicts or fights, but because of their enthusiasm for playing. Their energy often extended beyond the playground, sometimes even into the classroom.
There were moments when their games became too energetic, such as playing cricket inside the classroom and accidentally breaking glass windows. These incidents led to complaints, parents being called, and the usual discipline that followed. Looking back, those memories represent a childhood full of movement, friendship, and exploration. As he progressed into secondary school, academic responsibilities increased, and he gradually became more focused on studies.
“Real learning happens not in classrooms. It happens in moments when you step into the unknown and discover what you are made of.”
Phase 2 : Discovering Discipline Through Learning, Adventure and Self Development
After completing his schooling at King George School, Dadar, Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare stepped into a new phase of learning at Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga, Mumbai, where he pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a focus on Financial Accounting and Audit. These years introduced him to a wider world beyond classrooms and textbooks, where education became connected with experiences that shaped his confidence, independence, and understanding of his own abilities.
While academics remained an important part of his journey, college life also became a period where he explored his interests and developed skills outside conventional learning. During his years in college, he discovered a strong passion for trekking & National Services Scheme (NSS). What started as an interest gradually became a meaningful part of his life. He began joining friends for trekking activities and exploring different landscapes, eventually connecting with groups that organised outdoor learning experiences.
His involvement with trekking grew when he joined camps organised by an institute that conducted annual programmes in the state of Himachal Pradesh. His enthusiasm for the activity encouraged him to take his interest further, and he became an instructor associated with the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. This experience introduced him to a different kind of responsibility. Trekking was no longer only about personal adventure; it became an opportunity to guide, teach, and support others as they discovered their own confidence in challenging environments.
During his five years of college, whenever he had holidays, he travelled for trekking and training programmes. He explored places such as Manali, Solang, Rohtang, Nainital, Haridwar, Chardham, Amarnath, Shree Vaishnav Devi & Shree Amarnath Kashmir and Nepal, participating in different trekking expeditions and guiding students through these experiences. The mountains became a place where he learned lessons that extended far beyond physical endurance. Preparing for difficult routes, supporting fellow trekkers, and managing uncertain situations helped him understand the importance of discipline, teamwork, and responsibility.
Over time, he trained more than 400 students in mountaineering. Teaching others gave him a different perspective on knowledge. He realised that learning becomes more meaningful when it can be shared and applied. The responsibility of guiding young students through unfamiliar environments required patience, awareness, and the ability to make decisions when situations changed.
These experiences also developed his interest in travel. Being exposed to different places, people, and cultures expanded his curiosity about the world. After completing his graduation, he decided to continue exploring this interest and pursued a Postgraduate Diploma from Trade Wings Institute. This step allowed him to build further understanding in the travel and tourism field, connecting his passion with structured learning.
“Every beginning carries the weight of uncertainty and those who walk forward anyway find that the first step is always the hardest and the most necessary.”
Phase 3 : The First Professional Steps and Discovering the World of Possibilities
After completing his education and gaining valuable experiences through trekking and travel, Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare entered a new stage of life where he began transforming his knowledge and interests into a professional direction. His early career was a period of learning, adjustment, and discovery, where he gradually understood the difference between academic knowledge and the practical demands of the workplace.
Following his Postgraduate Diploma from Trade Wings Institute, he began an internship with Kesari Tours, a travel and tourism company in Mumbai. This experience allowed him to understand the industry from a professional perspective and gave him an opportunity to observe how organisations function beyond theoretical concepts. It was a step that connected his interest in travel with the discipline of working in a structured environment.
Soon after, he received an opportunity that became the beginning of his corporate journey with British Airways. For him, entering a global organisation directly after college was a completely new experience. Until that point, his learning had largely taken place through education, trekking, interaction and personal experiences. Stepping into a professional environment introduced him to a different world where communication, teamwork, technology, planning and problem-solving were part of everyday responsibilities.
He often reflects on how education provides knowledge, but the workplace teaches how to apply that knowledge in real situations. His initial days at British Airways were filled with learning. Understanding office culture, managing responsibilities, working with computers, communicating professionally, and collaborating with people from different backgrounds were all new experiences for him.
During those early years, he developed many practical skills that became important throughout his career. He learned how to use technology effectively, improve his understanding of Microsoft Excel, work with advanced formulas, prepare professional communication, and manage information through digital tools. These were skills that were not taught in classrooms at that time but became essential in his professional growth.
Although the beginning was challenging, he enjoyed the process because every day brought something new to learn. He remembers the excitement of discovering new methods and improving his abilities through experience. The first year and a half especially became a period of significant development, where he continuously expanded his understanding of how work was performed in a professional setting.
Note of Thanks
The journey of Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare has been shaped by countless interactions, shared responsibilities, and professional experiences that enriched his understanding of people, systems, and possibilities. This biography stands as an acknowledgement of the many individuals and environments that contributed to his growth throughout his career.
His first words of thanks are for his wife Apurva Kenkare and daughter Gauri Kenkare. They stood by him through every change, offering patience when he needed it most. He remembers his great-grand parents & parents too, their wisdom still lingers in his choices. And he does not forget his in-laws and grandparents, each one left a mark on who he became. Father, Avinash Kashinath Kenkare, Mother Sudha Avinash Kenkare, Grandfather Kashinath Bucho Kenkare and Sadanand Vinayak Kulkarni, Grandmother Vimal Kashinath Kenkare and Sumangala Sadanand Kulkarni, Father in law Jagadish Sarvottam Kudchadkar & Mother in law Anjali Jagadish Kudchadkar.
In his professional journey, he acknowledges the leaders who placed their confidence in his abilities and entrusted him with responsibilities that allowed him to grow. He is sincerely grateful to Tony Sembi and Rami ElSamra from Emirates Airline, Archana Narwani from Abu Dhabi Airports Company, and Hans Aksel Pederson and Carol Edmonds at Red Sea Global. Their trust in his leadership, skills and belief in his potential encouraged him to take on challenging assignments and contribute meaningfully.
The guidance and experiences gained from working with diverse teams across aviation, technology, and mobility environments helped broaden his perspective and strengthened his approach towards strategic leadership and problem-solving. Every collaboration brought valuable insights and reinforced the importance of cooperation in achieving ambitious outcomes as a visionary leader.
He also recognises the value of every opportunity that pushed him beyond what felt comfortable. Each chance to learn, contribute, and take on more than expected shaped his path. The trust others placed in him gave him the courage to keep exploring, keep building, and keep creating solutions that mattered.
This note reflects Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare’s appreciation for the people, teams, and professional experiences that became part of his journey and contributed to the path he continues to build.
thanks,
– Dr. Mitesh Avinash Kenkare