Darren Goonawardana

Commander
DISC Type : D

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at Collectiv

Greater Chicago Area, United States

Overview

Darren Goonawardana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Collectiv, a three-time Inc. 5000 Microsoft consulting firm. An expert in data, planning, and AI with an engineering degree from the University of Brighton, he specializes in building modern data architectures. Colleagues describe him as driven, hands-on, and a consummate professional.

As an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) in Chicago, Darren engages with fellow business leaders. He is also an investor and advisor for various startups in the United States and internationally, reflecting his passion for the intersection of technology and business on a global scale.

He has founded and scaled companies across four different continents.

Personality Overview

Very Quick

Risk-Taker

Candid & Clear

They are not always relationship oriented.  They take a lot of pride in personal achievements. They respond well to strong and respectful communication.

Topics They Care About

AI-Augmented Leadership
He promotes the concept of "Human-Centered AI" and the "Cyborg CEO, " focusing on how leaders can leverage AI to augment their capabilities rather than simply automate tasks.
Modern Data Platforms
His company is a top consulting provider for Microsoft Fabric and Databricks. He frequently discusses uniting clinical, operational, and financial data to improve business visibility.
Entrepreneurship
As a multi-company founder and a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Chicago chapter, he is deeply involved in the entrepreneurial community.

Media Appearances

Darren has no verified media appearances

Work History

11-2019
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at Collectiv
10-2021
Member at EO Chicago Chapter
1-2017 - 3-2022
Director at Acterys Financial Planning & Analytics
12-2013
Board Member at Moirai Group
Investor at Investor & Project based start-up advisor

Education

1992 - 1996
B Eng from University of Brighton
8-1986 - 1-1991
Education details unavailable from Latymer Upper School

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 12 Location : Greater Chicago Area, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at Collectiv
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Insights For Selling To Darren

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Objectively showcase the impact that your product creates
  • Refer to testimonials from well-known industry leaders
  • Make sure that you circle back fast on any action items, it wins their trust

DONT's

  • Do not spend too much time focusing on product tech or features
  • Don't try too hard to forge relationships with them
  • Don’t focus on process and rules, give the impression of being a ‘gets it done’ person

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Darren is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Darren

  • If they decide not to go ahead, they will say no without hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Darren move?

  • They can reach decisions fairly quickly if they are convinced.
  • Can Darren take some risk or not?

  • They don’t mind risks but can be quite binary about them.

You And Darren

Personality Compatibility


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