Drawing on 13 years of experience in private equity and consulting experience with large corporate organizations, Bobby Achettu founded Accelerated Growth Advisors in 2009, growing the team to 120 members with three offices around the world. He led the firm to 37% year-over-year growth in a 10-year period before the firm was acquired by Sikich in 2022. Now, as principal in charge of Sikich’s India global capability center, Achettu stands as a dynamic force in the financial services and professional technology industry.
Sikich, founded in 1982, is a global powerhouse with over 2,000 employees delivering technology-enabled professional services, including audit, tax, advisory and transformative digital strategies. Recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, the firm maintains a culture of innovation and agility, distinguishing itself with a robust portfolio of services spanning advisory and technology.
At Sikich, Achettu has been instrumental in leveraging international teams to drive global expansion and innovation. His leadership contributed to a major milestone in May 2024: a $250 million growth investment from Bain Capital. This landmark deal—Bain’s first in the industry—has positioned Sikich as a trailblazer in the rapidly consolidating financial services sector.
“Bobby thrives in complex environments,” said his colleagues. “He sees clearly when others are in a fog and he identifies and develops talent.”
Beyond corporate achievements, Achettu is deeply committed to education and mentorship. An adjunct professor at Loyola University and Northwestern University, he inspires students in courses on global entrepreneurship, modern workplace culture and business evolution. His passion for frameworks, adaptability and lifelong learning resonates in his teaching. Recognized as a top-ranked instructor, he co-founded advisory boards at both Northwestern and DePaul Universities.
“Throughout his career, Bobby had always considered himself an educator,” said his staff. “He often mentored and formally trained finance and technology professionals. Though the topic he teaches each semester or quarter may be different, there are key themes that he relays to these students: – The importance of frameworks – Not all careers are linear, in fact, the most – Continuous learning is critical to growth.”
Achettu’s impact extends to the community through philanthropic initiatives and leadership roles on multiple boards across industries, including technology, media and nonprofits. His accolades include being named a Crain’s Chicago Business notable leader in consulting, and he is proud of his transformative contributions as a teacher, mentor and business leader. Achettu said his guiding philosophy—“a self-actualized leader is an impactful leader”—shapes his approach to every role he takes.
“I continuously strive to put myself in roles and positions that will allow me to be most true to my real self,” said Achettu.