Page 10 - coffee table book-Nov 2020 - web_Neat

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products for the banking industry and this has been the most dream is too big to achieve. Always remember – you
significant in my career so far. I have had several big wins of compete only with yourself.
$300 M plus in the past but my entrepreneurship journey is Big and small goals matter; become a better person, learn
INDIA’S about purpose and is most rewarding. It is rebuilding India as something new, engage in your hobbies, invest in health and
a product innovation hub and transforming the underlying
achieve professional milestones. All these factors work in
fabric of our banking system. It is about creating products in
MOST India for India, and taking them global – rather than the tandem to help achieve your dreams.
reverse dynamics that we have witnessed. Our collective
What are the other philanthropic works you are involved
efforts have helped bring a step-change in the role of India in
in?
TRUSTED the global economy while inspiring more Indians towards I am deeply involved with prominent NGOs, like the
product development and innovation. With the looming
NPA crisis in the banking system, a single implementation of
Mastermind Foundation. I apply my expertise in fundraising,
CEO: our solution puts back 500 M per bank into the economy. optimal financial disbursements, social governance, and so
Example – For a bank of Asset size 50 B, NPAs are currently
on, to help them achieve their targets and bridge internal
at 10% or 5 B, a 1% reduction in NPA is 500 M into the
economy. gaps. I aim to help NGOs that need professional support
and guidance with financial management, operations, and
Jaya Vaidhyanathan How do you integrate corporate philanthropy or HR.
CEO, BCT Digital
corporate social responsibility as a part of your business
I am passionate about women empowerment. A good part
strategies?
of my personal life has been spent on this vision. Just two
Selected as India’s Most Trusted Philanthropy and Social responsibility are often used years back, we established around 100,000 touch-points
with underprivileged women in India through various
CEO, Jaya Vaidyanathan of BCT interchangeably although they are different contextually. charitable activities. Social transformation, child
Digital has led with passion and With mandated investments in CSR, philanthropy has taken development, public healthcare, and economic inclusion are
center stage but the focus on sustainability of initiatives is not
exuberance. That has instilled yet understood. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a some of the other causes that are close to my heart.
tremendous ownerships in her day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”
How do you dene success and how do you measure up
team that today is redening the sums up the sustainability theme in the CSR realm. The to your own denition?
Years of working in the industry, your contribution question is “What can we do to ensure our role, efforts, and
reects versatility and volubility. What has inuenced industry. results are sustainable for any given CSR initiative?” For me, success is learning something new. Every stage of
your decision-making process at various stages? Corporates need to look beyond philanthropy to lend their my life has been spent preparing for the next. The learning
expertise across managing investment, risk, and logistics is constant and I enjoy it. But, ultimately, all this needs to
My decision-making process can be summed up in the
planning to ensure that the NGO sector is able to leverage lead evolution as a person.
words of Robert Frost, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and
Looking back, these decisions helped to give my best to industry. As the Chairperson of BCT CSR, I focus on a few
I-I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the Success is also about the clarity of the route since you are
other facets of my life. The happiness rejuvenates me to priorities– Healthcare, Education, Women Children and
difference.”
approach my career with more excitement and resolve than creating job opportunities for the underprivileged paving the road for future generations. Ethics, transparency
The easy road has never appealed to me, as it leads to no ever before! I also serve on the boards of NGOs and my role is on and reputation matters. People may not remember who
you are or what you did, but they will never forget how you
new destinations. I took up investment banking 25 years
For me, a life lived passionately with the joy of challenging fundraising and fund disbursement, a gap in the NGO made them feel about themselves!
ago, a difficult career choice, at a time when the industry
makes the journey as interesting as the destination. It’s more sector. On a personal note, I currently serve on the board
was male-dominated. It resulted in new opportunities and
about enjoying the road you’re taking every day, rather than of an NGO called Mastermind that provides rehabilitation We are constantly making things better, faster, smarter
growth prospects.
trying to get somewhere in life. If the journey is not for women with mental health issues. I lend help to NGOs or less expensive. In other words, we strive to do more
At different stages in my career, my choices have been interesting anymore, it means it’s time to look at other in making their pitch/presentations, connect the right with less. Tell me about a recent project or solution to a
about running in place, rather than leading the race. The options, especially those outside your comfort zone. fundraising channels, and assist in planning for disbursement problem that you have made better, faster, smarter or
in a way that is sustainable. less expensive?
move from investment banking to management consulting is
An accomplishment that you consider to be the most
an example. To effectively balance work and life with a
signicant in your career? What has been your driving force or philosophy in life? Following the special Asset Quality Review by the RBI in
young infant, I had to look for alternatives to spending nearly 2015, our country witnessed one of the single largest
18 hours at work every day. In my current role as an entrepreneur, I created niche To challenge myself every day. I strongly believe that no

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