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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



               08  rt360 Less risk, more coffee                                                                                                                                                                       rt360 Less risk, more coffee  09
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