IN HER, I BELIEVE

They say behind every successful person, there is that nudge received from someone else. We believe that our mentors hold our hands when needed, offer us hope when there is none, have faith in us at times we don't and help us be better human beings. The women featured on the following pages prove it

“BHARATI RAO always maintained a very balanced outlook that I admire”

Former State Bank of India chairperson and current CEO & Chairperson, Salesforce India, ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA has enjoyed the mentorship of a fellow 'lifer' in banking

"I spent 40 years of my working life with the State Bank of India, so it is not surprising that I met the woman I consider a mentor there. Bharati Rao is the first woman to have become the Deputy Managing Director of the bank. Like me, she was a 'lifer' at the bank, and I learned much from her, sought her counsel often, and was always guided very well.

“As a junior, going up before the final credit committees was always scary, because you never knew what questions would be asked; you were expected to have the answers so that the proposal would not be deferred. Many would get impatient with us, but she would take the time to help us understand how the numbers could be interpreted, to coach us so that, the next time, we were aligned with the priorities of the top management.

“I also know that, with at least one promotion, when I was the youngest and junior-most, when most of the board felt that my promotion could be deferred by a year because I could 'afford to wait', she and another lady board member were very clear that if I was found suitable, then age and the year should not be of any consequence. That played a big part in my getting up to the level I did, because, otherwise, I would not have had the residual service to qualify.

“Subsequent to her retirement, I have been with her on many boards, and have always appreciated her contributions for being extremely balanced and useful, especially with difficult items on the agenda. Sometimes, there were provocations, but I've never seen her losing her temper. She always maintained the very balanced outlook that I admire.