Key Takeaways
Arundhati Bhattacharya, the boss of Salesforce India, says people should learn to trust their gut feeling to deal with surprises. She thinks mistakes can teach us valuable lessons and help us improve. Bhattacharya, who used to be in charge of a big bank in India, also believes it's important to let young people face challenges instead of always protecting them.
Arundhati Bhattacharya: Embracing Challenges and Redefining Success
It was 2 years after Arundhati quit her job as the head of India's biggest government bank. She wasn't idle though, she was working part-time at other companies. Then, a big company called Salesforce needed a boss for their India office. They wanted someone who knew India well. They picked Arundhati! But she wasn't convinced. Many people told her it was a bad idea and a step down from her old job. After all, her old bank had 270,000 employees, while Salesforce India only had around 2,500.
At first, Arundhati Bhattacharya wasn't sure about the job at Salesforce. "It took me a while to say yes," she admits. But she decided to give it a try. And it turned out great! Today, Salesforce India has grown a lot, with over 10,000 employees and making a lot of money. They're also hiring new people in many Indian cities.
This was a whole new world for Arundhati Bhattacharya. Salesforce is very different from her old job at a big, traditional bank in India. The bank had been around for hundreds of years and everything had clear rules. Salesforce, on the other hand, was a newer company and there wasn't a leader for India yet.
Arundhati Bhattacharya took the job because she wanted a challenge and a chance to build something new. She wasn't sure if she could succeed without the support of a big, established company, but she wanted to try.
Breaking Away: Discovering Unexplored Trails
Hard work is important for success, but Arundhati says it's better to love what you do. "I worked hard because I wanted to, not because I had to," she explains. "I enjoy my work and don't let tough times get me down." This is something she's done since she was a kid.
Arundhati grew up in Bhilai and Bokaro with limited resources. She and her siblings shared one bike for school. Her mom, a doctor, inspired her. Arundhati's mom became a doctor after seeing a young girl die from lack of medical care. "My mom never gave up and always found solutions," Arundhati Bhattacharya says. "I learned that too."
Even in college, things weren't easy. Arundhati Bhattacharya traveled by bus and train at 3 am just to get to class on time. "Life throws challenges," she says, "but I bounce back. Sometimes we blame others for failures, but it's better to learn from them. Think about what you could have done differently. That's how you get stronger."
Preparing for Tomorrow: Laying the Groundwork
Arundhati Bhattacharya never had things easy growing up, and she thinks today's younger generation shouldn't either. She says life is full of challenges, but parents often try to shield their kids from them. Her advice? Let your kids experience things for themselves! Moving for a new job? Bring them along! This way they can learn from new places, cultures, and languages.
Bhattacharya also has a message for women. She says it's important for women to have their own identity, not just be seen as someone's wife, sister, or mother. Education is key to giving women more power, along with being financially independent. She encourages women to think about building a career, not just a regular job.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, a leader with decades of experience, shares some advice for young people:
- Build a strong team: Surround yourself with reliable people at work and at home.
- Support your family: Be understanding and caring towards your loved ones.
- Find trustworthy friends: Build strong friendships with people you can rely on.
- Share the workload: Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to others.
- Ask for help: Don't be too proud to reach out for assistance when you need it.
- Focus on what matters: Don't stress about small issues.
Arundhati Bhattacharya also talked about her career change from banking to Salesforce. She believes experience can only take you so far, and trusting your gut feeling is important. As the first CEO of Salesforce India, she had to build the role from scratch and create a successful platform for the company. Despite the differences between banking and tech, she saw similarities in serving customers and working in a value-driven industry. This motivated her to take the leap and make the change.
Arundhati's story is inspiring. She's a successful businesswoman, author, and role model, especially for women in challenging fields. Her book, "Indomitable," tells the story of her journey. She believes anything is possible, quoting Audrey Hepburn: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I am possible!'"
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