Leading with Heart and Hustle: The HR Playbook Behind Arundhati Bhattacharya’s Rise to the Top

Arundhati Bhattacharya's ascension from operational banking positions to the heights of Indian industry is a masterclass in human-centered leadership, and her early experience in HR tints her signature style. Recently recognized with the Padma Shri, her story is a testament to the strength of empathy, imagination, and lifelong learning in leadership.

 

Key Highlights:

 

HR as a Leadership Crucible: Bhattacharya credits her stint as HR head of State Bank of India (SBI) as a turning point. She had been hesitant to take on a platform role, but soon realized that unlocking people's behavior, aligning organizational and individual objectives, and staying connected to grassroots realities were the keys to leadership. She warns that leaders need to stay connected to frontline realities and emphasizes the need for direct, unfiltered feedback.

 

Historic Milestones: As the first female Chairperson of SBI, she spearheaded digital transformation, brought in futuristic reforms, and made customer-centricity the driving force of the bank's transformation. She guided SBI to become more resilient and relevant in the midst of revolutionary industry transformation.

 

Driving Digital and Inclusive Growth: Bhattacharya has spearheaded regional impact at Salesforce South Asia by evangelizing technology for good, customer relationship building, and inclusive leadership. She opines that robust data security and innovation are non-negotiables for digital transformation and has recently partnered with Jaquar Group to future-proof operations through AI-enabled solutions.

 

Padma Shri Award: Bhattacharya was awarded Padma Shri in 2025 for her exceptional contributions to banking and technology. She called the award "humbling and unforgettable," attributing her success to the collective effort of her mentors, colleagues, and society. The award is a testament to her commitment to high standards, integrity, and equity.

 

Vision for the Future: Bhattacharya is a firm supporter of reskilling in the age of AI, urging professionals to learn and adapt on a constant basis. She envisions the future being committed to people who are guided by integrity, empathy, and the capacity to learn and change.

 

"In any service organisation, people are your greatest asset. Understanding what drives human behaviour, what drives performance, and how to link individual goals to organisational goals, that's where the real impact begins." — Arundhati Bhattacharya

 

Source: Economic Times HR World, People Matters, Salesforce Newsroom, The Economic Times Tech, McKinsey & Company