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In a world where males dominate top roles in finance and technology, Arundhati Bhattacharya represents perseverance, vision, and pioneering success. Her journey from being the first female Chairperson of the State Bank of India (SBI) to CEO of Salesforce India, is nothing less than extraordinary.
On this Women’s Day, we celebrate her incredible story, which shows how women can break down boundaries, redefine leadership, and shape the future of technology and business.
Who is Arundhati Bhattacharya?
Arundhati Bhattacharya was born in Kolkata, India. She graduated from Lady Brabourne College and later obtained a degree in English Literature from Jadavpur University.
Her career started in 1977 when she joined the State Bank of India (SBI) as a probationary officer when she was 22. During four decades, she rose through the ranks to become the first woman to head the 211-year-old bank as Chairperson in 2013. Throughout her leadership, she transformed SBI, modernizing operations and embracing digital banking, which paved the way for a new era in Indian banking.
Retirement has hardly stopped her thirst for challenges. She was appointed as Salesforce India head in 2020. Under her leadership, Salesforce India has widened its footprint, aiding digital transformation and innovations in cloud computing.
Her influence now stretches beyond banking and technology, and her continued inspiration to aspiring women leaders proves that success knows no gender.
Challenges She Faced in Her Salesforce Journey
Shifting from the topmost position of a government-owned bank to an ever-evolving tech company was not a small task for Arundhati Bhattacharya. She was entering the IT industry, which is entirely different from the banking sector. In an interview published in Fortune India, she said, “It took me five months to decide.”
She came from a non-IT background that has created doubt in her mind, but her experience in public sector banking gave her confidence. She said, “I realised I could contribute by bringing out the user’s perspective.” This new sector was filled with jargon, rapidly evolving technologies, and a new work culture. Some doubters questioned whether a career banker could thrive in a dynamic tech environment.
She took over this CRM giant in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to which she faced unexpected challenges. When Arundhati Bhattacharya took over as CEO of Salesforce India during the Covid-19 pandemic, she faced unexpected challenges.
Managing 2,200 employees across six cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Jaipur—remotely was no easy task. “Initially, I thought the virtual work set-up would last only three months,” she recalls. But with a strong team, they adapted and kept operations running smoothly.
Her first major challenge was integrating Salesforce India’s different segments under a single leadership. “Marc wanted them unified to strengthen our collective identity,” she explains. It led to the ‘One India’ initiative, aligning teams under a shared vision based on Salesforce’s ‘Ohana’ (family) culture. “Ultimately, both banking and IT are centered on service. Effective management of people is crucial for success,” she says.
Giving up was never an option for her, nor a choice. Instead of being discouraged, she engaged in learning—understanding cloud computing, AI, and enterprise technology. She listened, adapted, and proved that leadership isn’t about technical expertise alone—it’s about vision, people management, and the ability to drive change.
The results? Under her leadership, Salesforce India became one of the company’s fastest-growing markets worldwide. She didn’t just adapt; she excelled in the tech sector like a queen.
How Salesforce India Grew Under Her Leadership?
Since Bhattacharya became the head of Salesforce India, the company has expanded at a phenomenal rate; here are some of the reasons that reflect her value:
1. Massive Workforce Expansion
When she came on board in 2020, Salesforce India employed around 2,500 people. Today, it has a workforce of more than 13,000, with a five times increase in client-facing positions.
2. Unparalleled Revenue Growth
Ever since she was appointed in Salesforce India, the revenues have jumped 6x from ₹1505 crore in FY 2020 to ₹9117 crore in FY 2024 with a 43% compounded annual growth rate.
3. Bridging the Digital Skills Gap
She created a two-million strong Trailblazer community to enable young professionals and students to acquire tech skills, making Salesforce a household name in India’s corporate and educational world.
4. Driving AI & Cloud Adoption
She greatly enlarged Salesforce’s cloud computing offerings and incorporated AI-fueled tools to enable Indian companies to deal with digital transformation.
5. Advocating for Workplace Diversity
Diversity and inclusion are not buzzwords for her at Salesforce. She actively engages in equal pay and flexible work policies and helps many women in leadership positions.
Her capacity to blend traditional banking experience with contemporary technology leadership is evidence of her versatility and vision.
Trailblazing Achievements of Arundhati Bhattacharya
Historic milestones, courageous leadership, and game-changing choices characterize Arundhati Bhattacharya’s career. Following are some of her most notable achievements that make her a legend in the making as a visionary leader:
1. First Woman Chairperson of SBI (2013)
She made history as the first woman to lead SBI, steering it through India’s demonetization crisis and transforming it into a tech-driven bank.
Under her leadership, SBI introduced:
- YONO (You Only Need One) – a digital-only banking platform that revolutionized mobile banking.
- AI-based customer service for better efficiency.
- Enhanced cybersecurity & fraud prevention measures.
2. Salesforce India CEO – A New Era in Tech (2020)
In 2020, she embarked on a new challenge—driving one of the world’s most innovative technology leaders. As appointed as the new leader of the Salesforce India, she:
- Drove explosive growth in India’s cloud computing market.
- Advocated for AI and digital transformation in enterprises.
- Pushed for diversity and inclusion in leadership roles.
Her vision is transforming Salesforce India into a hub of technology, diversity, and business growth.
3. Padma Shri Award Recipient (2025)
In January 2025, she was awarded India’s highest civilian honor for her outstanding contribution in the field of trade and industry. This award reflects her transformative leadership at SBI and pioneering efforts in driving digital innovation at Salesforce. Her journey is a symbol of inspiration for future leaders, showing how perseverance and vision can conquer any challenge.
4. Included in Forbes’ List of Most Powerful Women
Bhattacharya has also consistently been included among the world’s most powerful women in:
- Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in Business” list (Ranked 25th in 2016)
- Fortune’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders”
- Asia’s Most Powerful Women lists
She is not just a business influencer but a role model for women aspiring to become leaders in any industry.
6. A Resolute Champion of Equal Pay & Workplace Inclusion
At Salesforce India, Bhattacharya is aggressively working towards narrowing gender leadership gaps. She opines that leadership opportunities for women, flexible work policies, and pay equity are key to a successful business.
Key Lessons from Arundhati Bhattacharya’s Career
What do we learn from the great journey of Arundhati Bhattacharya? Some important lessons are:
1. Leadership Is About Breaking Barriers
Bhattacharya didn’t just step into male-dominated industries—she changed them. As the first woman Chairperson of SBI, she was often the only woman in the room, but she never let that define her.
“I never went into a meeting thinking I was the only woman. I went in as the decision-maker,” she once said.
At Salesforce, where women hold less than 40% of leadership roles globally, she continues to champion gender diversity and encourage more women to step into leadership.
2. Adaptability Fuels Growth
Moving from banking to technology after 40 years in finance was a bold step, but she embraced it confidently. Even with no prior experience in IT, she believed in continuous learning.
“You should always be ready to learn. The moment you stop learning, you stop growing,” she said.
This mindset helped her bridge the gap between two completely different businesses, showing that expansion reaches people who are eager to adapt.
3. Resilience is More Powerful than Challenges
She has faced many challenges, from navigating demonetization at SBI to leading Salesforce India through COVID-19.
During the pandemic, she managed 2,200 employees working remotely while ensuring Salesforce India continued to grow. Instead of panicking, she trusted her team’s collective strength. “We still managed,” she remembers.
Her journey teaches us that challenges are unavoidable, but resilience defines success.
4. Innovation is Non-Negotiable
At SBI, she led India’s digital banking revolution with YONO (You Only Need One), making banking easier for millions.
At Salesforce, she leads the adoption of AI and cloud computing in India to ensure companies do not lag in implementing the most recent tech advancements.
In any industry, staying ahead is always important. In banking and technology, she has supported innovation and digital change. From her, we can learn that innovation is crucial.
5. Success is About Lifting Others
At Salesforce, she promotes women in leadership roles, equal compensation, and workplace diversity. She also champions digital education initiatives, ensuring young professionals, particularly women, receive access to tech jobs.
“True success is not about personal achievement. It’s about how many other people you can take with you,” she says.
Her journey proves that great leaders don’t just climb to the top—they help others rise, too.
Conclusion: A Role Model for Every Woman
If you ever doubt yourself, remember her journey. Whether you are working in banking, technology, or any other area, you can succeed if you dream big, learn, and adapt.
Arundhati Bhattacharya’s journey isn’t only about success—it has the power to inspire the younger generation. She didn’t merely break a barrier—she forged a legacy. She has demonstrated that no profession, no role, and no aspiration is beyond women.
This Women’s Day, let her life remind you—your dreams are real, your ambitions are within reach, and the world awaits your lead.
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