Jaya Vaidhyanathan - An Inspiring Leader, infusing excellence and ethics

In conversation with Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO, BCT Digital .

What makes a strong leader? What are your key leadership strengths that are the strongest attributes of success?

A strong leader is one who has the courage, passion and ability to motivate teams to works towards goals. As a leader, I equip my people with a strong sense of direction, while inspiring them to achieve more, lending lly examples that demonstrate courage and commitment. I encourage them to pursue their passion as relentlessly as I have, and say 'yes' to setting ambitious goals for themselves and their teams. Recognition is a critical aspect of leadership. I believe in instant feedback - recognizing the contributions of a team or an individual at the right time, thereby empowering them and keeping motivation levels high. This approach has built some of the finest teams at BCT Digital, that rise above obstacles, thrive on collaboration, and remain steadfast in their commitment to a common objective.

An accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career? What challenges did you face to reach success?

As an entrepreneurial venture, my Fintech company, BCT Digital , focuses on the grave problem of rising Non-Performing Assets (NPA) in India. Our full spectrum of products enables banks to bring back between 500 M USO to 1 B USO per bank into the system every year. We set off with just one product: rt360 - Early Warning System (EWS) , custom-built to tackle the issue of NPAs. Today, rt360 has grown into a full-fledged, award-winning risk management product suite that is tailored to banks and financial institutions. One of the outstanding features of this product is that it is built by bankers for bankers, and is completely "Made in India" . Interestingly, although rt360 was custom­ designed for India's complex banking system, it is now widely adopted by global markets through the approach of 'Reverse Innovation: Make Local, Go Global' . One of the initial challenges we faced with rt360 was in early adoption. In India, for instance, qualifying for a public sector RFP meant meeting numerous criteria and dependencies. Additionally, there were several operational challenges, from setting up base to staffing, securing investor funding and getting stakeholder buy-in. Once we surpassed these challenges, the room of opportunities quickly opened up - and it was glorious!

A strong leader is one who has the courage, passion and ability to motivate teams to works towards goals. As a leader, I equip my people with a strong sense of direction, while inspiring them to achieve more, lending lly examples that demonstrate courage and commitment

What is a role of a leader in these challenging times? List 5 in order of priority.

I see a good leader as someone who draws on his or her strengths to inspire people during the best and worst of times.

These five qualities are most valuable in my opinion:

Integrity with purpose-oriented perspective: Leaders need to have the ability to swoop and soar at the same time. Celebrating shared successes and nurturing an outcome-based organizational culture are integral to this.

Faith in the entrepreneurial spirit: A good leader holds on to their vision and keeps going until they break through, no matter the odds. This is an instrumental trait in overcoming challenges of today's disruptive world.

Ubiquitous networking - The simple truth: the more you network, the stronger your business relationships become. A good leader is never afraid to reach out and draw on their connections.

Risks versus rewards: Leaders are not afraid to take calculated risks and take the plunge when the time is right - after thorough analysis and assessments.