Chanda Kochhar: Story Of The Woman Who Changed The Retail Banking Sector Of India

She is the lady who leads the Retail Banking Sector of the Indian Economy.
She is also one of the most powerful and influential women on the globe.

Chanda Kochhar is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank. She is responsible for a bank which has assets of over US $109 million and 4450 branches within India.

She accredits her mother for having taught her the tenacity to be strong and courageous and the ability to believe that a women can achieve whatever she wants through her determination.

(Chanda Kochhar taking part in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan)

As a child, she wanted to get a job in the Indian Civil Services. However, she moved to Mumbai as a teenager and her life changed thereafter. Hailing from Jodhpur, she was raised in Jaipur, Rajasthan. She went ahead to join the Jai Hind College in Mumbai. She also acquired a master's degree in Management Studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.

(Chanda Kochhar with her husband and daughter)

Kochhar's father died when she was just 13. Her father, she says, has been a mentor all her life. It is he who instilled the basic values and ethics in her. She is now married to her business-school friend, Deepak Kochhar and is a mother of two, Aarti and Arjun. Her husband happens to be a wind energy entrepreneur.

(Kochhars with Ambanis)

In 1984, Kochhar joined the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) as a management trainee. During her early years at ICICI Ltd., she handled Project Appraisal and Monitoring and was entrusted with the task of appraising projects in various industries. Her enthralling personality and hardwork made her progress in her career.

(Chanda Kochhar receiving the Padma Bhushan from the former President Pratibha Patel)

In 2009 Kochhar was appointed Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank and since then has been responsible for the bank's diverse operations in India and overseas. It is during her regime that the bank is doing exceedingly well in all spheres.

(Aarti Kochhar's wedding)

She heads the International Monetary Conference which brings together the chief executives of approximately 70 of the world's largest financial institutions from 30 countries. She is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Indian Banks Association along with being on board for the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, National Institute of Securities Markets and Institute of International Finance.

(Ms Kochhar with her son, Arjun)

Ms. Kochhar has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the India's highest civilian award. She had secured the Wockhardt Gold Medal for Excellence in Management Studies as well as the J. N. Bose Gold Medal in Cost Accountancy.

In addition, she also received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Carleton University, Canada in 2014. The university conferred this award on Ms. Kochhar in recognition of her pioneering work in the financial sector, effective leadership in a time of economic crisis and support for engaged business practices.

She has been widely commended and has had the privilege of receiving various laurels, some of which includes:

- Retail Banker of the Year 2004 by the Asian Banker

- Business Woman of the Year 2005 by The Economic Times

- Rising Star Award for Global Awards 2006 by Retail Banker International

- Ranked 36th in the Forbes list of World's 100 Most Powerful Women

- Features in Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in Business since 2005

About balancing her work and life, she just tries to focus on playing both the roles to her fullest ability. She has been extremely focused and poised under extreme stress situations. She says, 'the leader, in a way, has to be like a sponge that has to absorb the stress because you know if you just allow stress to filter through and pass to your team then you're not doing a leader's job'.

'I was told by my parents was that you know take this inhibition out whether you're a girl or a boy. Basically, pursue your dream and as long as you're a capable and hardworking human being you will be able to follow and fulfill your dream.'

She is undoubtedly the most inspiring women all around. Hat's off to her spirits and persona!

(With inputs from Wikipedia, rediff)