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How One Woman Changed Banking in India. And is Now Betting on AI | Arundhati Bhattacharya | Tank Talks Asia
Episode Description
In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha talks to Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, South and Southeast Asia, Salesforce and former Chair of the State Bank of India.
As one of India’s most influential business figures, Arundhati discusses the impact of AI, the importance of values-based leadership, and the gender barriers she has faced throughout her career. She also reflects on the decisions that helped her transform India's largest bank.
Featured Voices
Hosts: Manisha Tank
Guest: Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, South and Southeast Asia, Salesforce
Key takeaways
- Arundhati believes lasting leadership begins with taking action, which is a lesson she learned from her mother at an early age.
- She explains how listening to other women led her to take simple but transformative policies to remove barriers to career progression at SBI.
- Reflecting on demonetization in India, she says clear leadership, constant innovation and practical problem-solving were essential during one of India's biggest banking challenges.
- Arundhati argues AI is not a magic solution but a long-term transformation that depends on trusted data, strong governance and clear business outcomes.
- She believes AI should be viewed as an opportunity to create new skills and careers.
Chapter heads
02:31
The Power of Identity
Arundhati reflects on her first encounter with gender bias and how lessons learned from her mother shaped her determination to build an identity of her own.
05:58
Never Part of the Plan
Arundhati explains how joining State Bank of India at the age of 22 marked the beginning of an unexpected four-decade career at the bank.
08:23
Removing Hidden Barriers for Women
She describes how a practical housing challenge was preventing women from taking rural postings and how a simple solution helped change that.
10:52
Leading Through Demonetization
Arundhati reflects on managing India's largest bank through one of the country's biggest financial disruptions and why innovation became a daily necessity.
13:34
Starting Again at Salesforce
She reveals why leaving banking for the technology sector was one of the hardest decisions of her career and what ultimately persuaded her to join Salesforce.
17:43
Why AI Isn't a Magic Wand
Arundhati believes successful AI adoption will require patience, trusted data and a willingness to experiment and learn.
22:45
Building Trust Across Borders
She discusses the challenge of deploying AI across Asia's diverse regulatory landscape, where compliance, privacy and trust are non-negotiable.
24:35
Is AI Really Taking Our Jobs?
She says many young people in India view AI as an opportunity rather than something to fear.
26:27
Writing Indomitable
Arundhati shares how the pandemic gave her the time and motivation to write about the childhood experiences that shaped her life and leadership.
28:47
Carve Out What Doesn't Exist
Manisha revisits two memorable quotes from Arundhati, on territoriality and the dangers of complacency, as the conversation concludes with a reflection on what it takes to create new roles and keep growing.
Useful links
https://harpercollins.co.in/product/indomitable/
https://www.salesforce.com/in/news/stories/arundhati-bhattacharya-india-award/
https://fortune.com/2026/05/22/arundhati-bhattacharya-salesforce-south-asia-ceo-india-most-powerful/
https://www.forbes.com/profile/arundhati-bhattacharya/
https://www.ft.com/content/b46f06d9-2661-4685-9b5b-a3fd1791d64c?syn-25a6b1a6=1
https://www.salesforce.com/artificial-intelligence/
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Tank Talks Asia is an AsiaWorks production.