Ram Gopal – MBA 1991-93
Current Professional role: CEO Barclays India
Divine grace from the very beginning
Brother Ram Gopal started his career at Citibank in Chennai in 1993. He then worked for almost eleven years in Standard Chartered Bank across the globe before he returned to India to join Barclays in 2007. In October 2017, he was made the CEO of Barclays India.
At every step in his professional career, he has felt the divine grace of Bhagawan. In fact, he got enrolled himself for the MBA program under very fortuitous circumstances. A science graduate from Coimbatore, he wanted to do a management course, but strangely a classmate of his who couldn’t schedule a trip to Prasanthi Nilayam, gave his application form to Ram. Not knowing about Swami at all, he applied and before he knew he was in Bhagawan’s Institute.
The Summer Course, as an initiating program, touched his heart. Bhagawan’s love and teachings, and the learning opportunities in the hostel moved him so much that by the time the four semesters were done he didn’t want to leave Parthi. While his family needed his support he was looking for Swami’s guidance.
When Citi beckoned
One day, out of nowhere, came an interview call from Citibank. Back in 1993, the bank was building a credit cards business and was hiring for this new requirement. Apparently, his seniors from Prasanthi Nilayam were doing well at Citi and that made Citibank look at a few of their juniors. Ram’s name was probably referred by the then Dean of the MBA Department and he found himself attending the interview at Citi. He wasn’t even dressed appropriately for the interview, not having tucked his shirt just like his student days. The interviewer liked him and suggested him to tuck his shirt for the next round with his superior! The three years he spent at Citi provided great learning as he got to work with people of very high calibre.
In 1996, when he chose to move to Standard Chartered, again the odds were remote, but he was one of two candidates who were picked from the several hundred candidates that were evaluated. He started his stint in Dubai, but soon started covering other regions, such as South Asia, Africa, and so on. He got good opportunities including one to lead the post-acquisition integration work and at one time had a thousand plus people in his remit. In 2007, he got an opportunity to return to India as Head of Operations for Barclays. Swami’s grace was very evident as his then superior was an ardent devotee of Swami and sealed the job offer by giving Swami’s Vibhuti. In October 2017, he was asked to become the CEO of the bank’s India business.
The two guiding stars
He values two aspects of life from the Sri Sathya Sai Education system, which have helped him in his professional journey: The first is that due to the culture of ‘Simple living’ taught by Swami, he has managed to remain grounded. He is one who is conscious that designations are temporary.
Finding alumni and like-minded people at the work place has helped him continue to be his own self. The other learning he treasures is Swami’s lessons on ‘Man Management’. Throughout his career he has observed that clients and colleagues work with people they can connect with and be comfortable with. The business of a transaction comes later. In today’s world with hierarchies shrinking, one can’t get work done from a position of power – one needs to win hearts to get work done. Firms are eventually aggregate of people. Clients work with people they can relate to.
Handling tough situations through Bhagawan’s grace
All careers have their challenges and Ram’s is no different – when the Financial crisis of 2008- 2010 hit, his organization had to let go of about two thousand people. Ram was required to deal with the situation; he strongly feels that it was Swami’s grace that he could lead that change with a lot of dignity and human touch. From that precarious position, today his organization has risen strongly and has won internal and external accolades.
A note of advice to younger Sai brethren
One suggestion brother Ram would like to share with his younger brothers is to not be overawed when given responsibility. One needs to have self-confidence and a positive mindset as the position comes with God’s grace and one needs to embrace it fully. Our students should be willing to put in the hard yards and be ever ready to continuously up skill. One cannot term challenges as destiny, but work through them as opportunities.
Giving back to society
Through the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, Ram has been able to do his bit for society in areas of village development, youth and women empowerment. He also likes to give back to the Institute by being engaged with the Catalyst program and other symposiums.
Vidyullekha wishes brother Ram Gopal the very best.
