How a book convinced Arundhati Bhattacharya, one of India’s most powerful bankers, to try working for a U.S. tech company
Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chairperson of the State Bank of India, transitioned to a role at Salesforce after being inspired by the company's values. Her decision was influenced by a meeting with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and his book, which highlighted the company's commitment to social issues and gender equality. Since joining Salesforce in 2020, she has significantly expanded the company's presence in South Asia and is now overseeing growth in Southeast Asia as well.
- ▪Bhattacharya served as the first female head of the State Bank of India for five years before joining Salesforce.
- ▪Her role at Salesforce was newly created, requiring her to define her own job description.
- ▪Under her leadership, Salesforce's South Asia headcount grew from 2,500 to over 18,000.
- ▪Salesforce reported 133.8 billion rupees in sales for the twelve months ending March 2025 in India.
- ▪Bhattacharya is now also responsible for Salesforce's expansion into Southeast Asia, leveraging similarities with India.
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When Arundhati Bhattacharya stepped down as the State Bank of India (SBI)’s chairperson in 2017, she never envisaged her next gig would be with an American tech firm.Recommended Video “Finance to tech was a move that was never planned,” she tells Fortune. “When this role came about, I sat on it for about five to six months, trying to make up my mind on whether to start in a new area after so many years, and after retiring.” Bhattacharya had just wrapped up a five-year tenure as the first female head of the SBI, one of India’s largest banks, capping a career that spanned 40 years. Yet she changed her mind after a trip to San Francisco and a meeting with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who also handed her a copy of his book, Trailblazer. Two stories stood out to her.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Fortune.
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