Leaders

After centuries of endurance and effort, women have begun to gain recognition for their knowledge and skills. Not only in conventional roles such as teaching and nursing but also in technology, politics, and more, women have left no area untouched when it comes to holding leadership chairs. However, the false notion that women are not strong in finance still prevails. The areas in which women have acquired grip are many and wealth management is not left behind; they are continuously proving their capabilities. What else do we need as proof, when a woman is already ministering the finance and wealth of the second largest populated country in the world?

Although we are witnessing big conglomerates having women as CIOs and CFOs, there is still a long way to go. To all the women who have already made a mark in this socalled male bastion, it took volumes of perseverance, grit, determination, and most importantly passion to scale and succeed.

Women Entrepreneur India engages in an exclusive conversation with Aarthi to deduce more about her journey.

Take Us Through Your Educational Journey And The Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table.

Having been brought up in a typical middle-class family, there has always been a high degree of emphasis on education and values systems. From humble beginnings, my father pursued his education from IIM, passed out with a gold medal, worked with the Tata Group, and led companies in the capacity of CEO and CFO. My mother also excelled academically, got through the Civil services examination, and retired as a senior civil servant in the Indian Revenue Service.

So, I grew up in a family where there’s respect, egalitarianism, equality, and education. I strongly believe that what we (my brother and I) are today is because of all these influences and value systems we were exposed to during our childhood. I think this is the driving force for many middle-class children even today. I pursued MBA in Finance from IIM Kolkata; after completing a five year integrated law degree the National Law School of India University. My career began as an Investment Banking Associate, and I had the privilege of working across global banks such as Merrill Lynch, HSBC, Credit Suisse, to name a few. My journey with investment banking led me to startup investing where I invested in and mentored a few early stage businesses – that experience proved to be invaluable in my journey with Kristal where I am Country Head.

What Motivated You To Venture Into The Field Of Investment Banking?

After completing my MBA, I was looking for an opportunity that would combine my learnings and skill sets as a lawyer and business professional. Fortunately, I realized that investment banking is a place for such unique skill sets; because it demands a unique combination of analytical perspectives and negotiating skills along with an understanding of financial markets.

"Aarthi is a leader and strategist with the ability to forge ideas and alliances to build frictionless products that benefit all stakeholders"

I have family members who have been investment bankers - I got a clear picture of the profession. Investment banking is an excellent career opportunity because it challenges you to perform under pressure and you are constantly pitted against the brightest and the best. I think it's a great starting career from the perspective of having a solid and diverse skill set that puts you in front of CXOs and founders right from an early stage of your career.

What Are Some Of The Most Significant Milestones Achieved By The Company Under Your Headship?

Let me give a gist about Kristal.AI first. It is a digital private wealth platform operational in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and the Middle East. We provide wealth advisory and fund management; serving accredited investors and mass affluent clients globally. The company’s vision is to make best-in-class investment products and advice accessible not only to the wealthy but to all. We are striving to democratize access through technology. Using cutting-edge technologies, we are able to make the ticket sizes smaller and the digital access much easier.

In a very short period, Kristal has become a go-to name for clients who want to build a wealth portfolio. Over the past six to eight months, we have become a preferred partner for advisory, curation, and access across stocks, ETFs, and other products. Combining finance through disruptive technologies makes us a unique player, and that satisfies me the most as a core member of the company. Proudly, there are no other platforms that are able to deliver this type of seamless experience for end clients and partners. The most cherishing milestone is having onboarded almost all significant financial services players in India.

What Has Been The Driving Force Behind The Successful Career You Have Created?

When I look back at my 20 years of professional journey, I see that every successful career trajectory is riddled with crests and troughs. No professionals would have had a secular growth path. We all experience extreme up and downs, but the key is to get up, dress up, and show up no matter what. That level of persistence to show up is underestimated. The second aspect is to recognize what I lack, and collaborate with my peers to deliver the best to the clients. Apparently, not everyone is good at everything, and it becomes imperative to complement each other’s skills, instead of trying to outshine others. The last driving element is empathetic leadership. I believe that you can solve the customers’ problems and meet their goals only when you empathize with your customers. This applies to partners and colleagues as well.

Aarthi Ramakrishnan, Country Head, Kristal

Aarthi is one such inspirational, passionate, and successful woman, who is currently outshining as the Country Head (India & Middle East) of Kristal – an AI-based wealth advisory and Fund Management Company.