1. You've built a career that spans finance and senior business leadership. What first drew you to accountancy, and what led you to add the ICAEW qualification to your ICAI membership?

From the start, I wanted to be a finance professional in the broadest sense - not just in pure accounting but using that knowledge to understand a business and help shape its decisions. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and a Company Secretary early in my career, and that combination gave me a real head start.

Interestingly, ICAEW membership is something I'd wanted since as far back as 1985 - I even considered going to the UK to complete my education. The growing demands of my professional life did not allow me to pursue it at that point, but when the opportunity came around again, I made sure not to let it pass a second time.

2. When did you realise you wanted to move beyond the finance function into broader leadership, and what prompted that shift?

I realized quite early on that there was no real reason to confine myself to finance alone - I had an inherent ability to apply those skills more broadly, particularly to Operations. The turning point came in 1998, during a stint with a large multinational, when I was given the opportunity to make the transition into Operations, and this shaped the trajectory of every assignment that followed.

3. What was the vision behind founding Mahindra Aerospace, and what did it take to build it?

The Mahindra Group has always encouraged its leaders to think beyond perceived limits, and that culture made a real difference. I'd long had a personal passion for aerospace, and the timing lined up well - India was just beginning to open up the sector to private enterprises. I put together an aerospace strategy and presented it to the Group, and it was backed wholeheartedly.

What really made the business work was the combination: I had the freedom to be creative as a leader, and the Group brought the encouragement, support, governance, and financial strength needed to back that creativity up. Today, Mahindra Aerospace is recognized as a growth gem within the Group - which is a source of real pride for all of us.

4. How has the ICAEW network and community contributed to your professional journey?

The ICAEW community in India is still relatively young, but with considerable effort behind it over the last few years, it's growing quickly, and I can already see the value. As more and more members connect and engage, I am sure it will become a strong platform for people to share knowledge, experience, and learning with one another.

5. What advice would you give to chartered accountants in India who aspire to move from finance into entrepreneurship or senior leadership?

Don't limit your imagination to just the skills you've learned and acquired. Use them as a foundation but let your own strengths and instincts guide you toward the path you actually want to take. We're fortunate to be working in a connected world with more opportunity than ever - and that's exactly the kind of thinking it rewards.