Arundhati Bhattacharya Leads Salesforce India’s Rapid Growth

Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chair of State Bank of India, took on a groundbreaking role at Salesforce in 2020. She became the first woman to lead the bank and later transitioned from finance to tech, a move she never anticipated. Bhattacharya was drawn to Salesforce by CEO Marc Benioff’s book and his commitment to equal-pay audits, which aligned with her values.

Under her leadership, Salesforce’s Indian operations have grown significantly. The staff expanded from 2,500 to over 17,000, and revenue reached $1.5 billion. Bhattacharya’s impact extends across South and Southeast Asia, where she is now focused on selling agentic AI solutions.

Bhattacharya emphasizes the challenges women face in the workplace, stating they must be ‘better than the best in order to be noticed.’ Her journey highlights the intersection of finance and technology, as well as the persistent barriers women encounter in professional environments.