Speaking in Mumbai at the launch of Aparajita, her memoir’s Hindi edition, Bhattacharya described lessons from her banking career. SBI’s first woman chairperson said reaching the top did not mean she was free of mistaken beliefs about colleagues or her own approach.

One example concerned women officers avoiding rural assignments, which are generally part of the requirements for advancement in banking. She initially saw their hesitation as unwillingness to handle difficult postings. A woman colleague explained that finding secure, appropriate accommodation was the real obstacle for single women. After SBI arranged shared accommodation and meal facilities, women readily took up these assignments.

Bhattacharya also challenged the view that Gen Z employees expect too much and avoid effort. Drawing on her experience at Salesforce, she described younger workers as resilient. In her assessment, they want their work to have meaning and contribute to society, rather than treating pay as the only motivation.

Training on unconscious bias brought another uncomfortable discovery: she was questioning male and female interview candidates differently. She stressed the need for equal opportunities and regular scrutiny of leaders’ own assumptions. Reflecting on her rise, she said she had concentrated on performing each role well rather than following a guaranteed route to leadership.