A fortuitous invitation

Exactly a decade ago, in August 2009, I was a lucky invitee to a very topical conference on ‘Ethics and The World of Finance’ at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Why was this topical? Well, the entire Financial Services world was reeling under the once-in-a- lifetime global financial crisis which was deep, broad and sharp. It brought down with it, several banks, financial institutions and bankers. At the very core and heart of the crisis was the absence of ethics and the deep pervasiveness of greed.

I recall saying to myself that there is no better Institute to discuss ethics than the Sri Sathya Sai Institute and imagine my great pleasure to be able to see Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and to attend and speak at the conference. There I heard Bhagawan remind us all to observe restraint in trying to amass wealth and to place the purity of mind, ethics and morals as the spiritual foundation of our lives.

True purpose

I am not aware of any Institute of Higher Learning in the world that has, as its purpose this remarkable unique, distinguishing goal: “To equip students for the role of future leaders of India, as persons of integrity and character, as embodiments of truth, justice (righteousness), peace and love; and to confer on them the courage to stand up against injustice, indiscipline, immorality and falsehood.”

After spending 25 years in banking around the world and having hired and worked with several staff from this Institute, I can say with reasonable certainty that all alumni unquestionably demonstrate this purpose in everything they do. In fact, merely through my initial interactions, I can identify a Sri SathyaSai Institute alumni without reading the CV! Such is their predictability.

One of many

In 2013, when I was in Singapore, I interviewed a Sri SathyaSai alumnus based in Europe on  the phone. This was for a vital role as part of my leadership team. The truth is that I had, in    my mind, already decided to hire him prior to the interview and it was a source of worry for  me – not him – in how to convince him to accept. Thankfully he did and today, he is very senior leader! To my mind, it is remarkable that all the alumni that I have worked with, demonstrate the same consistent values of highest standards of ethics, deep collaboration, strong sense of helping colleagues, taking accountability and leading by example in a measured, calm manner.

Technology, future skills and hope

From a banking and financial services standpoint, the biggest disruption taking place today globally is through technology. ‘ABCD’ is my new language – Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud and Data”. I do feel that adapting to these new skills is now non-negotiable and it is vital that formal and informal learnings include all these imperatives. Aspiring young professionals will do well to bear this in mind.

Despite the somewhat doomsday predictions of extreme loss of jobs due to technology, I think there will be enough and newer roles that will emerge. In this context, another aspect that I think is fast becoming a skill-differentiator are the qualities of empathy, interpersonal relationships and human interactions. This institute has Integral Education as its distinctive feature and aims at “Integrating human values with secular knowledge”. It also offers a “Synthesis of science and spirituality for societal benefit”. Each and every staff, faculty and student diligently pursue this concept of integral education. I therefore feel that any Institute of Higher Learning that offers  such features is a testimony to the amazing vision set out decades ago by Bhagawan and its everlasting relevance in today’s world of technology. And, to offer this free of cost truly makes it one of its kind.

Something to work on

When I think of professionals who I have worked with around the world, one aspect that stands out is that young professionals from Sri SathyaSai Institute can work on is the ability to articulate their points of view firmly, confidently and unhesitantly. The world is craving for diversity, not just in the ‘popular’ hashtag areas but in diversity of thought too. I am convinced that young students from Sri SathyaSai Institute of Higher Learning can offer a diversity of thought which no one else in the world offers – a diversity based on the unique core purposes of the Institute.

My sincere best wishes to you all!

Sreeram Iyer

About the Author

Sri Sreeram Iyer is the Chief Operating Officer of ANZ Bank. He also heads the Institutional Business for fifteen countries and is based in Singapore.