Name: Ranjit Roy

Title: Head of the Middle East and SEO ANZ DIFC

Organisation: ANZ Banking Group

Career international banker with cross-functional experience in 6 leading banking groups and board level experience in industry and business groups. Intrepid traveller having visited 122 countries, bon vivant, car enthusiast, foodie and photographer, who lives life fullest. Featured in various publications, spoken at various events and forums not just for business but also for personal passions, interests and causes.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Ranjit's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Managing employee team expectations and aspirations in a restricted and limited growth environment and balancing empathy for our teams with the broader organisational goals and objectives

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

After several years in a functional specialisation I was advised that I would need to wait for the right time, the right location and the right opening to move into a CEO and regional leadership role. When that appeared it turned out to be a merger of two roles, which meant a lot more responsibility and accountability from a governance and a functional perspective than I had aspired for. At that stage it was a challenge and a first, but with a "can do" approach to the opportunity I accepted it as I had to look beyond just title , grade and remuneration considerations, but more at growth and development.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

By sensibly adjusting my working and personal time according to the time zones my stakeholders, partners and clients work in. For instance an early start working from home at 5 am allows me to catch the Australia working day, move on to Hong Kong and Singapore and finally to the Middle East, take a break late afternoon and then clear out matters for UK, Europe and America if needed, with a quick look at what needs to be done the next day and send out anything that needs action by the Eastern time zones next morning, before I wrap up for the day.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Through Covid a lesson well learned is that groups can work well remotely if given trust and with it accountability. Flexibility is a 2 way street.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

A CEO Only Does 3 Things

Allows for focusing on the bigger picture and purpose, and effective delegation and letting go with trust and empowerment.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Be honest to yourself, your team and your employer and all else will fall into place.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Waiting for the right time to do the right thing is essential. Often we are in a hurry to jump the career queue but in the long term patience, endurance and resilience will see you through and this I have seen through my career. Also understanding that there are only so many boxes a job will tick for you...its a question more of what you want to tick for yourself.