Aparna Saroagi, Vice-President & Head, Credit Risk, India, Natwest Group.
She has been spearheading inclusive workplace practices by advancing organization women’s engagement; going beyond, as a key driver in propagating women empowerment across industry sectors by mentoring and guiding women at all levels to achieve their potential to fulfil professional and personal goals.
On inclusive leadership, in her own words, “a diverse and an inclusive society starts with leader’s personal actions and advocacy, to bring clarity to where we (women) are as a gender and the capability required for tomorrow. That journey is by itself a motivation to bring our best selves to work.”
Over her 9 years in RBS, Aparna has been instrumental in setting up various teams in RHI, and leading initiatives to ensure a safe and secure customer proposition. She has been committed on achieving business priorities by driving the people agenda (Career Fairs, Women’s leadership mentoring), defining effective Target operating models and driving consolidation of the various controls function.
She has led from the front, supporting teams with opportunities to develop with positive Our View D&I scores and conscious effort to build an inclusive team.
Aparna has made a significant impact in India as the Co-Founder of Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Foundation (WEE) which is fully supported by Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Government of India to strengthen the global Women eco-system. Under Aparna’s leadership, WEE Foundation has remarkable achievements till date:
– Mentored 5200 Indian women entrepreneurs in start-ups including AI, Beehiving, Menstrual Hygiene, Tactile technology for differently abled etc;
– Facilitated GBP 125,000 grant as venture capital support
– Drive sustainable environment initiatives on smokeless cooking stoves.
Aparna’s achievements continue as a regular TedX and keynote speaker; on behalf of Government of India as a Chair/ Presenter of round-table conferences on women empowerment hosting overseas high-level Government delegations from:
– UK (Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Member of Parliament & Virendra Kumar Sharma, Member of Parliament),
– Canada ( Naveen Bains, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation)
– Israel (Ofir Akunis, Minister of Science, Technology and Space)
She is the winner of the prestigious “Social: India Women entrepreneurship Leadership award 2017”. In recognition of her Gender diversity contribution, she has earned an honorary appointment in the Standing committee for Promoting Women in Science, Government of India.
Aparna has been recognized as Young Innovator and Leader by Israel embassy in India.
Aparna has demonstrated that achieving equality is about more than just creating ‘opportunities for women’ – it’s about creating a positive work environment, encouraging colleagues on the importance of diversity and enabling a great workplace resulting in brilliant outcomes for customers, colleagues and the community.
Aparna’s work has been covered by leading medias Bloomberg, BBC, Business World, Government of India portal. ( Please feel free to search my name on internet, almost 5 pages talks about our work on women empowerment)