India's Top CEO's 

  
Jaspal Bindra - Standard Chartered 

Kiran Mazumdar Saw - Biocon 

Anuradha Desai - Venkateshwara Hatcheries 

NR Narayana Murthy - Infosys Technologies 

Mukesh Ambani - Reliance Industries 

Ratan Tata - Tata Group 

KV Kamath - ICICI Bank 

Azim Hasham Premji - Wipro

Nandan Nilekani - Infosys Technologies

Rahul Bajaj - Bajaj Auto 

Vijay Mallya - UB Group 

Kumar Mangalam Birla - AV Birla Group 

Sunil Mittal - Bharti Enterprises

Deepak Parekh - HDFC

Anil Ambani - ADAE

Rajiv Bajaj - Bajaj Auto

Lalitha Gupte - ICICI Bank 

S Ramadorai - TCS

Jagdish Khattar - Maruti Udyog

Subir Raha - ONGC 

Adi Godrej - Godrej Group 

GR Gopinath - Air Deccan 

Subhash Chandra - Zee Telefilms 

Venu Srinivasan - TVS Motors 

Brij Mohal Lall Munjal - Hero Group 

K Anji Reddy - Dr. Reddy's Labs

Naresh Goyal - Jet Airways 

Shiv Nadar - HCL Technologies

Yogesh C Deveshwar - ITC

Anand Mahindra - Mahindra & Mahindra 

Peter Mukerjea - Star TV India

Aditya Puri - HDFC Bank 

Uday Kotak - Kotak Mahindra Bank

AM Naik - Larsen & Toubro 

SB Mathur - UTI

Harish Manwani - Hindustan Lever 

Renuka Ramnath - ICICI Ventures 

AK Khandelwal - Bank of Baroda

AK Purwar - State Bank of India 

Suresh Krishna - Sundaram Fasteners 

Ashok Sinha - Bharat Petroleum

Kishore Biyani - Pantaloon Retail 

B Ramalinga Raju - Satyam Computers 

YV Reddy - Reserve Bank of India 

M Damodaran - SEBI 

AK Sinha - BSNL 

Naina Lal Kidwai - HSBC India 

Jeh & Ness Wadia - Bombay Dyeing 

Asim Ghosh - Hutch 

VK Mittal - Ispat Industries 

RS Lodha - Birla Corp 

VC Burman - Dabur 
Venugopal Dhoot - Videocon Industries 

Gautam Singhania - Raymond 

Ravi Venkatesan - Microsoft India 

BVR Subbu - Hyundai India 

FV Vandrewala - Motorola India 

Niall Booker - HSBC India 

Shikha Sharma - ICICI Prudential 

Ashwin Dani - Asian Paints

Rajeev Bakshi - Pepsi Co. 

B Muthuraman - Tata Steel 

SP Hinduja - Hinduja Group 

Anil Agarwal - Vedanta Resources

YK Hamied - Cipla

AC Muthaiah - SPIC

Bharat Puri - Cadbury India

Sanjay Nayar - Citigroup India 

Karsanbhai Patel - Nirma

Brian Tempest - Ranbaxy

NS Sekhsaria - Gujarat Ambuja Cement 

Proshanto Banerjee - GAIL 

R Seshasayee - Ashok Leyland 

MB Lal - Hindustan Petroleum 

BN Kalyani - Bharat Forge 

Onkar S Kanwar - Apollo Tyres

Shashi Ruia - Essar Group

Vinita Bali - Britannia 

Gautam Thapar - Cromptom Greaves

Ajay Piramal - Nicholas Piramal

BS Nagesh - Shoppers' Stop 

VS Jain - SAIL

Shobana Bhartia - HT Media 

KR Kim - LG India 

Rana Kapoor - Yes Bank 

Hemendra Kothari - DSP Merrill Lynch 

K Ramachandran - Phillips India 

Mallika Srinivasan - TAFE 

Hans-Michael Huber - Diamler-Chrysler India

Nimesh Kampani - JM Morgan Stanley 

Scott Bayman - GE India 

Zia Mody - AZB Partners

Noel Tata - Trent 

Sarthak Behuria - IOC

Harsh Goenka - RPG Group

Arun Maira - BCG India 

Adil Zainulbhai - McKinsey India

MV Subbiah - EID Parry 

Important Note: It is compulsory for all students to read and understand the handouts before
coming for the process:-

Q1. What do you consider your most significant weaknesses? 

I have never enjoyed this question as it basically forces you to tell the interviewer something
negative about yourself. Don't feel the need to reveal deep character flaws, but tell the interviewer
you have a few faults that you are working to improve and then give a few examples. A good way
to turn this question around and turn a weakness into a strength is the best way to answer this
question. Don't actually tell the interviewer that you have a problem; though we all have
something wrong with us, but don't come right out and say it as it will sound like a weakness and
a reason not to hire you. 
Best answer:
1. "I pay close attention to details which does result in a higher quality of work and saves
additional time down the road, though it does take more time up front and sometimes overtime."
2. "I am a person who likes to meet deadlines and deliver what I promise and sometimes I can
get a little frustrated with my fellow co-workers if I'm waiting on them in the last hour before
something is due."

Q2. What do you consider your most significant strengths?

This is another top 10 question that you can surely expect to hear in any interview. Prepare
yourself and make sure you can rattle off three to five of your strengths as it relates to your past
or present job, work experience, and the requirements for the job for which you are interviewing.
Though it's something to be proud of, they don't want to hear what a wonderful mom you are or
what a good basketball player you are. Be prepared and know your strengths and don't tell the
interviewer that you don't have any, even if you don't. Relate your strengths to the job for which
you are applying. 
Best answer:
1. "I have a solid background in Accounts Receivables, great problem solving abilities and I get
things done with little direction." And then elaborate a bit on your specific skills, but don't turn this
answer into a book. Keep it short and move on.
2. "I have great communication skills and can work with many different types of people of varying
personalities and skill levels. I am motivated, disciplined, and focused and am determined to get
my job done well and on time."
3. "I meet deadlines. I deliver what I promise. As a result, I've always made my managers look
good."

Q3. How do you get along with different types of people? 

The workplace is loaded with a variety of different people with varying personalities and the
interviewer wants to know how you think you will fit in. You want to show the interviewer that it
does not matter what kind of people you work with - just that work gets done. This shows the
interviewer that you are more concerned with outcomes than personalities. 
Best answer:
1. "I work well with anyone who delivers what they promise." 
2. "I have always been able to get along with anyone. It does not matter how difficult some of my
co-workers can be, I've always managed to get along with them. I even manage to get along with
those that I don't work with on a daily basis. Getting along with others simply boils down to
personality. When you can understand and recognize other personality types, other than your
own, getting along becomes that much easier. I may not get it right on the first try, but once I
learn more about that person and discover their hot buttons, I won't have any problems."

Q4. Do you consider yourself successful?

You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

Q5. What do you know about this organization?

This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find
out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are
the major players?

Q6. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be
mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

Q7. Why do you want to work for this organization?

This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on
the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your
long-term career goals.

Q8. Are you a team player?

You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often
perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude.
Do not brag; just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

Q9. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time. Or As
long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Q10. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization

You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as
they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Q11. Why should we hire you?

Don't repeat your resume or employment history. Offer one or two examples to explain why
you're talking to this particular company. What's the most compelling example you can give to
prove your interest? This question often remains unasked, but it's always in the back of the
recruiter's mind. Even if this question isn't asked, you should find an opportunity to use your
prepared response sometime during the interview, perhaps in your closing remarks. Point out
how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to
make a comparison.

Q12. What is your greatest strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples:
Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your
ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive
attitude.

Q13. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?

You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the
type of position applied for.

Q14. What motivates you to do your best on the job?

This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Q15. How do you handle stressful situations? 

Give some examples of stressful situations you've dealt with in the past. Tell how you use time
management, problem-solving or decision-making skills to reduce stress. For example, tell them
that making a "to-do" list helps. Site stress-reducing techniques such as stretching and taking a
break. Don't be afaid to admit that you will ask for assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed. 
If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure. 

Q16. What is the toughest problem you've had to face, and how did you overcome it?
Try to make this about a problem that faced your company and not just you or your particular
work group. The bigger the problem, the better. Give specific examples of the skills and
techniques you used to resolve this problem. Emphasize the successful results. Be generous in
sharing credit if it was a team effort, but be sure to highlight your specific role. 

Q17. Why are you the best person for this job?
As with all other questions, be confident and enthusiastic when you answer this. Don't try to say
you are the best qualified person, because you don't know the qualifications of the other
applicants. Instead, emphasize several reasons why you should be hired. For example: "I've got
extensive experience in [name the appropriate field] and have the specific skills you are looking
for. I'm a fast learner who adapts quickly to change and will hit the ground running. I'm dedicated
and enthusiastic about helping your company meet its goals, and will provide top-quality results
with minimal oversite. I'm an outstanding performer who takes pride in my work. You won't have
any regrets when you hire me."
Q18. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
This open-ended question is one of the most difficult and stressful ones job seekers face.
Employers ostensibly ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they
want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. If you lack goals, you will have
difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what
you want to do today, tomorrow and five years from now. Be consistent with the objective on your
resume and the skills and accomplishments you're communicating to the interviewer. Your
answer should be employer-centered. For example,
"In five years I hope to be working with an employer in an increasingly responsible position, that
enables me to utilize my talents and work closely with my colleagues in solving important
problems. I see myself taking on new and exciting challenges in an enjoyable environment and
hopefully this will be with your company."
Do not indicate that you hope to start your own business, change careers, or go back to school.
Such responses indicate a lack of long-term interest since you do not plan to be around for long.
While some may respond that they honestly haven't really thought that far ahead, the interviewer
infers that the applicant lacks vision and goals.

Q19. Since this will be your first job, how do you know you'll like the career path?
This can be a difficult question to answer convincingly, unless you've done a little bit of
preparation. Discuss, for example, an internship or a conversation that's allowed you to assess
the culture of the organization or to preview the work involved. Describe other people in the
profession who have been mentors or who have taught you about the field. Also, point out why
you're interested, how you learned more about the industry, and how you stay current with
industry trends.
"Although it's true that I've never worked a job in your industry, I've talked to many friends and
alums at my school who've been successful in your company. I always ask them questions,
'What's the most frustrating thing about your job?' and 'What's the most rewarding thing about
your job?' From the information I've gained, I'm confident that I'll be able to adapt quickly to your
culture and will find the next few years rewarding, based on my goals and values."
Banking Industry
The Banking Industry was once a simple and reliable business that took deposits from investors
at a lower interest rate and loaned it out to borrowers at a higher rate.
However deregulation and technology led to a revolution in the Banking Industry that saw it
transformed. Banks have become global industrial powerhouses that have created ever more
complex products that use risk and securitisation in models that only PhD students can
understand. Through technology development, banking services have become available 24 hours
a day, 365 days a week, through ATMs, at online bankings, and in electronically enabled
exchanges where everything from stocks to currency futures contracts can be traded .
The Banking Industry at its core provides access to credit. In the lenders case, this includes
access to their own savings and investments, and interest payments on those amounts. In the
case of borrowers, it includes access to loans for the creditworthy, at a competitive interest rate.
Banking services include transactional services, such as verification of account details, account
balance details and the transfer of funds, as well as advisory services, that help individuals and
institutions to properly plan and manage their finances. Online banking channels have become
key in the last 10 years.
The collapse of the Banking Industry in the Financial Crisis, however, means that some of the
more extreme risk-taking and complex securitisation activities that banks increasingly engaged in
since 2000 will be limited and carefully watched, to ensure that there is not another banking
system meltdown in the future.

Finance and Banking:

Finance and Banking is the cornerstone for the economic growth of any nation today. The topics
are so intertwined that effective management of finance measures implies sound banking
practices prevalent in the country. Banking and Finance policies are especially relevant to the
developing nations of the world where a progressive financial system can act as partner of
development by engaging in resource mobilization without merely functioning as a profit centre.
The credit planning of a developing country should be closely related with development planning
of the region. The main problem of the less developed countries, in this context, is the absence of
a mediating force or mechanism between the highly organized financial institutions and the
unorganized private intermediaries, whose savings constitute the bulk of the total savings of the
economy, thus acting as the foundation of the financial market of the country.
Finance is the key engine of investment and hence the driving force behind the growth of a
nation. Finance deals with the effective allocation and distribution of monetary assets by
individuals, businesses and organizations over time taking into account the associated risks.
More specifically, finance deals with channeling resources or wealth from savers to borrowers,
which may provide for more productive uses for the resources. This is not possible without an
efficient financial and banking system, otherwise lending will be more costly and risky.
In turn, it can be observed that effective diversion and distribution of resources from less
productive to more-productive uses as facilitated by the banking or the lending institutions will
raise income levels for the borrower and lender alike. Trade, specialization of production or
productive activities, professionalism, savings, efficient use of resources and risk-taking are the
essential features of a growing economy which can aptly be stimulated by a well-functioning
banking and financial system as a basic economic infrastructure.
Finance and Banking can also be used to mean the state of the banking and finance services in
the countries around the world. In case of India, banking and finance topics can range from the
growth in credit in the economy, the performance of the banking sector, the fluctuations in the
domestic exchange rate, simplifications of the tax regime and the monetary policy announced by
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
RBI has warned the economy of a spiraling inflation and hence has forwarded remedial measures
to prevent the scourge such as the rise in the Repo rate, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and a
stifling of credit offered by the banks. However, as part of its Annual Credit Policy for the year
2007-2008, RBI has announced policies like unchanged Bank rates, Reverse Repo and Repo
rates and the CRR to be kept at a steady level of 6.5%.
But as predicted by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF), the country is expected to
witness a rise in credit by at least 20%-25%, which will further put pressure on inflation rate which
had crossed the mark of 6% recently. However, the RBI has a target of maintaining the annual
inflation rate at around 5% and the growth rate in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is set to
grow at 8%-8.5% annually.
Some of the major banks in India:
Abn Amro Bank | Allahabad Bank | American Express Bank | Andhra Bank | Bank Of India |
Canara Bank | Central Bank Of India | Citibank | Corporation Bank | HDFC Bank | HSBC Bank |
ICICI Bank | Indian Overseas Bank | Oriental Bank Of Commerce | Punjab National Bank | State
Bank Of India (SBI) | Standard Chartered Bank | IDBI | United Bank Of India | Axis bank

Channels
Banks offer many different channels to access their banking and other services:
• ATM is a machine that dispenses cash and sometimes takes deposits without the need for a
human bank teller. Some ATMs provide additional services.
• A branch is a retail location.
• Call center
• Mail: most banks accept check deposits via mail and use mail to communicate to their
customers, e.g. by sending out statements
• Mobile banking is a method of using one's mobile phone to conduct banking transactions
• Online banking is a term used for performing transactions, payments etc. over the Internet
• Relationship Managers, mostly for private banking or business banking, often visiting customers
at their homes or businesses
• Telephone banking is a service which allows its customers to perform transactions over the
telephone without speaking to a human
• Video banking is a term used for performing banking transactions or professional banking
consultations via a remote video and audio connection. Video banking can be performed via
purpose built banking transaction machines (similar to an Automated teller machine), or via a
videoconference enabled bank branch.
Different Banking Products:

Retail Products ( Comes under Retail Banking )

• Business loan
• Cheque/Current account
• Credit card
• Home loan
• Insurance advisor
• Mutual fund
• Personal loan
• Savings account
Wholesale Products (Investment Banking)
• Capital raising (Equity / Debt / Hybrids)
• Mezzanine finance
• Project finance
• Revolving credit
• Risk management (FX, interest rates, commodities, derivatives)
• Term loan

What is Investment Banking?

Investment banking is a type of banking that is done by investment banking firms for corporations.
The banking is generally done in exchange for commissions and fees. The bank may perform
public offerings. It may also act as a broker and carry through on any number of acquisitions and
mergers. 
To think of it in its most basic terms, investment banking is a field of banking that assists
companies in acquiring the funds they require for their businesses. Those who work in investment
banking also offer advice to companies in regards to any number of financial transactions they
may need help with.
Traditionally speaking, banks got involved with either commercial banking or investment banking
but not both. Commercial banking is when the bank collects deposits from the clients it has and
then provides direct loans to individuals as well as businesses. It was considered illegal for a
bank to be involved with both forms of banking. This changed in 1999 when it became legal with
the creation of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
A financial institution is able to generate funds in two different ways when it offers investment
banking services. The one way they can do it is to draw on public funds through the capital
market. It can do this by selling stock in their company. The second way is to look for private
equity or venture capital that can be exchanged for a stake in the corporation or company.
A firm that specializes in investment banking is likely to do a fair amount of consulting work. They
are there to provide advice on financial matters. They are also capable of tracking the market in
order to be able to offer advice to a company about when they should make public offerings as
well as to know the most suitable way to manage the public assets of the business that they are
working with. Some of the consulting work an investment banking firm does will overlap with the
work performed by a private brokerage. This is because buy-and-sell suggestions and advice is
often something they offer to the corporations and businesses they represent.

Why Banks Must Lend Money

For banks to stay in business, they have to lend money. As a part of their overall operational
strategy, lending is just as important as encouraging a consumer to open checking, savings,
money market, CD, and other accounts. In this article, we will address the reason why it is
imperative for banks to lend money. While this has always been an important part of business, in
a competitive market and tough economy, lending is even more important now than ever before.
Banks are no different from other companies in that to survive and thrive, they need ways of
generating revenue. For banks, revenue is generated in a number of ways to include offering
financial advice or services to members, through various fees such as those charged for
transactions, and through interest, which would be associated with loans. Of all methods used,
interest is the primary source.
In the case of lent money, banks are able to generate revenue by charging interest on capital,
meaning profit comes from the differential between interest paid for customers opening deposits
and other sources of funds, with the level of interest charged for the different types of loans
offered. This difference, which is called the "spread", is between the cost of funds and interest on
the loan. When looking back over history, profits from lending has been somewhat controversial
but also dependent on customer demand, as well as the strength of customers borrowing money
and the current economic cycle.
In summary, banks lend money so they can make money. However, the greatest challenge is that
prior to 2007, banks were lending money to just about anyone who asked. Unfortunately, this was
a huge factor in the world financial crisis that began in 2007 with millions of homes across the
country going into foreclosure and vehicles being reposed. Because of this, the government has
developed and is now enforcing strict laws that make it difficult for banks to lend money. Even for
people with good qualifications, actually getting the money requires overcoming several
obstacles.
While securing a loan in today's economy is more difficult than any other time in history, banks
still need to make loans if they are going to make money. Interestingly, although millions of
people, businesses, and even government entities are still struggling from the massive credit
crisis that started on Wall Street, the very banks responsible are finding new ways of making
money by lending money.
For example, many banks are now involved with credit lines that are almost interest free. In
addition, these banks are now using money as a way of offering commercial loans although at
much higher interest rates. By keeping interest rates low is being referred to the "first line of
defense" for central banks that want to ease the pressures of the credit crisis while making it
easier for banks to lend money. By tapping into these extremely low interest credit lines, new
lending opportunities have been created.
With the low, short-term interest rates, many banks benefit especially the larger financial
institutions to include JPMorgan and the Bank of America. If you look at these two banks, you
would see that currently, the raw material is short-term money, which is set at 0.25% or less.
However, the banks then invest the funds in a higher interest rate note, such as a five-year T-note
with 2.50% interest. This meals the bank is virtually locking into a system that would ultimately
yield 2.25% profit, risk free.
When banks lend significant amounts of money in cases like this, the profit can be substantial.
Additionally, using this type of strategy creates an opportunity for the bank to recapitalize its
system. However, for profit to be made on loans such as this, capital could not be depleted by
paying out dividends or using it to provide bank executives with frivolous bonuses. Typically, the
near-zero interest rates are an excellent way for Wall Street banks to earn significant profit. As
long as this strategy is used to push banks to lend again, it works but one challenge is that some
banks are investing the interest free money into risk-free bonds issued by the government.
Keep in mind that some banks lend money as a way of building a stronger and more diverse
customer base but overall, most banks lend money to make money. The goal is that by lending
the right type of money and in the right amounts to people who can afford to pay the loan notes, a
cycle begins. As the bank begins to see revenue generated, it opens the doors to other types of
loans and greater loan amounts being offered. Therefore, these banks have the ability to meet
consumer demand more efficiently while the bank makes a profit.

Banking Loans:
Banking loans refers to the different types of banking loans offered by banks. Banking loans may
be availed of for various purposes. Banking loans are governed by banking laws and banking
regulations.
Banking loans are availed of by paying a particular rate of interest. The rate of interest of the
banking loans may be either fixed or the rate of interest may be variable or adjustable.
The rate of interest is influenced by several factors. If one opts for a variable rate of interest, the
rate of interest fluctuates with the rate of interest prevailing in the market at that point of time.
If an individual opts for a rate of interest which is fixed, the rate of interest throughout the duration
of the loan period remains constant. In this case the rate of interest is not affected by the market
conditions.
Factors affecting rate of interest of banking loans:
Rate of interest of banking loans usually vary due to few reasons. The reasons affecting banking
loans rate of interest may be as under:
Inflation is one reason due to which the rate of interest of banking loans gets influenced.
If there is a modest or moderate rise in inflation the rates of interest increase by a lower margin.
On the other hand if inflation is high, the rate of interest also rises markedly.
The other reason for the increase in rate of interest is the prevailing economic condition of the
market. The rate of economic growth also influences the rate of interest.
Banking loans are influenced by the term period of banking loans.
If an individual opts for banking loans for a long term, the rate of interest may be less depending
on the type of rate of interest opted for.
RBI also influence the rate of interest of banking loans.
Another reason is credit history of the subject (Individual/Corporate)
Banking loans may be of the following types:
Banking loans can be availed of, for various needs like buying ones home, buying a vehicle(Auto
Loan), staring a business, enrolling for a course in the university(Student Loan), Personal Loan
etc.,.the list can go on.
The above facilities can be availed off in different categories of banking loans.
Types of Banking Loans:
Banking loans can be broadly classified as undermentioned:
Secured banking loans:
Secured banking loans are availed in exchange for a security or collateral. The banking loans
provider offers banking loans to an individual provided the banking loan borrowers give
something as security.
In the event when the banking loans borrower is unable to pay back the loan amount, the banking
loans lender has the authority to confiscate the security. Security may be ones property or some
asset. 
Banking loans providers or lenders do not provide banking loans which exceeds the total value of
the property. 100% payment is not provided. Banking loans providers may provide as much as
60% to 80% of the property value.
Unsecured banking loans:
Unsecured banking loans are the banking loans which do not require any security.
There are hardly any banking loans providers wishing to offer unsecured banking loans to
individuals intending to begin a new business.
The reason being the banking loans provider or the banking loans company is not aware of the
credit history of the banking loans borrower and is not intending to any risk.
Under these circumstances, unsecured banking loans are extended to individuals whose credit
worthiness is known and the individual has a good report.
What is a Current Account?
Current accounts are transactional accounts. These are deposit accounts provided by banks or
financial institutions to offer frequent access to funds with different channels. Current accounts
offer cheque books and the facility to arrange direct debits, standing orders and payments
through debit cards. Some current accounts let you to borrow money through overdraft facilities.
A current account normally offers low interest yields.