Dhananjay Rai (PFM 2005 -07) is the vertical head of Commodity Finance Credit Risk vertical at Yes Bank. Dhananjay is based out of Mumbai and is a seasoned banker with more than 15 years of work experience in various managerial and leadership roles across Mid-Corporate, MSMSE and Agri Business. Multifunctional experience includes roles across functions of Product Management, Credit Underwriting, Client Acquisition & Relationship Management.
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. After completing IIFM, I started my career with Commodity Finance Business group of HDFC Bank as a product manager in Mumbai. The stint in product was short (around 1.5 years) however it was full of learnings and achievements. I switched over to sales / relationship management and continued there for next 5 years overachieving budgets and targets and creating many mile stone achievements in the process.
Then I moved to Yes Bank, at that point in time Yes Bank was setting up its Credit Risk vertical in Commodity Finance/ Agricultural Finance Business. I joined as regional head for West and South and as of today I head this vertical.
So to sum up, it does not matter which field you choose to start your career in, with right attitude and focus you will always be able to excel in it. Learning has been my driving force in all of the above roles, if you can couple it with capability to accept change it will make you unstoppable.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. There have been many milestone moments starting from getting admission in IIFM, to setting up Adventure Club at IIFM. In my brief stint in HDFC as a product manager I started 2 new products of “Warehouse Construction Term Loan” & “De-materialized Warehouse receipt funding”. In Sales role having a track record of overachieving budgets and targets to heading the commodity finance credit risk vertical in Yes Bank and from winning inter corporate Football and badminton championship qualifiers to running full marathon in Tata Mumbai Marathon.
The key learnings in the journey this far is to be humble and accept change as a part of evolution. Learn to allocate time in between work, family and self. Health (both physical as well as emotional) is one of the important factors, which we should focus early on in life. However self-made/strong person you might think yourself to be, you still need friends… value them.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. The most satisfying part of current job role is the fact that I was part of the initial team that had setup the credit risk vertical of Commodity finance in Yes Bank years back. Setting up a unit from scratch and seeing it grow is a very fulfilling experience… although I know that attachment is never good for growth still I have left a few opportunities elsewhere to see this happen.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. IIFM grooms you in many ways … of course it had few of the best faculties and domain experts of the industry who provided a holistic and deep understanding of the subjects that we covered during our 2 years at the campus.
Beyond academics, there were other learnings like interpersonal communication skills, team work, developing risk taking capability, etc. which intangible, yet are priceless for your professional roles ahead.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers? What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. The Faculty Members, Seniors, Batch mates… all were available with their guidance and wisdom whenever it was needed / asked for. The events field trip, OTs- internships, deadlines to close group assignments; regular batch GBMs, etc. influence you and shape your path.
My advice to freshers will be to be a sponge and soak-up (learning academic as well as non- academic) as much as possible in your 2 years stay at the campus. It will serve you well in your career ahead.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Many actually –Setting up of Adventure Club at IIFM, participating in Skits, visit to MP Nagar for Saturday/Sunday Dinner, the group learning sessions, afternoon nap right after lunch, late night badminton matches with friends, birthday celebrations with bumps and a bucket full of cold water!!
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, alumni.. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. I was rechristened as DJ at IIFM. People (even at my workplace) know me by it, ever since. The faculty and the library were par excellence. The campus had a positive vibe. My batch-mates were great individuals each one of them has helped in some way or the other to become the individual/professional that I am today.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. The entire batch was very close to me and I have some fond memories with almost everyone in our batch. However, I have spent my maximum time with my roomie Sudhanshu and Kaustubh (who was a permanent guest at our room). Both, were my guiding light at IIFM; they stood firm with me against all thick and thin during my stay at the campus.
Krishna, Sudeep, Tarique, Kunal, Shreekant, Pradyuman, Roby, Satya, Binay, Praveen were all buddies and have fond memories with them from eating out to working out. Late night badminton games to leaning cords of guitar. Gyaan session on rooftop of boys’ hostel to wrist fight we had done it all and had great fun together.
Seniors and faculties were our mentors and were always available for support and guidance. There was an open door policy at our times (presume it still exists) at the campus, all you had to do was to ask… and help was provided.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Be open to new learnings and experiences (which may not necessarily be academic), participate in extra co-curricular activities/sports. The IIFM library is a huge asset so use it to your benefit. Focus on your subject of interest… ask questions… use peers/seniors/ faculties/alumni’s network for guidance/insight/help whenever you need it.
Q. What was your typical day at the work?
A. The day starts at 9.30 am in the morning with brief review of calendar items planned for the day. Post which, it would be mostly meetings, reviews, MIS, presentations, follows up on projects, etc. I make it a point to reach office and leave office on time, and make maximum of the time in between!
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. In weekends and public holidays, I like to indulge in sports… mornings would be mostly long runs, occasional swim, treks, badminton, etc.
Afternoon is for post lunch napping.
The evening belongs to the family.
…….. of course there is grocery, household chores and other odd jobs which have piled up in the week to be attended somewhere in between.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. I prefer movies over books. In books, I find fiction more engrossing. Few of my non-fiction all-time favorite books are – Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, The Fifth Discipline, Getting to Yes, Thinking Fast and Slow and The Goal.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students? Your engagement with IIFM Placement or OT/SI?
A. I would be really happy to contribute to the cause. Please let me know how can I help and feel free to engage.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. I am not well abreast with the present curriculum. I am sure; it would be more aligned to the industry expectations and can be benchmarked with any of the premier institutes in the sector. One of the prominent positives which I can see today is the alumni connect and industry presence of the alumni across various sectors. My sincere accolades to the few, amongst us, who are putting in their precious time and energy to build and foster this IIFM network for the benefit of the students as well as the alumni.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Krishna Chandran V, Sudhanshu Bhaskar, Swati K, Sonali Wasan.