Chayan has a keen interest in research and currently serves as the India Operations Lead and Insurance Lead at Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services. He holds experience of more than a decade in research advisory, consulting and business strategy. Chayan is an ardent follower of sports and likes to travel.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chayan-bandyopadhyay-428a3226/
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. The two years at IIFM have instilled a lifelong passion for environment and sustainability in me. It has also inspired me to take on new challenges. I joined IFMR Centre for Development Finance at Chennai as a Research Associate after passing out from IIFM in 2012. In 2014, I shifted to NCR and first worked as a Senior Business Analyst in Evalueserve followed by a stint at EY as a Senior Analyst. In 2018, I moved back to Kolkata and joined TCS as a Manager. After more than 5 years there, I recently shifted to Hyderabad and joined the Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services as the India Operations Lead and Insurance Lead.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Living in different cities – helped me in getting to know India.
Research projects – enabled me to learn new things every day.
Having the IIFM legacy – inspired me to be close to nature always.
Most importantly, this journey has helped me to take on new challenges every day.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A.
- Gives me opportunity to do what I love – research and getting to know new things every day.
- Helps me to meet and know people and share ideas.
- Allows me to share my learnings and experiences with my team, nurture their talent and bring them closer to their dreams.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Absolutely. IIFM has always provided me the edge when it comes to sustainability. Now a days, with responsible business practices, environment and sustainability are at the forefront everywhere. The learning, inspiration and motivation derived from IIFM has enabled me to contribute to various policy assessments and creating ESG maturity scorecards.
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. Drivers:
All the Professors in IIFM has helped me in becoming whatever I am today. The IIFM campus itself was an example for me on how beautiful this world is, so why not explore it? Green is my favorite color and IIFM has helped me in making it greener.
Advice:
It is very simple – IIFM is much more than just a B-School. It also helps one to see and approach the world in an entirely different perspective. So, explore and enjoy your stay at IIFM. Learn every day, meet people and make lifelong relationships.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Induction Field Trip: Provided a glimpse on how wonderful the two years are going to be.
First Year Field Trip: One of the most memorable trips of my life – sighted tiger in Ranthambore, lion in Gir, and visited Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa in a span of three weeks.
Internship: I did my internship in NTFP Centre of Excellence, Tripura. Had firsthand experience of learning how to conduct focused group discussions, pricing analysis and develop business models.
Football: An integral part of my memory of IIFM. We won the Independence cup in first year. It helped me refresh.
Table Tennis: It was a daily routine to play table tennis after dinner. Me and Subhadip were the runners up in the table tennis tournament.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. In the second year I had the opportunity to undertake one Course on Independent Studies (CIS) in each of the last two trimesters. The guidance from Prof. Ashutosh Verma and Prof. Advait Edgaonkar in those two research studies has helped me significantly in shaping the current me.
Q. The best friends / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share.
A. As I mentioned, all the Professors have influenced me.
Prof. P.K. Biswas was the friend-philosopher-guide for each of us.
Prof. CVRS Vijay Kumar had solution for all problems.
Prof. Ashutosh Verma taught us to maintain the balance sheet of our life.
Prof. A.K. Dharni’s classes helped to combine forestry with mathematics.
Prof. Yogesh Dubey, Omprakash Madguni, Jayashree Dubey, Manmohan Yadav, Advait Edgaonkar…the list will go on…. “Those were the best days of my life.”
Q. As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Take up new assignments. Explore the campus, city and the places around Bhopal. Play outdoor sports in the ground, indoor games at night. Leverage the library. Most importantly enjoy every moment of your stay and make memories.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. Starts with coffee with teammates followed by the planning for the assignments of the day. They day continues with research, meetings, client presentations, meeting stakeholders and obviously some table tennis in between to unwind.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family and anything else you want to add?
A. I stay with my wife Shilpi and daughter Rudrakshi in Hyderabad. We like to travel and explore new places almost every weekend. I like to read books, solve puzzles and play both indoor and outdoor games.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors.
A. Books: Ikigai, Around the World in 80 Days
Authors: Jules Verne, Ruskin Bond
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?
A. I really miss visiting IIFM. Would love to visit sometime soon. Would also like to connect to the Hyderabad IIFM fraternity.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. With the advent of digital and social media, the IIFM network has become more connected. It all started during our days and have matured now.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Koyel Mandal (2001-03), Kallol Mandal (2006-08), Nakul Dogra (2009-11), Arun Sreekumar, Omkar Patange, Sumit Banerjee (2010-12).