CxO of the Week: Chandan Barve, Chief Administrative Officer, ES Asia & Site Head, Sun Life Asia Service Centre India

CxO of the Week: With over 20 years of industry experience, Chandan Barve manages ES Asia wide responsibility for Finance, Risk and Compliance, and Legal and Secretarial along with the responsibility of Site Head for Asia Service Centre India.

Your top priority while making decisions to improve tech infrastructure in your organization?

Digital transformation for me is not just about adopting new technologies for my organisation-Sun Life ASC, but these technologies should also enable business strategy, en­hance operational and value chain ef­ficiency, and create best in class ex­periences for clients and employees. These technologies/ processes help in transforming how we work and bring the business and IT closer than ever before to deliver exceptional, digital experiences and Client results.

What are the challenges you face in driving digital transformation?

For digital transformation, culture, strategy, agility, communication and change management are extremely crucial. Purpose of digital transformation should be clear. Many times, companies do not invest time thinking on these aspects. There is a need to continuously poly-skill employees to be digital transformation ready.

Do you feel that freshers in the industry come with only basic knowledge but don’t have the right skills to fulfill job requirements? If yes, your suggestion to students and colleges?

Although many colleges now have introduced specialized skills courses in their curriculum, there is still some way to go. My suggestion to students would be to invest in skilling themselves, be abreast with the developments in industry and network well. At our organisation, we hire college graduates every year. They undergo a learning and development program specially crafted for them. They infuse fresh thoughts and energy into the system. We provide a tech-enabled environment to express themselves.

What’s your mantra to become successful in life?

Three beliefs which resonate with me -

(i) Take Full Ownership of your own Story. Decide whether you want to survive or thrive.

(ii) Its not about IQ; its about EQ and PI (people intelligence), read hidden emotions and understand what folks are saying and even not saying

(iii) Stay curious and have an insatiable appetite to do more.

What would you like to give back to the society?

CSR, in my view, is all about the heart than the head. Support a cause which you care or are particularly moved with. On a personal front, I and my family occasionally visit NGOs, spend time with them, extend our support. We believe in Let’s ‘Rise’ by ‘lifting Others’! At Sun Life ASC our employees conducted a voluntary initiative- ‘the Grain Bucket Challenge’ wherein we employees collected more than 3000kgs of food grains in just 3 weeks and donated to 3 NGOs for the underprivileged.

Your favorite book and what are you reading now?

Good to Great by Jim C. Collins depicts why Some Companies make the Leap... and others don't. I have just started reading ‘Trillion Dollar Coach' by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love playing and watching sports - cricket, tennis, table-tennis. Watching movies/debates, reading.

Achievements (Awards & Recognitions)

Chandan headed the Sun Life ASC new office move project which won Gold Medal at Brandon Hall Excellence Award FY 2019 for outstanding work in Best Unique or Innovative Workforce management category.

Experience

Chandan Barve has over 20 years of industry experience.

First Job - Deloitte Haskins & Sells Mumbai

Education - CA, CIA, CISA