My Story

I was born and raised in Bombay – admittedly had an indulgent and entitled upbringing. Being the second born, I got ample freedom to make choices throughout school and college which contributed to my having a well-rounded personality; I’d like to think! For instance, my first job (an internship in my first year of undergrad) with Standard Chartered Bank – was a stint I found just by powering through every company on my list of 60-odd until this one hired me!

Lesson 1: Be dogged and all it takes is one “yes”.

Facts: Bachelor of Commerce, Mumbai University and MBA Finance from NMIMS, Mumbai

How I got into investment banking

My academic and extra-curricular achiever elder brother was this model of perfection I idealized throughout my growing-up years.  Saw no further beyond Investment Banking and followed in his footsteps. Was a pre-MBA analyst at Citigroup IB and succeeded that by ascending roles at SBI Caps, Kotak Investment Banking, Elara Capital, Khetal Advisors and now IndigoEdge.

At almost 2 decades in IB, I have worked across Sectors (infrastructure, real estate, logistics, energy, banks, consumer brands, tech); Products (equity both private and public, restructuring, M&A, debt) and Stages (early, growth and late stage). Find start-ups most exhilarating as they’re re-inventing ways of doing things which is inspiring.

Lesson 2: Develop a “growth” mindset, keep learning.

What keeps me up at night?

Wealth and Social inequality creating a structural imbalance in society leading to potential anarchy. I want to do “more” to share the fruits of the natural (and totally random) head start I got in life. 

Lesson 3: It’s not our job to appeal to the lowest common denominator. It’s our job to raise it.

My inspirations

My dance teacher Ms.Nandini Mehta. She’s the doyen of Indian Classical Dancers in Bangalore and inspires with her performance, practise, persistence, patience & unyielding pursuit of perfection!

Lesson 4: Genius also works hard. 10,000 hours of practice and counting.

My focus/interest

Consumer Brands across Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Fashion & Accessories, Home & Lifestyle, Nutrition & Wellness, Baby & Kids, Pets and QSR – delivering growth outcomes for Board stakeholders from Series B upto Pre-IPO/ Strategic Sale. 

What excites me?

Entrepreneur’s conviction in what they are building and persistence in executing. A clear focus on P&L and 6-month plan (at any point in time) on nuts and bolts of where to be and how to get there.

Best piece of advice given to me

“Deal with it” (pun unintended!)

My advice to entrepreneurs

“Remember Cash Flow and Unit Economics. Profit is not a state of mind!”

What IndigoEdge is to me?

I’ve simply ever known investment banking as an individual-contributor led model ergo highly competitive and elbows-out. Only at Indigo Edge have I experienced the “tech ethos of open-source” – a system that promotes individual growth through collective ideas guided by genuine camaraderie led team-work. Overall our “chase for the long term” principle motivates without pressure bringing each fellow’s best to the fore. IndigoEdge is MY wolf pack!

Cooling off

Dance + Reading Fiction + OTT Binges