Welcome to Talent Superheroes Vodcast, where we dive deep into the art and science of Strategic Talent Acquisition with industry thought leaders. Hosted by Sudarsan Ravi, Founder and CEO of RippleHire, we have the privilege of speaking with Seema Singh, Lead HR & TA, Euro Exim Bank.
Seema Singh is a distinguished figure in the banking industry, renowned for her rare dual expertise as both a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With a remarkable career that includes the experience of setting up two public sector banks, she has demonstrated unparalleled leadership and strategic acumen. Currently, Seema leads HR and talent acquisition at Euro Exim Bank, where she continues to make a significant impact in shaping the future of the banking sector. Her unique combination of skills and experience makes her a trailblazer in the industry.
Summary
Seema Singh, a CHRO and CFO with experience in setting up public sector banks, discusses the influence of being a CHRO on her role as a CFO. She highlights the importance of balancing human capital and financial capital in a bank and how having knowledge of both areas allows for better decision-making. Seema also compares the differences between HR and talent acquisition practices in public sector and private sector banks, emphasizing the compliance-driven nature of public sector banks. She explains the challenges she faced in establishing India Post Payments Bank and Bhartiya Mahila Bank, including infrastructure limitations, technology implementation, and training of staff. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in training and certifying a large number of postmen in rural areas to provide banking services. The content of the training had to be created in multiple languages to cater to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the postmen. Technical snags during online certification posed a challenge, as did the logistics of monitoring the training progress of thousands of postmen. The mindset of both the postmen and the Department of Posts had to be changed to adapt to the new banking model. The customer acceptance of digital banking in rural areas was also a challenge, but the convenience and accessibility of the services proved beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic.