Forget the stereotype of the cutthroat finance executive. Rishi Oberoi, a veteran of two decades in global finance, has demonstrated a new kind of leadership by proving that empathy and humility are not just soft skills, but the bedrock of resilient, long-term success.
When people think of finance, the first things that come to mind are matters like quarterly returns, market movements, forecasts, basically, numbers. Yet, if one looks closely at the leaders in this field who truly stand out, their success is rarely attributed to just being good with numbers. Instead, it often comes down to something not commonly associated with the world of finance at all: the ability to understand humans and connect with them.
Rishi Oberoi, a respected voice in financial leadership, has spent over two decades navigating this volatile industry, where fortunes can change overnight and leaders are often judged by how much they can increase the numbers investors spend. However, with his own career that has spanned global markets and multiple high-stakes corporate environments, he has proved that sustainable success for an organization is only achieved when sharp strategic leadership is met with empathy, communication, and resilience.
Rishi Oberoi's Path in Finance
Oberoi's career path has taken him through some of the most respected institutions in global finance. He started in the Big Four of finance: Deloitte and PwC, where he learned to read complex financial statements and hold uncomfortable conversations under audit deadlines. However, they also taught him how fragile processes can be without good people behind them. Six years later at BNP, he rotated through roles like controllership, FP&A, corporate finance, and transformation, each stint adding a layer of responsibility and perspective that prepared him to eventually think like a CFO.
Through this career, he has also helped raise capital for companies, engaged in boardrooms and with regulators, and run cross-functional transformations while helping scale the company to new heights.
His work has earned him respect not only for outcomes but also for how those outcomes were reached. He is often praised for balancing long-term vision with short-term execution to support lasting success and foster resilience across teams.
Yet, Oberoi is quick to emphasize that achievements are not to be listed like trophies. "It's never been about the wins on paper," he says. "It's about whether the team felt supported, whether we grew together, whether we held to our values even in tough times. That's the true measure of leadership."
A Different Kind of Finance Leader
Unlike the hard-nosed archetypal bosses dominating finance who believe in unending pressure to meet every short-term goal, Oberoi believes lasting, resilient success comes to those who lead with empathy and transparency, while focusing on the long-term vision and mission.
From healthcare to technology, leaders face the same dilemma: how to balance relentless performance demands with the need for compassion and connection. According to Rishi Oberoi, part of the answer lies in cultivating leadership as a shared responsibility rather than a hierarchical exercise. He openly discusses challenges, explains decisions, and creates space for genuine feedback. This openness builds a culture of trust and prevents the isolation that many professionals in high-pressure industries often feel.
Oberoi points out another crucial quality in a good leader: empathy. It may sound counterintuitive to many executives, but Rishi notes, "Authority will get you compliance, but empathy will get you commitment." Colleagues describe him as unusually approachable for someone in his position. He makes time for conversations that go beyond the numbers, checking in on how every team member is managing their own pressure.
Oberoi's career spans through some turbulent economic times, including the COVID period and the financial turbulence in 2023. He successfully navigated his teams through these periods by remaining calm and leading with resilience, a quality that comes from his stoic philosophy. He explains, "Markets crash, deals fall apart; but if a leader panics, the team will too. The only thing I can control is my response. My job is to stay calm in the storm so that no one falls apart."
This approach has led to meaningful cultural and organizational growth.
In a financial world still driven by metrics, Rishi Oberoi envisions a future where finance professionals will thrive without sacrificing well-being, where long-term value is measured not just in returns but in resilience. He firmly believes that the leaders who will thrive in the long run in today’s rapidly changing world are not the ones with more aggressive targets or tighter controls, but those who lead with humility, emotional intelligence, and, most importantly, humanity.
Image Credit: Rishi Oberoi
This post was authored by an external contributor and does not represent Benzinga's opinions and has not been edited for content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.
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