Sarang Bapat has 25 years of experience in information-based strategy, Data Analytics, Data Governance, Program management and offshore Operations management in auto, airline, and financial services with fortune five hundred companies. He held leadership roles at companies like Wells Fargo, USAA, SunTrust, Mitsubishi. He is a seasoned leader focused on solving business challenges through active listening and proposing appropriate people, process, technology, and data solutions that meet the business need. His area of expertise includes leadership coaching, supply chain, risk management, financial crimes, personal branding. He has rich experience in international business assignments with work and cultural exposure to USA, India, Japan.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Sarang shared his professional trajectory, insights on the top three data governance challenges businesses should keep an eye on in 2024, the best piece of advice he has ever received, significant career milestones, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Sarang. Tell us about your career path. What experiences have brought you here?
I am an Engineer by education. I studied Mechanical Engineering for my undergraduate and master’s degrees specializing in Finite Element Analysis. But in 1996, I switched to software development working for clients like US Airways, Ashland Oil, Wachovia Bank. From my engineering background, system integration knowledge, systematic process and analysis skills helped me with software development work.
In 2003, my leadership journey started in Financial Crimes domain in data strategy work at Wachovia and continued through opportunities at USAA and Wells Fargo. After doing this for a decade, I got interested in Data Management and Data Governance areas as I supported regulatory exams for banks I worked for.
I soon realized that my real interest is in understanding business and so I decided to do my MBA in 2005, while doing software development work. My software analysis tooling knowledge helped me during my MBA to support my business strategy projects. My MBA was a great program at UNC, Charlotte that helped me with learning a lot about various aspects of business and helped strengthen communication, build my personal brand and build a strong network.
In 2015, I took on a senior leadership role in Data Management for consumer banking area for SunTrust Bank. Later in 2017, I moved to become head of Data Governance Technology at SunTrust bank. In 2022, I got an opportunity to join Mitsubishi as Director of Data Governance and Analytics.
So, my career path started from Engineering jobs to software development jobs to currently leadership roles in data analytics and governance. I worked in various business verticals including Financial Services, Oil and Gas, Airline, Auto, Manufacturing and supply chain.
What do you love the most about your current role?
In my current role I am Director of Data Analytics and Governance at Mitsubishi. I get to work on challenging analytics problems in Sales and Distribution supply chain domain and solve these challenges leveraging the latest technologies like snowflake, ThoughtSpot, Alteryx, Collibra. I enjoy collaborating with talented teams and people management part of my role. I enjoy variety of work I get to do from working with HR partners for making sure we create an environment that is best in class for our teammates to working with industry vendors during tool selection process, working with legal and audit teams as well as working with my business partners to understand their challenges to provide analytics solutions.
What are the top three data governance challenges businesses should keep an eye on in 2024?
Firstly, ss GenAI initiatives are picking up, its vital to align data governance especially data quality efforts to make these initiatives successful. Intersection of Data Governance with GenAI initiatives is something companies should focus on. Secondly, data ownership is key and as a result building a strong Data Steward Organization is vital to the success of digital transformation or analytics initiatives. Thirdly, data governance is becoming a boardroom topic and so it is critical to tie data governance to business outcomes to show value of the data governance investments.
In your academic or work career, were there any mentors who have helped you grow along the way? What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
There have been many mentors in the form of teachers and bosses who helped me along my career and life journey. The best advice I received is that as a leader my job is to take care of my team and create leaders who would grow in their careers. I also got great advice around the importance of failure and learning from it. Another great advice was making iterative progress and having fun along the journey while marching steadily towards a goal.
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive, who would it be and why?
If I get one hour, I would love to meet Dalai Lama mainly because I admire the principles of kindness and compassion, he instills in everyone he meets, and the world needs kind and compassionate citizens.
What, personally, has allowed you the success you have had in the role of a leader in technology?
I would say my success is firstly because of the support I get from my family. Secondly, the talented technology team around me, always innovating and solving business problems is key to our team’s success. As a technology leader, one of the most important principles I have always followed is making sure I am solving critical business challenges for the business stakeholders with the help of my technology team. I have always been intentional about building trust, transparency and a kind brand of leadership and this practice has served me very well.
What has been your most career-defining moment that you are proud of?
Building and sustaining a high performing data management team as a head of data management was a career defining moment for me. I am most proud of the time when I was head of Data Management and for three consecutive years received a 95% employee satisfaction rating, the highest among all leaders. To me that indicated that authentic, collaborative, committed culture I built with my teams was well received. I also received leadership excellence awards during that time. I would add that leaders I nurtured even after moving to other companies reach out for advice.
What is one of your favorite parts of the workweek? How does it encourage or inspire you? Do you have a favorite way to recharge during the workday?
Usually, early morning time is my favorite time to plan my day and week. Setting up manageable goals to work on solving business problems excites me and create meaningful prioritize plans for the week. I love to walk around during lunch time. This recharges me for the rest of the day.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In next five years, I really am looking forward to spending time on projects to give back to community via Teaching and Volunteering work. I plan to work with business school students and Corporates in India talking and doing workshops on personal branding and executive presence topics. I will be doing leisurely travel with my wife.
What is a piece of career advice you have been given that you would pass on to others?
I would say to younger folks to take risks and do what excites you and it is not all about titles and money. Keep a lifelong learning attitude and that will serve you well. Enjoy your professional journey, do not take work too seriously and have fun.