Prashanth Kumar V.N : Innovating Financial Solutions For A New Era Of Wealth Management
Prashanth Kumar V.N
CEO & Founding Promoter
Previously holding key positions at Mphasis, Bharti Airtel, and SLK Software Services, Prashanth brings a wealth of knowledge and a nuanced understanding of the financial landscape to his work. Under his leadership, Derivative Global Financial Services has not only flourished but redefined the standard of client engagement in the wealth management space. His approach has earned him recognition from industry giants, including an award for his 'Client First Approach' from Uday Kotak, Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, and accolades for prioritizing 'Customer Interests in Forefront' from Nimesh Shah, CEO & Managing Director of ICICI Prudential Asset Management. As the industry continues to evolve, Prashanth Kumar’s leadership stands as a testament to the power of innovation, integrity, and an unwavering dedication to clients. Let’s hear more from him in this one-on-one interaction.
With your extensive experience in Corporate Finance, Banking & Financial Services, and Financial Markets, what would you say are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
The past decade as an entrepreneur has been a transformative journey, teaching valuable lessons in navigating uncertainty, change, and volatility. While technical expertise is important in money management, possessing the right temperament to handle challenges and rapid changes is equally crucial. I believe it is important to change and grow, as businesses must constantly adapt to rapid changes in technology, regulations, and competition. Understanding customer needs and to remain focused in the Market are also critical for success. Additionally,
continuous learning, embracing new technologies, and fast decision-making are vital for staying competitive. Accepting failure as a learning experience is key to growth, while building strong customer relationships and a skilled team fosters innovation. Ultimately, creating value for stakeholders ensures sustainable success and growth in a dynamic market.
What key industry practices that you emphasize on and guide your team with under your leadership?
Our business is built on people engagement, networks, and relationships, which is why our team focuses on fostering strong connections with our customers, business partners, technology experts, and the overall industry ecosystem. We emphasize engaging with our customers to gain valuable insights, collaborating with business partners and their teams for product updates and improved customer service, and exploring new technologies with experts to assess their relevance and implementation. Additionally, we engage with industry leaders to gain diverse perspectives on the business and market landscape. By learning, discussing, and debating on key topics with subject-matter experts, we continuously gain fresh insights to guide our approach.
How do you keep yourself informed about the latest trends in the industry?
I regularly read industry newsletters and stay informed about the various business news channels to stay up to-date with ongoing trends.I also actively participate in webinars, conferences, and seminars, which provide valuable insights into the latest developments. Additionally, I engage with social media platforms to follow key industry figures and trends, while also being involved in community engagement to exchange knowledge and ideas with peers. This combination of resources allows me to stay connected with the pulse of the industry and adapt to emerging changes effectively.
Can you share your approach to leader-ship? What principles or methodologies guide you in your role as a leader?
My leadership approach is centered around adaptability, as I believe in the power of dynamic leadership. In today's rapidly changing world, I recognize that there are various challenges, opportunities, and setbacks on the journey in achieving an organization's vision.
Therefore, my approach evolves based on the situation at hand, making it essential to remain flexible and open to change. I am always ready to embrace new challenges and adapt my strategy accordingly.
Embrace challenges, opportunities, and threats with dynamism and agility to survive, sustain, and thrive in the market
What key industry practices that you emphasize on and guide your team with under your leadership?
Our business is built on people engagement, networks, and relationships, which is why our team focuses on fostering strong connections with our customers, business partners, technology experts, and the overall industry ecosystem. We emphasize engaging with our customers to gain valuable insights, collaborating with business partners and their teams for product updates and improved customer service, and exploring new technologies with experts to assess their relevance and implementation. Additionally, we engage with industry leaders to gain diverse perspectives on the business and market landscape. By learning, discussing, and debating on key topics with subject-matter experts, we continuously gain fresh insights to guide our approach.
How do you keep yourself informed about the latest trends in the industry?
I regularly read industry newsletters and stay informed about the various business news channels to stay up to-date with ongoing trends.I also actively participate in webinars, conferences, and seminars, which provide valuable insights into the latest developments. Additionally, I engage with social media platforms to follow key industry figures and trends, while also being involved in community engagement to exchange knowledge and ideas with peers. This combination of resources allows me to stay connected with the pulse of the industry and adapt to emerging changes effectively.
Can you share your approach to leader-ship? What principles or methodologies guide you in your role as a leader?
My leadership approach is centered around adaptability, as I believe in the power of dynamic leadership. In today's rapidly changing world, I recognize that there are various challenges, opportunities, and setbacks on the journey in achieving an organization's vision.
Therefore, my approach evolves based on the situation at hand, making it essential to remain flexible and open to change. I am always ready to embrace new challenges and adapt my strategy accordingly.
Clear communication is also fundamental for effective leadership. I encourage my team to communicate openly and effecti-vely, as it simplifies problem-solving and strengthens relationships.
Before making any critical decisions, I ensure a comprehensive 360-degree-view analysis of the situation. This involves studying all the aspects of ecosystem and moving parts, considering the perspectives of team members, advisors, and business partners, and evaluate how the situation is evolving. This inclusive approach helps in discovering the most effective and optimal solutions.
What does your future roadmap look like as you move forward?
Moving forward, my roadmap focuses on deepening the understanding of the industry and market by engaging closely with all the stakeholders such as customers, business partners, employees, industry leaders, and policymakers. This will help us in understanding the ecosystem & build capabilities necessary for sustainable growth. Additionally, my aim is to strengthen the organization through a robust risk management framework and leverage existing operational capabilities to scale-up the business. By embracing new technologies, with a focus on customer behavior, will help create a technologically advanced organization. Finally, I am committed to build a highly skilled team to execute strategies and achieve the company’s vision.
Given your extensive professional experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring industry leaders?
My advice to aspiring industry leaders is to take calculated risks and capitalize on the growth potential, especially with the Indian middle class set to expand signi-ficantly over the next decade. Before diving into a business, ensure it’s scalable. In today’s era of competition & partnerships, it’s essential to find the right mix of products and services to meet customer needs. Focus on building core capabilities, addressing weaknesses, and implementing strong risk management practices. Innovation, brand building, and relationship management are crucial to stand-out in this competitive, buy er-driven market. Build an efficient organization with cutting-edge technology to ensure long-term sustainability, while seeking mentorship to navigate personal growth.
Prashanth Kumar V. N, CEO & founding promoter, Derivative Global Financial Services
With over two decades of experience in Corporate Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Wealth Management, and Financial Markets, Prashanth Kumar V. N is the visionary founder of Derivative Global Financial Services. He has previously worked with Mphasis, Bharti Airtel, and SLK Software.
Before making any critical decisions, I ensure a comprehensive 360-degree-view analysis of the situation. This involves studying all the aspects of ecosystem and moving parts, considering the perspectives of team members, advisors, and business partners, and evaluate how the situation is evolving. This inclusive approach helps in discovering the most effective and optimal solutions.
What does your future roadmap look like as you move forward?
Moving forward, my roadmap focuses on deepening the understanding of the industry and market by engaging closely with all the stakeholders such as customers, business partners, employees, industry leaders, and policymakers. This will help us in understanding the ecosystem & build capabilities necessary for sustainable growth. Additionally, my aim is to strengthen the organization through a robust risk management framework and leverage existing operational capabilities to scale-up the business. By embracing new technologies, with a focus on customer behavior, will help create a technologically advanced organization. Finally, I am committed to build a highly skilled team to execute strategies and achieve the company’s vision.
Given your extensive professional experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring industry leaders?
My advice to aspiring industry leaders is to take calculated risks and capitalize on the growth potential, especially with the Indian middle class set to expand signi-ficantly over the next decade. Before diving into a business, ensure it’s scalable. In today’s era of competition & partnerships, it’s essential to find the right mix of products and services to meet customer needs. Focus on building core capabilities, addressing weaknesses, and implementing strong risk management practices. Innovation, brand building, and relationship management are crucial to stand-out in this competitive, buy er-driven market. Build an efficient organization with cutting-edge technology to ensure long-term sustainability, while seeking mentorship to navigate personal growth.
Prashanth Kumar V. N, CEO & founding promoter, Derivative Global Financial Services
With over two decades of experience in Corporate Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Wealth Management, and Financial Markets, Prashanth Kumar V. N is the visionary founder of Derivative Global Financial Services. He has previously worked with Mphasis, Bharti Airtel, and SLK Software.