Vandana Yermalkar : Visionary Leader Redefining The Future Of Energy
Vandana Yermalkar
CEO
One such leader who is both technically savvy and business forward-thinking is Vandana Yermalkar. She has accumulated over 25 years of experience, working in the generation, distribution, and regulatory departments. As the CEO of ERO Power, Vandana is redefining the way energy infrastructure can create efficiency, sustainability and national transformation.
An alumna of S.P. Jain School of Global Management, Vandana began her career in the field by gaining practical experience in power systems. She learnt how to design a network, manage loads, purchase power, and comply with regulations; skills that have remained anchors in her leadership approach.
Having worked across reputed organizations such as JSW Energy, Crompton Greaves, Essar Power and Torrent Power has seen her lead complex projects, navigate complex regulatory environments and establish cross functional teams that focus on innovation, operational excellence and diversity.
Being the CEO and the Designated Partner of the ERO Power, she now leverages this experience to provide smarter, sustainable and commercially viable power distribution solutions in SEZs, IT parks and data centers in India, creating new standards in reliability, efficiency and strategic development.
In an exclusive interview, Vandana takes us through her professional journey and leadership insights.
What key transformative lessons from your Alma
Mater SP Jain, have shaped your professional journey?
My time at SP Jain was truly transfor -mative, particularly because of its unique multi-city learning model spread across Singapore, Dubai, and Mumbai. Experiencing diverse business environments and cultures helped me build a global mindset, sharpen my strategic thinking, and adapt quickly to change. The program’s emphasis on experiential learning, real-world case studies and peer collaboration strengthened my decision-making and leadership capabilities.
Interactions with faculty and industry leaders further deepened my understanding of ethical leadership, innovation, and sustain ability. Most importantly, SP Jain instilled in me the confidence to lead with purpose and the ability to navigate complex business challenges with a global yet grounded perspective.
How have these perspectives helped you build and sustain a meaningful professional network?
After completing my MBA, I began my entre -preneurial journey and initially focused on the Indian market. However, my global exposure through SP Jain, particularly connections in Singapore and Dubai helped me gain valuable insights into the power sector’s international landscape.
Engaging with alumni and professionals across countries enabled collaborations on funding, financing and knowledge exchange, which significantly strengthened my network and business growth.
What key experiences have strengthened your business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit?
SP Jain taught me that true leadership goes beyond technical knowledge; it’s about ethics, emotional intelligence, and people. Through lessons on leadership styles and real-world discussions, I learned to balance rational decision-making with empathy and integrity.
This foundation gave me the confidence to navigate complexity, the curiosity to keep learning, and the conviction that lasting success comes from leading with both purpose and people in mind.
My time at SP Jain was truly transfor -mative, particularly because of its unique multi-city learning model spread across Singapore, Dubai, and Mumbai. Experiencing diverse business environments and cultures helped me build a global mindset, sharpen my strategic thinking, and adapt quickly to change. The program’s emphasis on experiential learning, real-world case studies and peer collaboration strengthened my decision-making and leadership capabilities.
Decisions impact not only your organization but also the many lives connected to it
Interactions with faculty and industry leaders further deepened my understanding of ethical leadership, innovation, and sustain ability. Most importantly, SP Jain instilled in me the confidence to lead with purpose and the ability to navigate complex business challenges with a global yet grounded perspective.
How have these perspectives helped you build and sustain a meaningful professional network?
After completing my MBA, I began my entre -preneurial journey and initially focused on the Indian market. However, my global exposure through SP Jain, particularly connections in Singapore and Dubai helped me gain valuable insights into the power sector’s international landscape.
Engaging with alumni and professionals across countries enabled collaborations on funding, financing and knowledge exchange, which significantly strengthened my network and business growth.
What key experiences have strengthened your business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit?
SP Jain taught me that true leadership goes beyond technical knowledge; it’s about ethics, emotional intelligence, and people. Through lessons on leadership styles and real-world discussions, I learned to balance rational decision-making with empathy and integrity.
This foundation gave me the confidence to navigate complexity, the curiosity to keep learning, and the conviction that lasting success comes from leading with both purpose and people in mind.
How did the institute help instill a sense of responsibility toward the better ment of society, the environment, and people at large?
SP Jain instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility as a leader by emphasizing sustainability, social innovation, and community impact. The institute’s culture of collaboration and accountability shaped my commitment to creating meaningful change through innovation in the power sector.
My key focus has been on renewable energy, cost efficiency and employment generation. It taught me that true progress lies in lighting up lives responsibly and sustainably, a philosophy that continues to guide my work today.
What’s the next chapter of your journey you plan to focus on?
In the next chapter of my journey, I aim to build a more sustainable organization while focusing on women’s empowerment. Having grown from one to over a hundred employees in five years, my goal now is to create greater opportunities for women in a sector where their presence is still limited.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders in the power sector?
My advice to emerging leaders in the power sector is to stay curious and embrace continuous learning. Lead with integrity and fairness, empower your teams to think independently, and remain open to change.
In an uncertain environment lead with confidence and maintain a long-term, visionary focus. Your decisions impact not only your organization but also the many lives connected to it.
Vandana Yermalkar, CEO, ERO Power
Vandana, a visionary energy leader, is driving sustainable transformation, operational excellence, and strategic innovation across India’s power distribution landscape.
•Hobbies: Listening to soft music and travelling
•Favorite Book: I follow Sudha Murthy, whose inspiring journey and values I strive to learn from and apply in my own life
•Favorite Travel Destination: Goa
•Favorite Cuisine:Coastal food, I like fish, chicken and rice
SP Jain instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility as a leader by emphasizing sustainability, social innovation, and community impact. The institute’s culture of collaboration and accountability shaped my commitment to creating meaningful change through innovation in the power sector.
My key focus has been on renewable energy, cost efficiency and employment generation. It taught me that true progress lies in lighting up lives responsibly and sustainably, a philosophy that continues to guide my work today.
What’s the next chapter of your journey you plan to focus on?
In the next chapter of my journey, I aim to build a more sustainable organization while focusing on women’s empowerment. Having grown from one to over a hundred employees in five years, my goal now is to create greater opportunities for women in a sector where their presence is still limited.
What advice would you give to emerging leaders in the power sector?
My advice to emerging leaders in the power sector is to stay curious and embrace continuous learning. Lead with integrity and fairness, empower your teams to think independently, and remain open to change.
In an uncertain environment lead with confidence and maintain a long-term, visionary focus. Your decisions impact not only your organization but also the many lives connected to it.
Vandana Yermalkar, CEO, ERO Power
Vandana, a visionary energy leader, is driving sustainable transformation, operational excellence, and strategic innovation across India’s power distribution landscape.
•Hobbies: Listening to soft music and travelling
•Favorite Book: I follow Sudha Murthy, whose inspiring journey and values I strive to learn from and apply in my own life
•Favorite Travel Destination: Goa
•Favorite Cuisine:Coastal food, I like fish, chicken and rice