“From donating books in Belgaum’s classrooms to reshaping corporate culture in global boardrooms, Sudipta Paul’s journey is a testament to leadership rooted in empathy.”
There are leaders who manage teams and those who inspire others with empathy, resilience, and purpose. Sudipta Paul belongs to the latter. Her journey has been shaped as much by compassion as by determination. Growing up in Belgaum, she studied in a convent school and was surrounded by the warmth of community living. It was here she first learned that giving back was not charity, but a way of life. Donating books, teaching younger children, and engaging in charity drives instilled in her the values of empathy and service — values that remain her compass even today. From those early lessons in Belgaum to leading transformative initiatives, Sudipta’s path reflects the enduring power of sincerity and conviction.
With over two decades of experience at IBM, Accenture, Ericsson, Dell, and now Broadridge, she has continuously linked business objectives to human values. Her leadership perspective, based on empathy, authenticity, and trust, was shaped by personal experiences such as juggling early parenthood under difficult circumstances and navigating the pandemic while supporting both family and colleagues. Today, as the Vice President in a renowned company, she is advocating for CSR, DEI, and leadership programs that empower employees, improve rural communities, and reshape the corporate social fabric.
Sudipta believes that leadership is about impact more than authority. Her journey exemplifies a rare combination of strategic acumen and human compassion, demonstrating that when leaders lead from the heart, businesses prosper and communities’ flourish. She is a living reminder that crisis can create character.
When Crisis Becomes Character
The path to leadership rarely follows a straight line. Sudipta’s journey through IBM, Accenture, Ericsson, Dell, and now Broadridge spans over two decades, but it’s the challenges along the way that define her approach to leading others.
Motherhood arrived under circumstances that would test any professional’s resolve. Her son was born prematurely and required critical care. Balancing work demands with the urgent needs of a fragile newborn seemed impossible. Yet her sincerity and dedication at work had built something invaluable trust. Her organization allowed her to work from home for a year, a gesture that helped her manage both professional responsibilities and her son’s recovery.
“That experience reinforced my belief Goodness, when practiced consistently, comes back in unexpected ways. The support I received wasn’t just policy, it was human compassion recognizing human need,” she says.
This philosophy would become central to her leadership style. She doesn’t view empathy as soft; she sees it as essential to sustainable success.
Building Business with a Human Core
Sudipta carved out a leadership niche that unites business outcomes with human impact. Her vision centers on a simple yet profound premise: associates flourish, communities’ benefit, and businesses prosper when trust and camaraderie form the foundation.
She approaches organizations not merely as engines of profit but as custodians of social progress. This conviction fuels initiatives that span from the boardroom to rural classrooms. The “Know Your Clients, Competitors & Business” program sharpened associates’ business acumen, connecting their daily work to larger organizational goals. The WINGS Program created employment pathways for rural graduates, challenging conventional hiring boundaries while addressing social needs.
She extended impact beyond corporate walls through laptop donation drives and digital libraries in ruraSet featured imagel schools. These initiatives bridge gaps and provide access and opportunity, targeting communities where technology remains a distant dream rather than an everyday tool.
Her leadership also transformed workplace culture at Broadridge. Today, nearly the entire workforce participates in social impact activities, healthcare outreach, digital literacy programs, college student mentoring, and environmental initiatives. She envisioned Broadridge as a platform that could amplify associate volunteerism and build a framework of 384 ambassadors who champion causes across India and all business units.
“For me, business appetite isn’t measured by revenue alone. It’s measured by innovation, scalability, and sustainability and all three must have human values at their core,” she explains.
The Pandemic’s Ultimate Test
The COVID-19 pandemic tested every leader’s mettle, but for Sudipta, it became a defining chapter in both professional and personal spheres. At work, she championed virtual engagement campaigns to sustain morale, rolled out flexible work models, and emphasized mental well-being. She pivoted CSR programs to address urgent needs like digital literacy and healthcare access, helping her organization stay connected to communities in crisis.
The greater test, however, unfolded at home. She managed elderly parents and in-laws, carefully coordinating their medications and daily necessities amid risk and restrictions. Simultaneously, her son faced crucial Grade 10 final exams. Just as those exams approached, his father required hospitalization, creating enormous emotional strain. Then she herself contracted COVID-19.
She made a choice that reveals the essence of her character. Rather than seeking hospital care, she stayed home in seclusion, determined to provide her son with the moral support and confidence he needed to focus on his studies. Juggling caregiving, her own recovery, and professional duties during this period demanded extraordinary strength and discipline.
“It was my dedication at work, combined with my values of empathy and responsibility at home, that carried me through. The support I received from my organization during those months reinforced my lifelong belief: Compassion creates a ripple that always returns,” she reflects.
The pandemic left her with profound lessons about agility, compassion, and prioritizing people above everything else. She emerged with renewed conviction that leadership reveals itself as much in adversity as in success.
The Strength of Vulnerability
Sudipta’s greatest strength lies in her ability to blend strategy with empathy. From her early years in Belgaum, where she discovered the joy of giving back through small acts of kindness, to her current role leading CSR and DEI, she has consistently placed people at the heart of her leadership.
Resilience defines her trajectory, whether stepping up as the only child to support her mother after losing her father, or balancing the challenges of early motherhood while excelling at work. These experiences taught her that sincerity, authenticity, and compassion create enduring impact.
Her team often sees her more as a coach than a manager, someone who encourages them to explore, bring forth their strengths and ideas, and work with authenticity. She creates space for experimentation, mistakes, and learning, which makes her an aspirational figure for many in the organization.
Yet she readily acknowledges her weaknesses. Her deep passion sometimes is what leads her to take on more than she should. Early in her career, she found it hard to delegate, believing she had to carry everything herself. Over time, she learned that empowering others is much like the support she herself received during difficult times and it sustains true leadership.
“Weaknesses aren’t failures. They’re lessons reminding us that vulnerability and openness matter as much as confidence and drive,” she observes.
Recognition that Reflects Impact
Sudipta’s career shines with recognition that reflects her impact on organizations and communities alike. Her recent accolades include CSR Icon of India (2025), Most Impactful CSR Leader (2025) awarded by World CSR Congress, and the Indian CSR Award (2025) for best education support initiatives, the National Award for Excellence in CSR (2023) honored her community engagement initiatives. The HYSEA ESG Award for DEI (2023) acknowledged her transformation of workplace culture.
She also positioned Broadridge among the best technology brands through ET Edge Best Tech Brands recognition in both 2023 and 2024 while The Inspirational Role Model Award (2023) recognized her influence as a people-centric leader.
Earlier in her career, she proved instrumental in defining and scaling operational metrics, hiring DEI frameworks, leadership competency models, and CSR initiatives that became industry benchmarks. At Broadridge, her initiatives from rural hiring to healthcare outreach—transformed the organization’s ecosystem image.
For her, every award represents not just personal achievement but the communities, colleagues, and people who walked the journey with her.
Beyond her professional achievements, she remains an avid learner. From executive programs at Stanford and Cornell to certifications in DEI and Generative AI, she constantly seeks to expand her perspective. This inquisitiveness, coupled with personal passions like solo travel, sketching, and music, keeps her grounded and fuels her creativity as a leader.
Balancing the High-Wire Act
Managing a high-stakes leadership role alongside personal life requires discipline, empathy, and clarity of priorities. Sudipta’s professional life involves managing large teams, advising leadership, and steering programs that impact thousands of associates. This naturally brings constant travel, demanding timelines, and high expectations.
She draws firm boundaries, giving her work full dedication while ensuring her family and personal passions never suffer. She remains a supportive mother to her son and finds energy in learning, traveling, sketching, and listening to music, pursuits that aren’t just hobbies but restorative practices that keep her grounded and recharged.
She practices transparency and inclusiveness at work. By empowering teams, building ambassadors, and fostering a collaborative ecosystem, she distributes leadership responsibilities rather than concentrating them. This allows her to spend quality time with family and pursue personal interests without guilt.
She believes in authenticity. For her, leadership isn’t about projecting perfection but embracing vulnerability. She openly acknowledges the pressures she faces but uses them as opportunities to inspire her teams, showing that even leaders must prioritize self-care and balance.
Role models like Princess Diana have deeply influenced her. Her ability to remain grounded and empathetic despite public scrutiny reinforces Paul’s belief that leadership puts people first.
The Passion that Fuels Purpose
What truly drives Sudipta is her passion for people helping them succeed, grow, and find meaning in their work. Her greatest joy comes from mentoring, guiding someone through challenges and celebrating their milestones.
“Leadership isn’t about being in the spotlight. It’s about enabling others to shine,” she emphasizes.
She strongly believes people do their best when they understand the “why” behind the “what.” Engaging associates in alignment with business priorities and showing them how their efforts contribute to broader goals has become her personal mission. This builds confidence and instills pride and belonging in teams.
Her love for mentoring forms a lifelong thread. As a child in Belgaum, she taught younger students and participated in charity initiatives. During her early professional years, she supported freshers in settling into work and life, ensuring no one felt left behind. Today, she continues mentoring associates at Broadridge and young professionals across industries, finding joy in their growth stories.
Wisdom for Tomorrow’s Leaders
Sudipta believes leadership is defined not only by achievements but by how one responds to life’s toughest challenges. Her advice to aspiring leaders draws from her journey of resilience, balance, and empathy.
She urges future leaders to lead with empathy, emphasizing that leadership begins with kindness and understanding. She advocates drawing strength from adversity, staying resilient in crises, balancing ambition with humility, and empowering others. True leadership, she insists, isn’t about doing everything alone but enabling others to succeed.
She often draws inspiration from Princess Diana, who showed that service and compassion define true leadership more than any title. She encourages future leaders to measure success not only in milestones but in the lives they uplift along the way.
A Legacy in the Making
Sudipta believes leadership today is about building ecosystems where people feel valued, supported, and inspired. Organizations must look beyond profit to create meaningful impact in society, nurture diversity, and empower the next generation of leaders. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, humility, and staying grounded, no matter how high one rises.
“Growth and success aren’t measured only in titles or accolades, but in the lives, you touch along the way. Stay resilient through challenges, lead with empathy, and always connect your work to a larger purpose. When you mentor others, empower teams, and act with sincerity, success naturally follows. Do good, and it will come back to you in ways you may never expect,” she offers as her mantra
Sudipta Paul represents a new archetype of leadership one where profit and purpose are inseparable, where compassion is strategy, and where vulnerability is strength. Her story is still being written, but the lesson is already clear: leaders who build trust, empower others, and act with sincerity do more than shape companies — they shape the future.
And that is Sudipta Paul’s legacy: a leader proving that when purpose drives profit, both business and humanity rise together.
