A New Era of Leadership: Why Empathy and Humility Are the Strongest Assets in Finance
The stereotype of the cutthroat, number-obsessed finance executive is quickly fading. After two decades navigating the intense world of global finance, veteran Rishi Oberoi has emerged as a respected leader proving that the most sustainable success is not built on aggression, but on empathy and humility. He argues that the strongest leaders are those who prioritize understanding people over merely chasing numbers.
From the Big Four to Global Markets
Oberoi’s career is a masterclass in strategic progression through the highest levels of global finance. He began his journey in the Big Four firms, including Deloitte and PwC. This foundational experience taught him how to read complex financial statements and engage in difficult conversations under tight audit deadlines. Crucially, he learned that no process, no matter how robust, can succeed without the right people behind it.
He then spent six years at BNP, rotating through diverse, high-stakes roles such as controllership, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), corporate finance, and corporate transformation. Each step added a deeper layer of perspective, preparing him to think and act like a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). His work has involved raising capital for major companies, engaging with boardrooms and regulators, and helping businesses achieve new heights of scale and success through cross-functional transformations.
The True Measure of Leadership
While his résumé is filled with major achievements, Oberoi maintains that the tangible outcomes are not the most important measure of success.
“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 leadersh1ip.”
This focus on the human element stands in stark contrast to the traditional, hard-nosed approach often seen in finance. Oberoi rejects the idea of constant pressure and short-term goal worship. Instead, he advocates for a model of leadership that combines sharp strategic thinking with transparency and compassion.
The Power of Empathy and Calm
Oberoi has successfully steered his teams through some of the most challenging economic periods, including the COVID pandemic and the financial volatility of 2023. His secret to navigating these crises is a focus on resilience and emotional intelligence, principles he draws from Stoic philosophy.
He recognizes that while authority can enforce compliance, empathy secures commitment. By making time for conversations that go beyond quarterly reports and checking in on how team members are managing pressure, Oberoi builds a culture of trust. This openness is essential in high-pressure industries, where isolation and burnout are common risks.
“Authority will get you compliance, but empathy will get you commitment.”
Furthermore, he understands that a leader’s reaction sets the tone for the entire organization.
“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.”
The Future of Finance is Human
Rishi Oberoi envisions a financial world where professionals can thrive without sacrificing their well-being. He believes that the next generation of financial leaders will measure long-term value not just in returns, but in the organizational resilience they cultivate.
In a rapidly changing world, the leaders who will ultimately succeed are not those who set the most aggressive targets or impose the tightest controls. They will be the ones who lead with humility, emotional intelligence, and humanity, proving that the strength of a team is always greater than the sum of its individual numbers.
