When Harini Senapathy enrolled in Robinson’s M.S. in Finance program, she quickly realized that most of her classmates were about half her age. Instead of feeling intimidated or shying away, she made a personal commitment to bring her skills and expertise to the table and prove that she could work alongside her talented peers. She had done the same thing throughout her 15-year banking career, before taking a break to focus on family.
After earning her undergraduate degree and two accounting certifications in her home country of India, Senapathy climbed the ranks at the Dubai offices of Standard Chartered, an emerging markets bank headquartered in London.
“At first, I didn’t know much about the professional world,” Senapathy said. “I transformed from a nondescript entry-level professional into a sought-after resource. I was known for my work and was the contact person for capital and liquidity-related issues.”
As a senior manager at the bank, Senapathy worked closely with the CEO and served as the designated Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) champion for the Middle East region. (ICAAP refers to a bank’s assessment of the capital needed to run the business, considering potential risks and risk mitigation costs.) She was also responsible for monitoring new regulatory guidelines, implementing transfer policies, and overseeing liquidity reporting processes. Senapathy was often the only woman at the conference table, which taught her to speak up and make her opinions heard.
One of the major turning points during her time at the bank occurred in the early 2010s, when the Arab Spring protests shook the Middle East and wider world. Senapathy experienced massive professional growth by providing the core management team with daily updates on the bank’s liquidity, deposits, and cash outflows.
Senapathy also grew personally when she gave birth to twins, one of whom was diagnosed with autism. She and her husband moved to Singapore to seek support for her son, but the options did not suit their needs. During this time, Senapathy’s husband enrolled in Robinson’s M.S. Information Systems program. The family relocated to the Atlanta area.
While Senapathy’s husband pursued his degree, which he earned in 2016, she turned her energy from her career to raising her children.
“I had a good professional life. I really enjoyed being challenged and pushed. I enjoyed that atmosphere,” she said. “For eight years, my family needed me. I had to be with my son.”
Senapathy’s children recently turned 17. She decided it was the right time to reinvest in her career by pursuing a master’s in finance and began her studies last summer. The program has allowed Senapathy to combine her deep banking experience with a new understanding of corporate development, financial markets, and financial technology.
“I had to prove to myself that even after taking a break from my career that I was sharp enough to return to the corporate world,” she said. “Robinson has helped me do that.”
Senapathy heavily prepares for every class, project, and exam, and received validation for her hard work when she earned a 4.0 GPA as well as the “Most Thorough” student award from her academic department. She currently works as a graduate assistant in the Department of Finance and as a finance intern with software company o9 Solutions.
“All of this has motivated me to look beyond my inhibitions, give my best, and relish this rewarding experience,” she said.