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Ruchi Santoshwar - Most Inspiring Women Leaders 2025
Leader at a Glance
Ruchi Santoshwar broke unseen gender barriers in technology by employing mindful resilience and emotional intelligence, turning bias into a source of influence. She developed AI-powered agentic analytics platforms that changed GCCs from mere cost centers into global hubs of innovation.
Name: Ruchi Santoshwar
Designation: Director, Data & Analytics
Company: NA
Industry: Human Resources Services
Country: India
Designation: Director, Data & Analytics
Company: NA
Industry: Human Resources Services
Country: India
Ruchi Santoshwar - Most Inspiring Women Leaders 2025
In India’s evolving leadership landscape, women who understand both technology and its human impact are shaping the country’s next wave of progress. Ruchi Santoshwar, Director of Data and Analytics at Randstad Global Capability Centre, stands among them with a career defined by clarity, discipline and a steady commitment to purposeful change. Her journey spans early analytical roles at Aarkay Informatics and ING to influential work at Cetera Financial Group and DBS Bank, where she strengthened governance, built analytical frameworks and guided transformations that elevated enterprise readiness. Today, she brings that same depth and intent to Randstad GCC, shaping data strategy and nurturing talent for a more insightful and resilient future. Portfolio Magazine spoke with her to explore her path, her challenges and the vision guiding her next chapter.
When did you first feel that data and analytics were the right career path for you, and what made that moment significant?
Early in my career, my attention to detail and interest in analysing data led me to work on an enterprise-wide data warehouse project at ING. The experience revealed the complexity and interconnection of organisational data in a way no formal curriculum could match. It made me see that data sits at the centre of every business and is essential for generating strategic insight. The project became a turning point that strengthened my commitment to deepen my expertise and explore the wide range of possibilities for using data to create meaningful business value.
As a leader, what invisible hurdles have you had to confront, and what helped you overcome them?
Women leaders in IT, data and analytics often face invisible barriers shaped by organisational culture, access to networks, unconscious bias, limited senior role models and structural inequities. Addressing these challenges requires systemic change and a genuine commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion across leadership levels. Female leaders are also held to higher standards and experience a double bind in which they are viewed as either too soft or too assertive, creating scrutiny that their male peers rarely encounter. Such perceptions influence boardroom dynamics and reduce influence in high-stakes situations.
“Defined by clarity, discipline and a steady commitment to purposeful change & building analytical frameworks and guiding transformations that elevate enterprise readiness.”
I have learned to navigate these hurdles by investing in mindfulness practices and cross-disciplinary learning that broaden creativity and empathy. Emotional intelligence has been central to building trust and influencing teams across the organisation. I have also developed a diverse network of mentors and allies within and outside the workplace. Building resilience has helped me handle bias and setbacks while staying focused on long-term goals. Mentoring others has strengthened my leadership presence and contributed to a culture of support that plays an important role in overcoming these challenges.
Which current analytics initiative excites you the most, and why?
India’s rise as a hub for Global Capability Centres has brought a significant shift in how multinational enterprises view technology and analytics. I am glad to see the growing adoption of AI-driven transformation across functions, placing artificial intelligence and automation at the heart of business operations. GCCs are evolving from cost centres into global innovation and value hubs that manage end-toend product, platform and analytics responsibilities. Among the many ongoing developments, the adoption of AIpowered agentic analytics platforms excites me the most. These platforms use advanced AI and automation to handle complex multi-step analytical workflows autonomously. They are transforming how organisations generate insights, make predictions and optimise operations, and they represent a major step forward in how enterprises create value from data.
Who has been that guiding star in your journey, and what simple piece of advice from them continues to guide you in the boardroom?
Across my two-decade career, I have been fortunate to learn from many exceptional individuals, and three mentors have had a profound impact on my journey. The first was Nathan Ginosar, my manager at ING. He helped me recognise my strengths and blind spots with clarity that shaped the direction of my career. From him, I learned that hard work, determination and continuous learning are foundational for success. His advice on feedback remains one of my strongest anchors: to receive the most honest feedback, seek it from those who may not necessarily like you.
Which project stands out as memorable, and what made it special?
Two milestones define my journey so far. The first was co-founding a startup in India at 30, navigating the dual challenges of entrepreneurship and motherhood while achieving 19% CAGR despite early skepticism. In those long nights balancing deadlines and bedtime stories, it was my faith that purpose matters more than perfection that kept me moving forward. The second was a corporate turnaround in a recent role, scaling a vertical 20x and converting a multimillion-dollar penalty into a multi-year contract renewal. These outcomes resulted from realigning priorities, energising teams, and rebuilding trust, reaffirming my conviction that people-centered leadership creates enduring results.
At DBS, I found another strong influence in Mohit Kapoor. His belief in my capabilities often exceeded my own, and his mentorship strengthened my confidence, encouraging me to strive for excellence. His reminder to keep showing up and never lose hope, regardless of the situation, continues to guide me. And throughout this journey, the most unwavering source of strength has been my husband. His constant encouragement has given me the courage to make every tough decision, and his belief in me remains a grounding force in every boardroom I walk into.
What passion outside work influences your decisions in analytics and adds depth to your leadership?
Beyond work, I have always sought passions that enrich my analytical thinking and leadership approach. Strategy games like Sudoku sharpen logical reasoning and pattern recognition, both of which are essential for data-driven decision-making. Mentorship, particularly for women and underrepresented groups in STEM, has become an important part of my life because it broadens my understanding of different problem-solving styles and leadership challenges. Mindfulness and emotional intelligence have always been important to me. I practice meditation and follow a regular fitness routine that supports clarity of thought, reduces stress and strengthens balanced decisionmaking. Volunteer work and social impact projects related to technology and education provide a grounding perspective, keeping my decisions connected to real-world outcomes. These interests together bring a sense of heart and purpose to my leadership in analytics.
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