Announcements

At an International Women’s Day 2026 event hosted by State Bank of India (SBI) at its Corporate Centre, Tulsi Jayakumar, Professor of Economics and Policy at SPJIMR, addressed women professionals from across the bank’s workforce. Currently, 27–28% of SBI’s employees are women. Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty has articulated a goal of increasing representation to 30% by 2030. SBI also announced a USD 500 million syndicated social term loan to finance initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, such as supporting women entrepreneurs and improving financial inclusion. The initiative reflects the growing role of ESG-focused financing in global banking.

In her keynote, Prof. Jayakumar spoke about the ‘unaccounted multiplier’ women represent in the economy. She highlighted the importance of economic agency, the shift from mentorship to active sponsorship, and the need to challenge structural barriers, such as the sticky floor rather than just the more visible glass ceiling. She also emphasised collective leadership, encouraging women to ‘lean back’ and pull others up, thereby strengthening leadership pipelines across organisations.

In 2024, Prof. Jayakumar was appointed Woman Independent Director on the Board of Directors of SBI Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the State Bank of India. At SPJIMR, she serves as Executive Director of the Centre for Family Business and Entrepreneurship (CFBE) and Chairperson of the Post Graduate Programme in Family Managed Business (PGPFMB). Engagements like these reflect how faculty at SPJIMR bring academic insight into industry conversations, shaping dialogue on leadership, economic participation and the future of work.