Banking on big business
When Sunil Kaushal migrated to New Zealand nearly 18 years ago with a degree from NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) – India’s most coveted educational institution – his first job in this country was of milking 370 cows.
From learning the ropes of farming and loving every bit of it, the man went on to become the pioneer of business exchange between India and New Zealand.
As they say, that’s what success stories are made of... Sunil’s is definitely one such story. Living by his father’s words: “Everything is negotiable. It may be difficult but not impossible. No is not an option”, this farmer-turned-banker has sure expanded his horizons to make the impossible possible and credits his humble beginnings for whatever he has achieved today.
As the Head of India Relations at ANZ Bank and an executive committee member of INZBC (India New Zealand Business Council), Sunil is the initiator of the India-NZ business strategy across New Zealand for the bank.
He is not only responsible for getting Indian Corporates into the Kiwi market but most importantly, has created a platform for NZ companies to explore business opportunities in India. In a recent breakthrough, which could well be a historic step in establishing and enhancing trade links between India and NZ; NZ National Fieldays Society has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with The Confederation of Indian Industry – the industry organisation behind Agro Tech, India’s largest agricultural technology trade event.
The memorandum, which is brokered by ANZ, will not only provide the opportunity for collaboration between the two organisations but also bring together two countries, which have farming and agriculture as their dominant industries.
“Since India and NZ are big on the primary sector, an exchange of practices and knowledge between the two countries will be beneficial for both. While NZ can share its agri technology and expertise, India’s strength lies in the manufacturing department with tractor and harvesting,” Sunil informs.
Helming many more path-breaking initiatives like these through ANZ, this banker has also facilitated living expenses and tuition fees up to a year for Indian students coming to NZ by creating a Funds Transfer Scheme in collaboration with INZ (Immigration New Zealand). He has also been instrumental in releasing a paper, consisting of an insightfully detailed study on the what, why and how of doing business in India.
“Success in banking is how successful your clients are. I think one’s biggest ambition should be to have a heart to help people succeed. Hence, I see it as an opportunity and challenge rather than a right to do whatever I can in my capacity and position. It’s all about what you do with what you have,” he believes.
Naturally then, Sunil’s commitment towards serving his community doesn’t end on the professional level. While his middle-class background and experience of starting work on ground level has helped him understand his customers and empathise with them, it’s through his parents that he has learnt to “sow his seed back” and give back to society.
Along with all his professional responsibilities, another priority that rules his already super busy life is “Living Hope”.
It’s been more than 10 years since Sunil has been involved in providing free education to the 151 underprivileged kids in this slum school in Gurgaon, Delhi, which is spearheaded by his mother.
“I believe the best thing you can do for someone is to educate them. So the cause is close to my heart. Besides, my parents have always been involved in social welfare. My mother teaches the slum children at Living Hope while my father is in the process of starting an orphanage in Sangatpura, near Amritsar, soon,” he narrates.
And well, that’s not all for Sunil. When he is not up to serious business or social work, one can catch him spending time with wife Cherie, mucking around with his four children and playing cricket.
“With a Kiwi-European wife, I have got the best of both worlds. Moreover, it helps on the professional front as I get to know how Kiwis think,” he laughs.
When Sunil Kaushal migrated to New Zealand nearly 18 years ago with a degree from NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) – India’s most coveted educational institution – his first job in this country was of milking 370 cows.
From learning the ropes of farming and loving every bit of...
When Sunil Kaushal migrated to New Zealand nearly 18 years ago with a degree from NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) – India’s most coveted educational institution – his first job in this country was of milking 370 cows.
From learning the ropes of farming and loving every bit of it, the man went on to become the pioneer of business exchange between India and New Zealand.
As they say, that’s what success stories are made of... Sunil’s is definitely one such story. Living by his father’s words: “Everything is negotiable. It may be difficult but not impossible. No is not an option”, this farmer-turned-banker has sure expanded his horizons to make the impossible possible and credits his humble beginnings for whatever he has achieved today.
As the Head of India Relations at ANZ Bank and an executive committee member of INZBC (India New Zealand Business Council), Sunil is the initiator of the India-NZ business strategy across New Zealand for the bank.
He is not only responsible for getting Indian Corporates into the Kiwi market but most importantly, has created a platform for NZ companies to explore business opportunities in India. In a recent breakthrough, which could well be a historic step in establishing and enhancing trade links between India and NZ; NZ National Fieldays Society has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with The Confederation of Indian Industry – the industry organisation behind Agro Tech, India’s largest agricultural technology trade event.
The memorandum, which is brokered by ANZ, will not only provide the opportunity for collaboration between the two organisations but also bring together two countries, which have farming and agriculture as their dominant industries.
“Since India and NZ are big on the primary sector, an exchange of practices and knowledge between the two countries will be beneficial for both. While NZ can share its agri technology and expertise, India’s strength lies in the manufacturing department with tractor and harvesting,” Sunil informs.
Helming many more path-breaking initiatives like these through ANZ, this banker has also facilitated living expenses and tuition fees up to a year for Indian students coming to NZ by creating a Funds Transfer Scheme in collaboration with INZ (Immigration New Zealand). He has also been instrumental in releasing a paper, consisting of an insightfully detailed study on the what, why and how of doing business in India.
“Success in banking is how successful your clients are. I think one’s biggest ambition should be to have a heart to help people succeed. Hence, I see it as an opportunity and challenge rather than a right to do whatever I can in my capacity and position. It’s all about what you do with what you have,” he believes.
Naturally then, Sunil’s commitment towards serving his community doesn’t end on the professional level. While his middle-class background and experience of starting work on ground level has helped him understand his customers and empathise with them, it’s through his parents that he has learnt to “sow his seed back” and give back to society.
Along with all his professional responsibilities, another priority that rules his already super busy life is “Living Hope”.
It’s been more than 10 years since Sunil has been involved in providing free education to the 151 underprivileged kids in this slum school in Gurgaon, Delhi, which is spearheaded by his mother.
“I believe the best thing you can do for someone is to educate them. So the cause is close to my heart. Besides, my parents have always been involved in social welfare. My mother teaches the slum children at Living Hope while my father is in the process of starting an orphanage in Sangatpura, near Amritsar, soon,” he narrates.
And well, that’s not all for Sunil. When he is not up to serious business or social work, one can catch him spending time with wife Cherie, mucking around with his four children and playing cricket.
“With a Kiwi-European wife, I have got the best of both worlds. Moreover, it helps on the professional front as I get to know how Kiwis think,” he laughs.
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