The business consulting firms in India are well aware of the best practices regarding maintaining a healthy relationship with their clients resulting in a booming consulting industry of around 30,000 crores turnover annually. Ameeta Chatterjee, Founder & Director, Espandere Advisors has been using her vast experience in developing, managing, financing, and executing corporate sector projects to lead Espandere Advisors successfully. Partnering with another Senior Banker Suvalaxmi Chakraborty, Ameeta has helped Espandere Advisors to become a one-stop solution for business consultancy solutions for its clients. In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur, Ameeta shares her prior corporate experience, her strategies to stay abreast of the latest trends and regulations, and much more:

Shed Some Light On Your Early Educational Journey And The Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table. What Are Some Of The Important Features Of Your Expertise As A Business Consultant?

After the completion of my graduation in Commerce from Lady Shri Ram College of Women, I did my management degree from IIMB. I started my career as a project finance officer at ICICI Limited and worked in both Kolkata and Mumbai. After that, I joined KPMG as part of their Corporate Finance team, working with them in Mumbai & London over 8 years before joining Leighton, an Australian infrastructure MNC, as their head of Mergers & Acquisitions. My journey as an independent financial consultant started in 2012 and have worked across various infrastructure-based sectors for both national as well as international clients. I set up

Espandere Advisors in partnership with another leading women business leader, Suvalaxmi Chakraborty in 2015 to build an advisory business focused on assisting and helping clients in their growth trajectory and exploring new avenues from a strategic, financial, and transaction perspective. As advisors, our vast experience at both national, as well as international levels, helps us bridge the understanding between different geographies across industry sectors, which helps our clients to deconstruct the business as well as operating worlds to build and grow their businesses.

What Motivated You To Establish Espandere Advisors? What Makes The Firm Unique?

Espandere was born out of a vision to provide a platform to deliver high-quality value-added advice that enables our clients and employees to expand their horizons to grow and develop to their full potential in a team that is supporting, challenging, and providing meaningful honest advice to navigate through business decisions in light of a volatile, uncertain and complex world. We enjoy our work and working with our clients, which made us set up the business.

"Do not give up your dream, persevere and the universe will conspire to offer you opportunities."

We are equally passionate about our work, our clients, and our team. The unique quality that helps us stay ahead of the curve is our transparent and honest advice to our clients which is totally in the interest of the business and its objectives. We run with our clients in not just advising but assisting them in implementing their strategies while supporting them in facing challenges that come in the process. Our network and ability to connect to industry and different stakeholders are valued by our clients.

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Espandere Advisors? What Are Some Of The Major Challenges You Have Faced So Far As The Founder?

As the Founder, I play multiple roles starting from providing strategic direction to developing a team with a cohesive value system. I lead the strategic focus of the business and am involved in most high-level client meetings while working closely with the senior support team to make objectives meet. In terms of challenges, the biggest challenge that we face is in the development of talent. The competitiveness in the advisory market is another major challenge even though our clients continue to appreciate our role as advisors.

What Are Some Of The Major Milestones That You Have Achieved So Far In Your Professional Journey? What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Success As A Business Leader?

Some of our major milestones include the first fundraising mandate for an education company that was raised in 6 months, a cross-border M&A client, and a turnaround and change management advisory mandate for a Private Equity investor. We have also been engaged with business strategy execution and inorganic business growth through partnerships in the areas of Rural, Agri, Microbanking & MSME financial services for various clients. My perseverance as well as focus on providing quality advice to our clients is one of the major driving forces behind my success. Even my partner Suvalaxmi Chakraborty has been pivotal in providing senior-level direction and support essential forsuccess in the business.

How Do You Keep Yourself Abreast Of The Periodic Evolutions Occurring Within The Indian Business And The Tech Landscape? Any Advice For The Young Women And Girls Who Also Aspire To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

 To consistently update ourselves with new developments in the business, regulatory, and technology landscape, our teams are regularly sent for third-party training and work closely with the senior management team to understand our style of advisory work. We are deeply involved in two IT businesses for more than three years to stay abreast of the technological changes in the market. We are also consistently engaged with cross-border partners that bring value and understanding to other markets. Even our network of relationships, built over time, helps us with the necessary support in identifying and understanding evolving trends in the dynamic market. The advice I would like to give to budding entrepreneurs is to maintain a healthy work-life aspiration rather than compete with your peers on valuation and growth trajectory. There is always a need for good business so focus on building your skillset (product or services) and building a professional profile for yourself. Opt for a career that you are passionate about and can see yourself licing it even at the ripe old age of 75. Do not give up on your dreams, persevere and the universe will conspire to offer you opportunities.

Ameeta Chatterjee, Founder & Director, Espandere Advisors

In an illustrious career spanning over 25 years, Ameeta has worked for many reputed organizations in corporate finance, management, and financial advisory positions. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, Ameeta is presently leading a business advisory firm Espandere Advisors along with Suvalaxmi Chakraborty. She also sits as independent directors and has founded a non-government organization providing aid to children in need named Ekam Foundation Mumbai. She also has authored two books ‘A Journey in Love’ and ‘Joyful Living – Reflections of a Happy Soul’.