Leaders

According to Grand View Research, the global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market was worth $245.9 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to expand at a 9.1 percent CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Factors such as businesses' increased attention on enhancing efficiency and business agility, lowering operational costs, and emphasizing core capabilities to survive the continuously changing business environment are projected to drive the market.

Rajalakshmi Vijay (Raji) is the Chief Executive Officer of Altruist Technologies, a BPO company with over 14000 employees, 32 clients, and 17 delivery centers spread across India, Africa, and the UAE. She has overseen three big acquisitions and has grown the company both organically and inorganically. Raji holds a Chartered Accountant designation.

She believes in and promotes disruption, breaking out from ‘the usually done or accepted’ ways of doing things. Based on the respected Gallop rankings, she was named the 'Finest People's Manager,' and she was voted the best Client by all partners.

She was also a member of the Women's Network Leaders in numerous of the organizations where she worked since she values diversity. In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur Magazine, Rajalakshmi Vijay walks us through her professional journey along with the unique traits of the company:

Give Us A Brief Overview Of Altruist Technologies. In Your Opinion, What Makes The Company And Its Services Unique?

Altruist India is a leading integrated end-to-end solution provider in Business Process Outsourcing, Customer Management Outsourcing, and IT Services, serving a diverse range of clients in a variety of industries. Among the many reasons our clients choose ATPL is that our over 14,000 experts specialize in unlocking value by providing outstanding service to our clients' consumers while delivering desired business goals. Our culture emphasizes collaboration to create successful solutions with measurable commercial advantages. We are forwardthinking and believe in working from the same side of the table. As the tagline 'In the benefit of everyone' suggests, Altruist is an organization that believes in giving back to society.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey And Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table.

I am a Chartered Accountant with an eMBA from Indian School of Business and Wharton and Kellogg immersions. These educational influences have provided me with crucial information and footing for decision making, as well as intuition that tells me where and what to seek for. I bring extensive experience in establishing customer loyalty through experience, having led portfolios in banking, insurance, telecommunications, automobiles, and e-commerce.

"Where there is a will, there is a way. If success stories can inspire us, what stops us from being those success stories"

Before becoming CEO of Altruist Technologies Pvt Ltd's BPO branch, I worked at National Insurance, Airtel, Etisal at DB, Tata Motors, GE Capital, and Flipkart. As CEO, I've been in charge of global BPO operations. I quickly brought in new business after joining Altruist, where we come in as a partner for various global and significant Indian brands in their customer service delivery. I am a firm believer in deviating from 'the usually done or accepted' ways of doing things.

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Shoulder As The CEO Of Altruist Technologies? Tell Us About Some Key Business Challenges That You Face In Your Current Role And How Do You Counter Them?

 Being a successful business leader and CEO for six years requires boldness and unshakable trust in your team. Each team member does not have all of the boxes checked in terms of ability, capability, and skill. The secret sauce is the synergy of qualities that results in a winning team. My competence lies in comprehending this and bringing together people who not only complement each other, but also complement my own strengths and difficulties. If we had a homogeneous set of performers, the organization might not be able to survive. Diversity is the key to success, and my beliefs and philosophy are founded on it.

The simplicity with which we can raise our hands, stand up, and seek for assistance if we feel we might falter encourages a free flow of dialogue between the teams. This organisation benefits from my nonjudgmental support. This is also the culture of Altruism. Personally, I believe in what I call 'Meaningful Leadership'. Leadership that leaves a legacy, not merely in terms of financial sustainability, but also in terms of contribution to the ecosystem surrounding the business, boosting the value of all stakeholders. Building people skills, nurturing leaders, giving to the community, and cultivating honesty and courage are all components of meaningful leadership.

How Do You Foresee The Indian BPO Landscape Evolving In The Near Future? What Steps Do You Take To Keep Yourself Aligned With These Evolutions?

Business Procedure Outsourcing will always be an important strategy in all businesses as long as companies want to focus on their primary business. Such non-mainstream allied activities and procedures are also better managed by experts in that discipline. The evolution occurs at the 'what' level of outsourcing. Most 'touch points' have been replaced by technology, and the development of technology to enhance the consumer experience with some touch is what can be a game changer.

Drawing From Your Experience As A Successful Business Leader, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women And Girls Who Also Aspire To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

My advice to all the women and girls who aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs is very simple. Where there is a will, there is a way. If success stories can inspire us, what stops us from being those success stories.

Rajalakshmi Vijay (Raji), CEO, Altruist Technologies

Bringing extensive experience in building Customer Loyalty through Experience, having led this portfolio across varied industries of finance, insurance, telecom, automobile and e-Commerce.