Deepa Pai-Leadership Insights

How long have you been with Morningstar, and can you share what your journey has been like?

I have spent eight rewarding years at Morningstar, where inspiring leaders and a passion for innovation have propelled me towards significant achievements. My current role offers a variety of challenging projects that keep me engaged, encourage experimentation, and foster a sense of accomplishment.

What core values are important to you as a leader, and how do you think women can prepare for leadership roles?

For me certain core values stand paramount in fostering a thriving organizational environment.

Focusing on People is vital, as leaders must commit to engaging, enabling, and developing their teams through various means such as career discussions, feedback, and training.

Responsibility and Accountability extend beyond just meeting goals and deliverables, including the growth, development, and career progression of their people.

Lastly, being Empathetic is absolutely essential. These values foster a thriving environment and guide leaders in setting examples, engaging with teams, and facilitating growth and development.

One of the things that crossed my mind when I thought of growth in my career was in fact, “how do I prepare for a leadership role?”

For women aiming for leadership roles, overcoming the tendency to meet every criterion before applying is vital. Building self-awareness, seeking feedback, finding mentors, learning from other women leaders, and most importantly, believing in oneself can empower women to confidently pursue higher positions and break through barriers.

How do you keep your skills and knowledge current in an ever-changing market?

Staying relevant in your career now is easier than in the past, thanks to a wealth of free resources. Utilize methods such as networking, attending webinars and podcasts, enrolling in both online and in-person courses, conducting internet searches, engaging on social media, participating in industry events, and reading extensively.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?

I hesitated to seek bigger roles, feeling unprepared until a leader advised me to find a mentor, consider the worst-case scenario of failing, avoid fulfilling every job requirement before applying, and emphasized the importance of networking!

Family and friends advised me to focus on happiness over money, as passion for one's job eliminates work-life balance concerns. They also always encouraged living out my dream.

With busy schedules and need for balancing between personal & professional life, as a leader how do you unplug and recharge?

I believe in living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment, whether at work or in my personal life. I stay energized with a variety of hobbies that help me relax and recharge, including traveling, outdoor sports, cooking, singing, dancing, listening to music, gardening, spending time with animals, learning languages and hymns, watching true-event movies and web series, and being with family and friends. In our fast-paced world, taking short breaks is essential!

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