A. N. Raju
Joint Managing Director
View Profile
Learn from what has shaped us
Contribute to what comes next
Sundaram Fellowship offers an opportunity to learn from the values, relationships and understanding of business that have shaped our journey, while bringing a fresh perspective to the opportunities ahead.
Join the Sundaram Fellowship Webinar on 12th
September
Register
Now
Sundaram Fellowship is a distinctive programme that places fellows on some of Sundaram Finance’s most important business priorities.
Each fellow is paired with a senior leader as a mentor, providing perspective, guidance and ongoing support throughout the fellowship. Fellows also work with senior leaders across the organisation on high value, high impact assignments focused on business growth, new opportunities and critical business problems.
The fellowship combines senior leadership exposure with real ownership and the responsibility to take ideas from definition through to execution.
Fellowship at A Glance
Duration
2 Years
Optional 3rd year (mutual agreement)
Location
Chennai
Head Office
Batch
10–15 Fellows
Selected cohort size
Fellow Track
0–5 Years
Work experience
Senior Fellow Track
5–10 Years
Work experience
Learn from leaders who have shaped the institution
Each Fellow is paired with a senior leader who provides perspective, guidance and regular support.
Bama Balakrishnan
Senior Vice President - Finance
View Profile
Jeevan Jose
Senior General Manager & Zonal Head - Coimbatore and Salem Zone
View Profile
Manoj Arvindakshan Nair
Vice President, Head - Distribution
View Profile
Muralidharan Venkataraman
Senior General Manager & Head - Strategy & Planning
View Profile
N. Ramachandran
Executive Director
View Profile
Rahul Jyothi Kumaran
Senior General Manager & Head - SME & SCF
View Profile
Rajesh Venkat
Senior Vice President & Head - Tamil Nadu Region & Analytics
View Profile
Rajiv C. Lochan
Managing Director
View Profile
Sekar R
Vice President & Head - Human Resources
View Profile
Sudheer Warrier
Chief Technology & Digital Officer
View ProfileStories from the Journey
Hear from fellows about their experiences, assignments and learning across Sundaram Finance.
What Defines Sundaram Fellowship
01
Cross-functional Assignments
Assignments in the fellowship are often cross-functional and evolving. They call for solutions to be shaped with context and judgement.
02
Exposure Across Teams & Leadership
The fellowship offers exposure across businesses, functions and leadership teams. Each assignment brings a different problem, context and perspective and helps fellows build a broader understanding of the organisation.
03
High Degree of Ownership
Fellows take a high degree of ownership, bringing people together, shaping decisions and carrying ideas from problem definition through to implementation.
04
Designed for Variety & Ambiguity
The fellowship is designed for people who value variety, are comfortable working through ambiguity and are willing to take responsibility beyond a defined role.
05
Direct Problem-Solving & Execution
Fellows become part of the team solving the problem, working closely with business owners, navigating different perspectives and helping move the work forward. This can include structuring an idea, testing it with teams and supporting execution on the ground. structuring an idea, testing it with teams and supporting execution on the ground.
Breadth of Exposure
Sundaram Fellowship provides exposure to capabilities across business and functional areas:
Customer, Market & Product
Data, AI & Analytics
Process, Quality & Operations
Stakeholder Management
Technology & Digital
Sundaram Fellowship Journey
Mentorship Throughout the Journey
Throughout the fellowship, mentors and fellows stay closely connected through regular conversations to review priorities, discuss progress and bring perspective to the journey ahead.
Immersion in the Organisation
The fellowship begins with an initial period of immersion that introduces fellows to Sundaram Finance, its businesses and the priorities shaping the organisation. Fellows begin their first project within the first month, moving quickly from understanding context to active work.
Building a Body of Work
Fellows take on a mix of short and long-term assignments across businesses, functions and priorities. Over time, these projects build a broader understanding of the organisation and how different parts come together.
Developing Depth Over Time
As the fellowship progresses, fellows can build depth in areas of interest or continue working across different businesses and functions. The journey is shaped by project needs, individual strengths and where each fellow can contribute most.
What We Value in a Sundaram Fellow
Eligibility
Graduates from any academic discipline may apply. An undergraduate degree is required. A postgraduate degree is desirable.
Sundaram Fellows bring different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We look for people who are curious, thoughtful and open to different points of view.
Most importantly, we value initiative grounded in responsibility: the willingness to step beyond what is asked, take ownership and make a meaningful contribution to the outcome.
We value the ability to break down unfamiliar problems, exercise sound judgement and articulate thinking clearly. We also look for people who work effectively across teams and with senior leaders, build credibility and bring people along.
FELLOW
0–5 years
SENIOR FELLOW
5–10 years
Strong academic performance and track record
·
Prior financial services experience: Optional
The Traits We Look For
Critical Reasoning
Problem
Solving
Business
Judgement
Ownership Mindset
Effective Articulation
Stakeholder Influence
Curiosity and Learning Agility
Challenge the Status Quo
Thought Partnership
Application & Selection
1 Week
1
Apply
Applications can be submitted by 30 September via email to fellowship@sundaramfinance.in with a resume and responses to the four essay questions.
1 Week
2
Profile Screening
Applications will be reviewed based on the candidate’s experience, overall profile and written submission.
4 Weeks
3
Online Discussion
Shortlisted candidates will be invited, on a rolling basis, to an initial online interview with senior colleagues from Sundaram Finance.
2 Weeks
4
In-Person Interview
Candidates shortlisted from the online interview round will be invited to Sundaram Finance’s Head Office in Chennai for a final round of discussions with members of the leadership team and the selection panel.
5
Offer and Joining
Offers will be released on a rolling basis as candidates complete all rounds, with all offer letters scheduled to be released by 25 October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for Sundaram Fellowship at the time of
joining. We welcome applications from candidates at different stages of their careers.
Yes. Candidates from a wide range of professional backgrounds are welcome. We value
the ability to solve unfamiliar problems, exercise sound judgement, learn quickly and work effectively
with different stakeholders.
As part of your application, you will be required to submit your resume along with
responses to the four essay
questions attached. Together, these materials will help us gain a deeper understanding of your
background, interests and motivations.
Applications are first reviewed based on the overall profile and written submission.
Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for an online interview, followed by in-person interview at
Sundaram Finance’s Head Office in Chennai.
The Head Office stage involves interviews with members of the leadership team and the
selection panel. The interviews are intended to understand how you think, communicate and approach
unfamiliar business situations, while also giving you an opportunity to learn more about the fellowship
and Sundaram Finance.
Please refer to the Application & Selection Process section for the latest
information on selection stages and timelines. As timelines may vary depending on the application window
and the volume of applications received. Typically, shortlisted applicants are contacted within one week
of submitting their application. The overall timeline may vary and will be communicated to shortlisted
candidates during the process.
Yes. Candidates serving their notice period may apply. Joining timelines can be
discussed during the selection process based on individual circumstances and Sundaram Fellowship’s
onboarding schedule.
The expected joining window will be communicated as part of the application process.
Wherever possible, we will work with selected candidates to accommodate reasonable notice period
requirements.
Each fellow is paired with a senior leader as a mentor, providing perspective,
guidance and support throughout the fellowship. Mentors and fellows stay closely connected through regular
conversations on projects, priorities and the fellow’s broader journey.
Yes. Sundaram Fellowship is based at Sundaram Finance’s Head Office in Chennai,
allowing fellows to work closely with business and functional teams across the organisation.
Travel depends on the nature of the project. Some assignments may require fellows to
spend time with branches, regional teams, customers or other stakeholders to understand the business
firsthand.
Yes. Sundaram Fellowship is designed around project-based assignments that can span
different businesses and functions. Fellows have the flexibility to explore a range of areas or build
greater depth in a particular subject over time.
Yes. Sundaram Fellowship is designed as a two-year programme that helps fellows build
a meaningful body of work within Sundaram Finance. For fellows who demonstrate strong ownership,
contribution and alignment with the organisation’s values, the programme may be extended into a
third year based on mutual agreement. The fellowship also creates a natural pathway to explore longer term
opportunities with Sundaram Finance, based on mutual interest and fit.
