Shalini Grover is Treasury Today’s 2024 Champion of Change Overall Winner for Asia Pacific. This is a newly-created award that celebrates individuals of all genders who can demonstrate a real commitment to challenging the status quo. The criteria of the judges – innovation, leadership, collaboration, teamwork, decision-making, tenacity and demonstrable achievements – have all been demonstrated by Shalini.
Shalini has driven change in her organisation and has also had a relentless focus on diversity that lies at the heart of her personal values. “Throughout my career, I have recognised the importance of investing in people, whatever their age, background and gender, and wherever their strengths lie,” she says.
Making a difference
Shalini has been proactive in making a difference in the workplace and she is the Chair of the India Committee for Boeing’s Global Equity Group for Diversity and Inclusion and has played a critical role in establishing and developing diversity and inclusion practices. This has resulted in more equitable recruitment processes and career development opportunities, better support for a diverse workforce and a positive culture that celebrates and embraces differences.
Although there is still a long way to go until there is more representation, approximately 25% of the engineers at Boeing India are female, a proportion that Shalini would not have thought possible even a few years ago. “I’m keen to see greater diversity and inclusion in leadership, so I spent two years on the Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership Enterprise Executive Board, a business resource group that seeks to inspire and encourage women in leadership, both within India and globally.”
Shalini is one of the very few female chief financial officers of a large multinational. She joined Boeing India in 2010 when there were only 50 people, and she has been a key part of the business transformation. Now the business has 6,000 people and the company is recognised as a centre of engineering excellence. Shalini is CFO for Boeing India, including Boeing Defence India and CFO for Boeing Global, a functional organisation that is responsible for the company’s international strategy and operations. Her role as CFO has been pivotal in ensuring financial integrity, implementing effective processes and controls and embedding an inclusive culture.
Measuring social impact
Shalini has had a focus on diversity and inclusion through her career. In the early stages when she worked at PwC there was increased scrutiny of large companies’ practices, such as health and safety, pay and working conditions. “I recognised the importance of better oversight and compliance reporting for multinationals’ senior management and shareholders, and greater confidence for their customers and wider stakeholder community, as well as ensuring that companies’ workforce and companies within their supply chain were treated fairly,” she explains. She took the opportunity to set up a new practice line at PwC for social compliance and worked with a US partner to set up a framework for measuring, reviewing and reporting social compliance.
Shalini has had an impact at a more personal level, influencing the careers of people she has worked with. For example, Asmita Matta, Lead, Financial Planning and Analysis Division, Boeing Defense India says Shalini has had an influence on her professional journey and describes her as a beacon for women in leadership both within Boeing and in the broader industry. Asmita explains: “Shalini’s career trajectory serves as a blueprint for aspiring leaders, particularly in the realms of finance and strategic development. Since joining Boeing in 2015, I’ve observed Shalini’s hands-on approach in steering our division and the larger organisation towards unprecedented growth and operational excellence. Her tenure has seen Boeing India evolve into a pivotal hub of engineering and innovation, a testament to her strategic foresight and commitment to excellence.”
In addition, Shalini’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture stands out, particularly with the numerous initiatives that she has spearheaded. “Her commitment to mentorship and professional development, particularly among women, further amplifies her impact. By actively engaging in mentorship and advocating for leadership development programmes, Shalini has played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of leaders within our organisation and beyond,” says Asmita.
Asmita is not the only one to sing Grover’s praises. Ahmed Elsherbini, Vice President and Managing Director, Boeing India, Engineering and Technology Centre, says, “Shalini isn’t just, a savvy, chief financial officer and inspiring leader, but she’s also a caring and engaged leader who is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.”
Meanwhile, another Boeing colleague, Ruchika Avasthi, Global Specialist – Race, Ethnicity and Culture GEDI Focal – India, describes Shalini as a leader, collaborator and a change agent. “Shalini has been chairing our global equity, diversity and inclusion steering committee for India. The purpose of this committee is to identify key strategic focus areas within equity, diversity and inclusion for Boeing India and ensure traction in a measurable and inclusive manner. Shalini’s leadership has been critical in the launch and developing focus for our steering committee by way of ensuring support, challenge and progress on the equity, diversity and inclusion goals.”
