Travelogue 12: “When Passion Meets Purpose – Lessons from Oxford”

Last week took me back to Oxford and London for our 2nd Intellect Oxford Core Banking Event—an experience that was nothing short of transformative.

I want to begin with one of my favourite lines from Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Om Shanti Om’: “When you desire something with true passion, even destiny conspires to make it happen.”

That perfectly captured my emotions after three remarkable days in Oxford, where 30+ C-suite banking leaders from across the world came together. The event was a masterclass in curation—sessions that sparked new ideas, debates that challenged old assumptions, and conversations that will continue to shape how we reimagine the future of banking.

As business leaders, our days are often consumed by quarterly pressures—revenues, costs, collections, and commitments. Yet, programmes like this remind us of the larger purpose: to give back to the financial services community that has given us so much. They give meaning to leadership beyond the numbers.

An initiative of this scale is possible only when people come together, united by a selfless objective. When I reached out for support, the response was overwhelming. Friends, seniors, colleagues—all stepped forward without hesitation. A special shout-out to Cadambi Janardhan, who travelled from New York, and to so many friends who stood by us to make this vision real. Thank you : Rajat Garg Sanjeeb Chaudhuri

This event was not just about Oxford’s history—it was about writing a new chapter in core banking, one rooted in collaboration, bold thinking, and shared commitment.

Leaving you with a few snapshots of moments I will always cherish.