Founder of the finance firm InCred credits his mentor for lighting the spark for his start-up
by Bhupinder Singh, PGP 1999
Caption: Bhupinder Singh, PGP 1999, is the Founder and Group CEO, InCred, a financial services group headquartered in Mumbai.
In business, success is often reduced to numbers—profits, market share, and growth. Beneath these metrics lies a more profound force: the relationships and guidance that shape our journey. One such relationship can define a career. For me, that relationship was with my mentor, Anshu Jain , banking legend and former co-CEO of Deutsche Bank. Anshu had hired me himself in 2000 to join the graduate class in London after I had spent a year working for DSP in India.
Anshu’s mentorship was not just about banking. It was about transforming how I saw challenges, opportunities, and leadership itself. His lessons did more than propel my career; they became the foundation for building InCred, a financial services firm rooted in vision, empowerment, and integrity.
Mentorship isn’t about giving answers—it’s about shifting perspectives. Anshu helped me see beyond immediate concerns and think bigger. Early in my career, I had established myself as a successful banker in London. Anshu saw in me the potential for something more and encouraged me to lead a business in Asia. The move seemed bold and uncertain; yet it proved transformative. Anshu’s faith in my ability to navigate a new market opened up opportunities and broadened my horizon. He helped me step into the unknown and emerge stronger, more capable, and ready for greater challenges.
The lessons I learned from Anshu Jain have become the cornerstone of InCred’s success. From the moment we envisioned InCred, Anshu’s teachings of strategic thinking, resilience, and bold decision-making guided our path.
Caption: Anshu Jain, former co-CEO of Deutsche Bank
In today’s financial landscape, especially in a dynamic market like India, forward-thinking vision is critical. Anshu taught me to see beyond immediate hurdles and to anticipate shifts in the market. This mindset has allowed InCred to thrive, even in an environment filled with uncertainties. We built InCred at the cusp of a fintech revolution. While the road was uncertain, we stayed focused on the long-term potential. Our ability to harness technology, innovate financial products, and scale responsibly comes from the core principles I absorbed under Anshu’s mentorship.
Anshu didn’t just provide guidance—he empowered me to lead. This empowerment has shaped the way we lead at InCred. We have created a culture where leadership isn’t confined to a few people at the top. At InCred, empowerment means trusting our teams to take ownership, think boldly, and innovate fearlessly. Just as Anshu encouraged me to take risks and trust my instincts, I encourage my team at InCred to do the same. We give our people the space to lead with confidence and foster a culture of accountability. This decentralized decision-making has been key to our growth, and it’s one of the reasons we have been able to attract top talent and drive innovation in financial services.
One of the greatest gifts Anshu gave me was the ability to face uncertainty with confidence. During my time in Asia, I learned how to navigate ambiguity and complexity—skills that have been critical in steering InCred through turbulent times. In today’s fast-evolving financial services sector, the only predictable factor is unpredictability. But rather than seeing uncertainty as a roadblock, Anshu taught me to view it as an opportunity to rethink strategies and innovate. Whether facing regulatory changes or the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, InCred has thrived by staying agile and responsive, continually adapting to an ever-changing landscape.
Perhaps the most enduring lesson from Anshu Jain is the importance of integrity. His mantra, “Do the right thing, always,” has become InCred’s guiding principle. At InCred, we believe that financial services should not only drive growth but also create value responsibly. We’ve made it our mission to serve underserved communities, foster financial inclusion, and develop products that meet real societal needs.
The legacy we are building at InCred is one of empowerment, innovation, and responsibility. Every decision we make, every leader we cultivate, and every challenge we face is grounded in the values Anshu instilled in me.
Thus, it would be fair to say that Anshu Jain didn’t just shape my career—he shaped the foundation upon which InCred stands today. His lessons in vision, empowerment, resilience, and integrity are woven into the fabric of our company. At InCred, we are more than just a financial services firm. We are a force for positive change, empowering the next generation of leaders, fostering innovation, and creating a legacy that will endure.
As Anshu empowered me to lead, I now strive to do the same for my team at InCred—guiding them to make a lasting impact, both in the markets we serve and in their own personal and professional growth.
Bhupinder Singh is Founder and CEO of InCred, a financial services group headquartered in Mumbai. The group includes InCred Finance, a unicorn NBFC and InCred Capital, India’s fastest growing integrated financial services platform spanning wealth management, asset management, investment banking and equities broking. He previously co-led the Asia-Pacific business of Deutsche Bank before leaving to start InCred in 2016. Bhupi lives in Mumbai with his wife and two children.
