By Ritu Jha-
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in San Francisco, along with the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the Association of Indo-Americans (AIA), honored Madhu Ranganathan with the CA Geetha Ramakrishnan Memorial Award at NAARI celebration event on International Women’s Day held at the Indian consulate in San Francisco on March 8.
The award was established this year by ICAI San Francisco Chapter, in memory of Geetha Ramakrishnan — the former chairperson of ICAI who passed away on May 10, 2022. Geetha was the first woman chairperson of the ICAI San Francisco Chapter in the U.S.
Her contributions were instrumental in expanding ICAI chapters in the U.S. and promoting gender diversity across ICAI U.S. chapters.
Expressing her gratitude upon receiving the award, Ranganathan said, “Geetha was a passionate chartered accountant who had the vision to grow the CA community in the Bay Area similar to the IITians.”
“I still vividly recall my first meeting with Geetha. As they say, man proposes, God disposes. Geetha was taken ill and had a very untimely passing away. What a loss to this world and especially her family! To be the first recipient of the award in Geetha’s name is one of the most valuable blessings for me, my professional aspirations, and my values. I remain deeply grateful,” she added.
Ranganathan, a Chartered Accountant from India, recently retired as the President and Chief Financial Officer at OpenText. She is one of the few trailblazers who have successfully climbed the corporate ladder. In addition to her executive role, she serves as an Independent Board Member and Audit Committee Chair, and recently, she has ventured into authorship.
Reflecting on her journey and the challenges she faced as a woman in the corporate world, Ranganathan emphasized the importance of education, personal earnings, and inner strength for women. She highlighted the need for courage, belief in oneself, and continuous learning to succeed in leadership roles.
Sharing her journey, and what led her to become a chartered accountant, and whether it was easy to work in the corporate world, Ranganathan said that both her grandparents were CAs, so perhaps her journey started there.
“It was not easy to be CFO in the corporate world,” said Ranganathan. “I am grateful to have had a successful journey. It came from many things – technical proficiency, being a continuous learner, a leader, and a collaborator. We have to find ways all the time to add business and financial value to every organization that we are part of, and always be cognizant of the highest integrity being a finance leader to balance risk and compliance.”
Talking about the lessons she learn in the corporate journey, she said, “First and foremost, be technically proficient. Understand and be passionate about the business you are supporting. Bring business value and financial value – all the time. Be strategic – go beyond the numbers. Be physically and mentally strong to help organizations traverse through all business climates and be a leader but a collaborator as well.”
Ranganathan also shared the inspiring story of her daughter, Sitara, who was born with congenital toxoplasmosis and blindness, overcoming numerous medical challenges and cognitive obstacles.
In May 2024, Ranganathan released her book, The Child Who Never Knew: A Lifetime of Love, Learnings, and Resilience, which honors Sitara’s journey and provides hope and encouragement to families with special needs.
[Photo courtesy: ICAI SF]
