Interview with Narayanan Vaghul, interviewed by V. G. Narayanan, Chennai, India

In this interview, Narayanan Vaghul, former chairman of ICICI Bank Limited--also known as the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India--narrates his journey to becoming one of the most prominent figures in the Indian banking industry. He describes how, early in life, he aspired to join the Indian civil service, but how serendipitous circumstances instead pulled him in the direction of the State Bank of India, where he would serve for 19 years. Vaghul reflects on some of his most important mentors during those years, who instilled in him the principles of humility, respect, and confidence--virtues that continued to serve him throughout his career. After moving from a regional branch of the State Bank in Chennai, to the central office in Bombay, Vaghul encountered another fortuitous bend in the road. He took a sabbatical at the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), and after only two years there, had made such an impression for his hard work and diligence that he was offered the position of director of the institute. In this new role, he continued to stand out for his intellect and analytical problem-solving. Indeed, by the age of 39, he was offered the position