Winner. Business Leader of the Year 2024

Archana Jagdale

Position: Assistant Vice President
Company: Barclays
City: New Jersey, NJ
Country: USA
Economic/Business Sector: Banking & Investment Services / Finance and Technology

Archana Jagdale is a distinguished technology leader with nearly two decades of experience in software development, project management, and delivering transformative solutions within the financial services industry. Her career is marked by a dedication to leadership, innovation, and a commitment to fostering global growth. With a specialized focus on investment banking, she has been instrumental in developing critical trading systems, particularly in structured equity derivatives and automation.

Archana’s academic journey laid the foundation for her illustrious career. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology from SGGS College of Engineering, Nanded, India, graduating with distinction. Prior to this, she earned a Diploma in Computer Science from PLGPL, Latur, India, with first-class honors. These achievements reflect her early passion for technology and problem-solving, which has been a constant driving force throughout her career.

As a visionary leader, Archana has successfully driven high-impact projects, mentoring global teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. She led the development of critical automation solutions, including the Automation Harness, which enhanced operational efficiency by 35%, reduced product creation time by 90%, and delivered significant cost savings. Her pioneering use of AI-powered technologies, such as chatbots leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) for actionable financial insights, showcases her forward-thinking approach to technology in finance.

In addition to her professional achievements, Archana is deeply involved in promoting gender diversity and global thought leadership. She contributed to HerKey’s DivHERsity Club roundtable on leveraging global talent pools to enhance gender diversity and is actively involved with organizations such as Leaders Excellence at Harvard Square, IEEE, and the British Computer Society (BCS). Her contributions in these areas underscore her commitment to driving positive change within and beyond her field.

Archana’s accomplishments have been recognized through prestigious awards and accolades, reflecting her exceptional contributions to technology, leadership, and innovation. She received the International Achiever Award for Exceptional Leadership, celebrating her commitment to fostering growth and driving impactful change.

Her leadership in developing the Automation Harness, which streamlined operations and significantly reduced product creation time, earned her the Outstanding Contribution Award. Another standout achievement was Archana’s creation of an automated Java tool that reduced manual trading processes from hours to mere minutes, becoming a cornerstone of efficient trading operations, which earned her a Spot Award.

Archana’s innovative spirit extends to her leadership in AI-driven solutions. She spearheaded the development of her organization’s first AI-powered chatbot, utilizing LLMs to provide actionable insights from financial reports, enhancing decision-making processes across the board. Her dedication to mentoring and team development has also been remarkable. Archana improved team productivity by 25% while fostering career growth within her global team. These efforts have not only driven project success but also nurtured future leaders in the industry.

Beyond her technical and leadership contributions, Archana has been widely recognized for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion. She has received accolades for her thought leadership in championing new ideas and challenging the status quo, including commendations for promoting diversity of thought from industry leaders such as Venkata Ramanand Cheedella and Alyssa Nieves.

Her contributions to the financial services sector have consistently demonstrated her ability to innovate, inspire, and deliver world-class service. Through her leadership and achievements, Archana Jagdale has set a benchmark for excellence in the technology and financial industries.