Name: Rajneesh Jain
Profession: President & CFO
Organization: Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited
Mr. Rajneesh Jain is the President and Chief Financial Officer at Reliance Jio, India’s leading digital service providers. With nearly four decades of experience across some of India’s most respected organizations, Mr. Jain is a distinguished finance leader known for his deep domain expertise, operational excellence, and strategic foresight.
Prior to joining Reliance Jio, he has held leadership roles at Reliance Communications, Indo Rama Synthetics, Ispat Industries, and BHEL.
Mr. Jain is also Chairman, FICCI CFO Council and is / had been on Advisory Board of ICMAI, Amity, SIES, VJIM and Simandhar. He is a distinguished speaker on various Professional and Educational institutes including IIM.
Mr. Jain is thrice winner of CII CFO Awards under the category consumer services and digital excellence. He is also recipient of CMA-CFO, D&B, Whitepage and multiple others CFO of the year awards.
He has authored “ Quiet Excellence “ which has is 2nd in Amazon new releases in workplace category and has close to 200 reviews. It has also gone for reprint in less than 3 weeks of its release.
Interview Questions
- What inspired you to work in the field of education, democracy, or mental health?
After nearing four decades of professional experience in the best of Public and Private sectors, it was felt necessary to pass on experience to the younger generation in the form of a life handbook.
- Why do you think quality education is important for building a strong democracy?
Education is the foundation on which most of the success stories are written. A good education both at school and professional level help the individual to be future ready to become a good leader.
- How can schools help improve students’ mental health?
Schools have a major role in shaping the mind. As the individual during his childhood spend most of the time in school, his intellect, behavior and personality is directly proportional in most cases to the school / college where he has studied.
I owe my success mostly to St. Lawrence and St. Xavier’s, Kolkata where I took my academic degrees.
- What are the biggest challenges students face today in education?
The biggest challenge student face is firstly the academic syllabus is outdated and generally does not confirm to the changing professional and business need. Secondly, the infrastructure required for educating a child is missing and lastly, the moral education which was an integral part of the courses earlier is either missing and / or not given the importance, it deserves.
- How can teachers encourage critical thinking and responsible citizenship?
Teachers have to play the role of parents in nourishing a child’s mental, physical and emotional health. This require passion more than paycheck. Today the role of external coaching classes has superseded the role of school which is not a good sign. Engaging with the students through debates, continuous interaction and emotional connect appears to be missing. A teacher has to be like Dronacharya and Chanakya to produce Arjuna and Chandragupta Maurya.
- What role do parents play in supporting children’s mental well-being and education?
I personally believe that Educational institutions have a larger role in children’s mental well-being and education. Parents role in this is supportive and a good guide. Parent role should be more focused towards ensuring good samskaras through their personal behavior and approach.
- How can young people contribute to strengthening democracy?
Children are the future leaders of the country. However, even in their younger days, they can contribute by airing their voice if they observe something contrary to the values, behavior and ethos being taught to them in the school. They should also play a supportive role in important government initiatives like cleanliness, technology adoption and participation and competing in areas like sports which bring pride to the country.
- What changes would you like to see in the education system over the next five years?
The biggest change required is “passion over paychecks”, curriculum to support every changing business and economic needs and above all inclusion of values and behaviours in day to day functioning in school and colleges.
- How can communities reduce the stigma around mental health?
Negativity is the biggest challenge nowadays. Positivity has taken a back seat. Excessive cut throat competition and the notion of being the best at “any cost” has reduced morality and affected mental health in the long run.
- What message would you like to share with students, parents, and educators?
For students : Strive for “Quiet Excellence”. We need not win every race but participation and fair behavior keeps us always grounded and happy. “Do your best and forget the rest”.
For parents: Children pick up most from their parent’s behavior. How one behave before the kids would shape their future behavior and character.
For Educators : Providing education is the most noble thing the world. Even the kings and Rulers would bow down before the Educators. Respect demands responsibility and the sense of giving without always looking for returns. At the same time, it is the responsibility of society to ensure that the educator’s well-being is take care of so that they can put their heart and soul to shape the future of the country.