The Inspiring Journey of Chandana Madishetty
Growing up in a family where professional success often followed a predictable route engineering, medicine, stability — Chandana Madishetty knew one thing with clarity: she did not want to walk a path simply because it was familiar.
Her father was an engineer, well-settled in a respectable career. The environment around her was filled with examples of conventional professional choices. Yet somewhere deep within, she resonated with the spirit of “The Road Not Taken.” She did not yet know what she wanted to become — but she knew she wanted it to be her own decision.
That clarity of intent became the first turning point in her life.
Choosing the Unknown
When it was time to decide her academic direction, she sat down with her father. Instead of imposing expectations, he offered perspective. If not engineering, he suggested, why not explore Chartered Accountancy?
It was unfamiliar territory. She did not fully understand what the journey entailed or the many specializations it could open up. But she stepped into it anyway — not with certainty, but with courage.
What followed was not a smooth sail.
As she often recalls, studying CA feels like beginning under clear skies — only to gradually encounter turbulent winds. The syllabus is vast, the expectations intense, and the mental discipline required immense. Chandana, who had always been a bright student, faced something she had never encountered before — failure.
During her CA Inter, she required three attempts to clear the examination.
For someone who had never failed before, this was deeply unsettling. But instead of allowing it to define her, she allowed it to refine her.
She realized something powerful: mastering a subject is not about clearing it in the first attempt; it is about understanding it deeply. Repeated study did not weaken her confidence — it strengthened her comprehension. Failure became her first real teacher.
That phase shaped not just her academic journey, but her outlook on life. She tuned herself to see setbacks not as defeat, but as data for growth.
Gradually, she cleared her CA Final in 1st attempt along with her batchmates.
Sailing Through Opportunity
After qualifying, she began her professional journey with Deloitte (US practice), gaining exposure across internal financial controls and SOX testing. Soon after, she moved to EY, where she continued exploring varied assignments.
At this stage, she still did not have a fixed blueprint for her career. Instead, she adopted a mindset of exploration — saying yes to opportunities, learning across domains, and absorbing experiences across industries.
It was during one such assignment that she encountered internal audit.
And something clicked.
She describes internal audit as a vast ocean — dynamic, deep, and endlessly engaging. Each client, each function, each industry presents a new lens. It is a profession that never allows complacency. It demands curiosity, structured thinking, and continuous learning.
From Practitioner to Change Driver
Her decade-long journey at Orient Cement marked a transformational chapter. Rising to head the function, she was no longer just executing or coordinating audits — she was driving organizational change.
She led initiatives in:
- Policy implementation
- ERP transformation
- Strengthening GRC frameworks
- IFC and ERM implementation
- Whistleblower investigations
It is in whistleblower investigations that her leadership courage was most tested.
These assignments demand more than technical competence. They require emotional resilience, objectivity, and at times, physical presence in uncomfortable environments, leading difficult conversations, enquiry interviews, and late-night evidence reviews.
As a woman leader, stepping into such spaces requires dismantling internal and external barriers. But she chose not to step back.
Taking ownership of these responsibilities transformed her confidence. Each complex case strengthened her belief that competence has no gender. She began driving outcomes.
The Chairman’s Circle: Leadership Reimagined
A significant milestone in her journey came when she was selected for the Chairman’s Circle Program at the group level within the CKA Birla Group. She was the only member from the audit function chosen for the cohort.
The selection process was rigorous. Multiple rounds. Senior leadership evaluation. High expectations.
When she was selected and assigned a mentor from the senior-most leadership team, she entered a new dimension of growth.
Through this program, she internalized three leadership pillars:
Lead Self.
Lead Others.
Lead the Organization.
Leadership, she realized, begins with self-awareness. Without mastering one’s own mindset, reactions, and clarity of purpose, leading others becomes mechanical. Leading others requires empathy — not authority alone. And leading the organization demands alignment with strategy and change management capability.
This structured exposure shifted her approach from operational excellence to strategic leadership.
In one of her leadership projects, she led the launch of a new product as a pilot initiative. Applying her learnings, she ensured team alignment, clarity of objectives, and collaborative execution. The product launch received approval from the senior-most leadership — a testament to her evolved leadership style.
She learned that change cannot be dictated; it must be driven with empathy for sustenance.
Redefining Women’s Day
Having actively participated in organizing Women’s Day initiatives in her corporate roles, Chandana’s perspective evolved significantly over time.
Earlier, Women’s Day felt like a celebration — gatherings, appreciation, speeches, and snacks.
But she began questioning: Is celebration enough?
For her, Women’s Day is about awareness — about parity, not just partying.
She designed programs that involved both men and women, encouraging dialogue on unconscious bias, financial independence, workplace respect, and leadership opportunities. She believes that meaningful change cannot happen in silos.
Parity is not a women’s issue; it is a societal shift.
She observes subtle biases even today — from salespeople asking for a “male decision-maker” during large purchases, to assumptions about women’s financial autonomy. These everyday incidents reflect deeper systemic conditioning.
But she remains optimistic.
The shift is happening — slowly, but surely.
Writing Your Own Story
Perhaps the most powerful advice she offers women is this:
“When writing your life story, don’t hand over the pen to someone else.”
Society often sets expectations — about how a woman should behave, speak, lead, or prioritize. Family, colleagues, culture — all contribute voices.
But a woman must define her own boundaries.
She advises women to:
- Stand tall and be vocal.
- Question whether expectations are based on need or greed.
- Learn to manage their own finances.
- Engage in difficult conversations, if needed.
She also acknowledges a paradox — society often celebrates powerful women in stories, yet feels uncomfortable when real power shifts.
Confidence is not aggression. Leadership is not rebellion. It is responsibility carried with clarity.
The Woman Behind the Leader
Beyond boardrooms and frameworks, Chandana is a joyful personality. She loves music, dance, and celebrations. She believes that joy is not separate from leadership — it fuels it.
Her journey is not about rebellion. It is about conscious choice.
She did not choose the expected road. She chose the road that unfolded before her — sometimes clear, sometimes rough — and sailed through it with resilience.
From academic setbacks to corporate boardrooms, from technical execution to strategic leadership, from celebration to consciousness — her story reflects evolution.
And perhaps that is the real message for Women’s Day.
It is not about a single day of applause. It is about every day of authorship.
About the author:
Amit Sharma is the Vice President and Head of Audit – APAC at EXL, with over 25 years of experience in internal audits, risk management and compliance. As part of his commitment of giving back to the auditing profession, he also serves on the IIA India Delhi Branch Board of Governors and is the Chairperson of the Publications & Research committee of IIA India Delhi Branch.