An interview with Laksh Vaswani: Transforming Financial Operations Through Innovation, Technology, and Regulatory Expertise
With years of experience in leading financial and consulting companies, Laksh Vaswani has a unique insight into global operations, regulatory transformation, and risk management at the biggest companies.
His more than two decades of work at the world’s largest financial institutions, including MUFG, BNY Mellon, Morgan Stanley, and the New York Stock Exchange equipped Laksh with inside track of how large-scale automation efforts, optimized risk frameworks, and regulatory engagements drive the biggest, most successful financial companies of out time.
To add to this experience, Vaswani has also worked in publishing with Thomson Reuters and various consulting firms. This decorated career means there aren’t many who are better placed to share insight into how industry standards, operational efficiencies, risk management, and more shape company performance.
He previously shared this insight in his book, Pivotal Leadership: A Masterclass in Innovation and Persuasion, which he continues in this exclusive interview.
Today, Laksh Vaswani shares his insights on automation, regulatory engagement, operational excellence, and the evolving role of AI in financial services.
Laksh, you’ve had an illustrious career leading operations and risk management for global financial institutions. What has been your core focus in these leadership roles?
Laksh Vaswani: Thank you! My primary focus has always been driving operational efficiency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enabling business growth.
Over the years, I have built a reputation for optimizing financial operations through automation, AI-driven solutions, and strategic risk management frameworks.
At MUFG, I led the transformation of trust operations, introducing process automation that saved more than 6,000 work hours annually. I oversaw the overhaul of the company’s risk and control self-assessment framework, streamlining compliance processes to eliminate redundancies and strengthen governance.
I always seek to bridge the gap between regulatory expectations and business needs, ensuring client firms are both compliant and also strategically positioned for growth.
You have worked closely with regulators and risk functions. How do you ensure regulatory compliance while balancing business efficiency?
Laksh Vaswani: Compliance is one of the most critical and complex aspects of the financial services industry. Many firms struggle with regulatory requirements that are often at odds with business objectives. I believe in taking a proactive approach to work with regulators rather than reacting to mandates.
At BNY Mellon, I was part of recovery and resolution planning and regulatory remediation efforts, an endeavor that ensures compliance with federal and global banking standards.
Working with regulators focused on regulatory engagement to set up transparent and constructive relationships that advocated for business-aligned compliance strategies.
We also developed optimized risk frameworks that transformed the company’s risk management into a value-add business enabler.
Finally, our data-driven reporting leveraged artificial intelligence and automation to generate real-time compliance dashboards, reducing manual effort and improving decision-making.
These systems helped the firms I have worked meet regulatory standards while operating more efficiently, reducing costs, and enhancing profitability.
AI and automation are rapidly transforming financial services. How have you implemented these technologies to enhance operations?
Laksh Vaswani: Artificial intelligence and automation are no longer optional. Both technologies have become integral to maintaining competitiveness in the financial industry and will likely be key to deciding winners and losers across several sectors in most countries.
I have championed the use of AI-driven risk assessment tools, machine learning-based anomaly detection, and process automation to eliminate inefficiencies.
At MUFG, I led end-to-end automation of manual processes, cutting operational costs and improving accuracy. Some of the most important key initiatives included AI-powered risk monitoring to implement machine learning models that detect potential risks before they escalate.
We also implemented regulatory tech (RegTech) that automates compliance tracking and regulatory reporting, reducing compliance-related errors by 40 percent.
Finally, our operational workflow automation efforts utilized Microsoft 365 and Power Automate to streamline trust operations, achieving multimillion-dollar savings.
By integrating AI into daily operations, my team transformed outdated manual processes into highly efficient, data-driven workflows that supported scalability and regulatory alignment.
You’ve been described as a transformational leader in financial operations. What leadership principles do you follow?
Laksh Vaswani: My view of organizational leadership involves managing processes and inspiring change that creates impact.
When leading teams, my core principles include empowering the teams, individually and separately, to become a high-performing element of the organization.
I endeavor to mentor professionals across functions and foster a culture of learning, adaptability, and resilience.
We embrace data-driven decision-making at every level of the team, allowing us the ability to analyze and act on real-time data faster and efficiently.
My teams also seek to balance compliance and business growth. Regulatory obligations should not hinder business, rather enhance its operations when managed effectively.
In pursuing efficiency and growth, my teams also challenge outdated models despite the inherent resistance to change of the financial sector.
I focus on bringing in forward-thinking strategies that modernize operations while respecting institutional culture.
At BNY Mellon, I was known for taking on impossible projects for which I was awarded the BNY Mellon Star Award.
Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of financial operations and risk management?
Laksh Vaswani: The next decade will be defined by technology, regulatory shifts, and global market dynamics. Some key trends I see shaping the industry include an AI-driven risk and compliance regime.
Regulators are starting to expect firms to use artificial intelligence for real-time risk assessment, and AI will soon become a regulatory requirement rather than an enhancement.
I expect operational resilience to take center stage in a world of burgeoning cyber threats and financial instability.
As a result, resilience planning will become as important as regulatory compliance is today.
The adoption of regulatory technology (RegTech) and automated compliance processes will become the standard, reducing the burden of manual compliance tasks.
Finally, we can expect sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance to stick around for longer.
Banks and other financial institutions will be held accountable for sustainability-related risks, and firms that integrate ESG into operations will gain a competitive edge.
Firms that embrace these trends early will outperform their competitors in compliance, risk management, and operational efficiency.
As a best-selling author and industry team leader, what advice do you have for professionals in financial services?
Laksh Vaswani: I believe that every financial services industry professional must stay ahead of change and never stop learning. In my book, “Pivotal Leadership: A Masterclass in Innovation and Persuasion”, I share lessons on navigating complex industries, leading change, and influencing high-stakes decisions.
The financial industry is evolving fast—embracing technology, regulatory changes, and leadership development will separate the great from the good.
Laksh Vaswani’s ability to blend operational strategy, risk management, and AI-driven transformation into a winning formula for modern financial institutions ought to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
His insights offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to navigate the complex, evolving world of financial services, as well as the new business leaders looking to scale to the top of the world of commerce.
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