In this six‑question, seven‑minute interview, Professor Pete Alexander talks with Kirti Naik, the Head of Marketing for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. Kirti introduces herself as a native New Yorker and seasoned marketer. She shares what makes her smile about the financial‑services marketing world—bright colleagues and a pervasive love of acronyms that, while intended to simplify, often complicate communication. When asked what chapter every company should read, she emphasizes two themes: a human‑centric focus that balances client needs with employee engagement, and the challenge of decoding data, which she describes as both "sexy" and "dirty" but essential for uncovering opportunities and efficiencies. Her leadership advice centers on vulnerability and transparency, arguing that these qualities build trust, loyalty, and ultimately stronger business results, and she notes that culture drives strategy rather than the reverse. Kirti recommends fellow marketing leader Melissa Scowrey from Morgan Stanley as a future podcast guest, highlighting shared experiences as single mothers and Columbia Business School alumni. She recounts her first jobs—simultaneously a video jockey for an Indian music TV show and a medical assistant for an OB‑GYN—illustrating her diverse early career. Finally, she directs listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at BNY Mellon Wealth Management.
Chapters
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and and what you do.
Thank you for having me so much, Professor. Good afternoon to everyone. My name is Keerthi Naik, and I am a native New Yorker. That's right, actually born here in Manhattan. I love good company. I love ethnic food. But I'm also a passionate marketer, and I'm currently the head of marketing at BNY Mellon Wealth Management.
Keerthi, it's so great to have you on the show. Question number 2, what is something that makes you smile and/or laugh about working in your industry?
Oh, many things make me laugh and smile. I think first and foremost, I think the things that give me pleasure are the people. Exceptionally bright, probably the smartest people I have ever met in financial services marketing versus other sectors that I've also worked within. Very bright people there too, but I will say there's a special sauce with the folks in this industry. The other thing that makes me kind of laugh though is our passion for acronyms. Like, we like saying things like TPC, TPG. Everything is an acronym, and for some odd reason, we think that actually simplifies communication, which we know acronyms do not.
No. And so that, especially for somebody that's just a little bit outside of the industry, it's like you're talking a whole different language. So question number 3: I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
First of all, I would love a copy of that book. I'd like to give this a thought for a second. I think two chapters, and I'm going to base this on my experience, a chapter that's about being human and driving growth. What I think this will achieve is that you really start to dig into then the focus on the client, but you can't focus on the client without also focusing on your employees. And connecting with them and getting them rallying around an initiative or a program or the growth of the company. And so I think those two come in hand in hand and having a secret kind of code to that would be amazing. The other thing is decoding data overnight. Data is a sexy and a dirty word at the same time because data can really help solve your problems, identify opportunities, connect the dots, but then it also can help drive efficiencies and impact. But decoding it is a very cumbersome process. And so when we could figure all of that out, well, ba-boom, that would be a great chapter in the book.
Oh, I totally agree with you. And, you know, the data, boy, that opens up so many other opportunities to help you make efficiencies in the organization, as you said. And really, there's the intelligence that can come from that. But if you know how to use that data for appropriate use, that's the critical thing. So I think that's very wise. Thank you. Question number 4, other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
Oh, this is a good one. I think that everything you mentioned is actually table stakes. Those are just foundational. You have to have all those things. But I think I've learned a lot from some pretty amazing leaders and even direct managers in my life. And I firmly believe it's about being vulnerable and transparent. When you are transparent, you foster trust and loyalty. When you're vulnerable, you also foster deep-rooted, real relationships where no matter what you're trying to achieve, you'll do it for each other. And so I do think that in my 20 years of experience right now— and I'm a little beyond that, actually, I found it really valuable to be, as I call it, hashtag filterless and vulnerable and transparent. And despite this digital world, you know, and now it's very virtual— thank you, pandemic— on so many fronts, I think it really comes down to us really pursuing our relationships as being human to human. And this will ultimately drive really strong work ethic, dedication, and ultimately business results as an outcome.
And I think what you talk about, the trust factor there of being transparent, is so, so important. Because if there isn't trust in the organization, if there isn't trust between manager and employee, you know, it just, it creates this unnecessary stress. Would you agree?
Absolutely. I think, I think culture informs business strategy. It's not the other way around, right? And in a culture that is all about clear communication— and by the way, we're allowed to test and learn and grow from these things, right? And, and I have found it very beneficial to position myself not only as a leader, but even if I'm a lieutenant to a leader, in that fashion, right? That We need to grow together in order to grow this company. And I think that's really important. And this goes for not only established brands, startups, it could be for a variety of size of companies, but it really always comes down to the brass tacks of human to human and having truth on the table. Mm-hmm.
Very wise. Thank you so much for sharing that. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
I would love to nominate Melissa Scowrey. She runs a huge division at Morgan Stanley, and the work that they are just pumping out there is phenomenal. And I respect her not only as a female marketing leader, but also we share the fact that, you know, we're single moms, we've got kids, we didn't— you know, we actually share our alma mater, having gone to Columbia Business School and stuff. So There's just so much shared moments there, and I think she would be phenomenal on the show.
Oh, I look forward to interviewing her. Thank you so much for that referral. And our final question, question number 6, please tell me about your first job.
Oh, well, I have had many first jobs if we go back to my real adolescent years, but I would have to say my job going from high school into college was the most interesting. I actually had 2 jobs at the same time. I was actually a video jockey for an Indian video music show on TV Asia, and I would roam around the tri-state area creating silly topics and editorial topics to interview people on the street, do street polls, and play music videos from Bollywood. But at the same time, I was also thinking I wanted to be a doctor, so I was a medical assistant for an OB-GYN, and I really got in there with the doctors.
Wow, those are two totally different jobs, and I love how you described the video jockey thing so that I could just picture that. It was really a good story. Thank you for sharing that. And Kirti, thank you so much for being on the show. How could people find you?
I am really social. You can find me on LinkedIn. I'm always proactively participating in my colleagues' dialogues. And when I have a breathing moment, I also like to publish my own kind of point of views, especially in the world of marketing. And so you can find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. I'm all over. And the other place, of course, is always at BNY Mellon Wealth Management.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
