Ruqaiyah Aurangabadwala (Ruplekha Roy): Leading With Courage, Clarity, and Impact

“Step up before you feel ready – just be brave enough to begin, show up, learn, and lift others as you rise.”

At 49,Ruqaiyah Aurangabadwala, also known as Ruplekha Roy, has built a remarkable 25-year career shaping India’s financial services landscape. Currently the Chief Business Officer – BFSI at Quess Corp Ltd, she leads a division dedicated to addressing the talent and staffing needs of the financial sector. With a deep specialization in payments, real-time digital transactions, financial inclusion, product consulting, and insurance underwriting, she has earned recognition as both an industry strategist and a people-focused leader.

Curiosity That Sparked a Career of Impact

Ruqaiyah describes herself as “the girl with two names,” but her career has had one consistent thread: curiosity. Early on, she was fascinated by how financial systems worked, how innovation could reach millions, and how businesses could be structured to make a real difference. This curiosity led her to immerse herself in the BFSI sector, where she could combine technical expertise with strategic thinking.

“I wanted to explore every angle—strategy, implementation, and human impact,” she says. “The financial sector gave me that opportunity.”

A Journey Defined by Strategy and Transformation

Over the last two decades, Ruqaiyah has led market landscape assessments, business strategies, and operational frameworks for global payment networks and banking institutions. She was instrumental in scaling transformative initiatives such as Aadhaar based Payments Services BHIM Aadhaar(Aadhaar Pay) and Real Time Payment projects, expanding digital inclusion and redefining India’s payments ecosystem.

Her expertise lies in uniting product innovation with service optimization—fostering collaboration across diverse teams, improving productivity, and delivering results that last. One of her key strengths is building bridges between the BFSI and staffing sectors, ensuring that both talent and technology advance together.

These achievements reflect more than just technical acumen. “I’ve always been passionate about creating solutions that deliver tangible benefits,” Ruqaiyah notes. “That’s how real progress happens.”

Challenges That Shaped Her Leadership

The toughest part of her journey hasn’t been technology or strategy—it has been responsibility for people. “Leading outcomes is one thing; leading people is another,” she reflects. “Their growth, challenges, and trust became my responsibility, and that required me to grow as a person.”

Ruqaiyah met these challenges by being open to feedback, staying grounded, and pushing herself far beyond her comfort zone. “I learned to lead with empathy and clarity, rather than authority alone,” she says. “Resilience comes when you own your voice and refuse to shrink.”

Guided by Courage and Action, Not Perfection

For Ruqaiyah, leadership isn’t about being flawless. “It isn’t about perfection—it’s about courage, taking action, and standing by your decisions,” she emphasizes. These principles guide her work, her relationships, and her approach to mentoring others.

Her career has been punctuated with numerous awards and nominations, including a Limca Book of Records entry for Financial Literacy, but she measures success not in titles, but in meaningful impact.

Motivation Rooted in Curiosity and Challenge

“What drives me is not just progressing in life—it’s creating impact,” Ruqaiyah explains. “Opportunities that challenge me to think differently and do meaningful work—that’s what keeps me moving forward.”

Even with her demanding role, she has mastered the balance between career and personal life. “Women are natural multitaskers,” she says, “but the secret is prioritizing, setting boundaries, managing time, and knowing when to say no.” She credits her mother and mother-in-law for their unwavering support—proof that women empowering women can be transformational.

Vision for a More Inclusive Future

Ruqaiyah’s goals now extend beyond personal success. She is committed to fostering equitable opportunities and inclusive workplaces, advocating for environments where women and underrepresented talent can thrive. She is also focused on personal well-being, travel, and building deeper relationships that enrich her both professionally and personally.

“My next chapter is about impact at scale—helping businesses and people step into their full potential, while building systems that are fair, future-ready, and human-centered.”

Advice to Young Women: Claim Your Space

To young women entering competitive industries, Ruqaiyah offers straightforward advice:

“Don’t wait for permission—claim your space. Speak your truth. Lead like you were born to.”

She believes that every woman has the right—and the responsibility—to step up before she feels ready. “Bravery isn’t the absence of fear; it’s showing up anyway,” she says.

A Legacy of Courage and Connection

Ruqaiyah’s career story is not only about scaling digital transformation but also about redefining leadership itself. Her ability to combine strategic vision with human insight has made her a trusted advisor and an industry authority.

As she looks to the future, her focus is simple yet powerful: use expertise to drive real change, lift others along the way, and never stop learning.

“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being courageous enough to begin, again and again—and helping others do the same.”