With a versatile career across entertainment, OTT, gaming, telecom alliances and now fintech, Ms. Bhavna Balaji’s journey shows versatility, clarity of thought and consistent impact across sectors. Currently leading as the Senior Manager – Product Ops (Global Partnerships) at Paytm, Ms. Bhavna is looking after the digital commerce growth across India, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Over the years, she has worked at the intersection of content, technology and consumer behaviour, building strong partner relationships and driving monetization strategies. Her experience in high-pressure, celebrity-led environments strengthened her reputation for emotional intelligence, diplomacy and reliability — qualities that continue to anchor her leadership approach.
She emphasised how long-term partnership strategies help. The importance of maintaining transparency and truth with partners, while being vocal about matters and sharing feedback. Her ability to adapt, communicate with clarity and build trust-based relationships has made her an influential voice among the next generation of leaders driving India’s digital expansion.
Recognised as one of the Leading Visionary Leaders in India 2025, Ms. Bhavna Balaji shared her insights with Corporate TrendZ:
“Human-to-human communication can significantly change the dynamics in environments where people either idolize or fear public figures. Treating people as individuals rather than images builds trust, and trust drives collaboration.”
