5 questions with Vipin Gupta of Toyota Financial
Before catching Toyota Financial Services Chief Information Officer Vipin Gupta at his fireside chat during the Auto Finance Innovation Summit, get a glimpse at his thoughts outside the boardroom.
As Chief Information Officer at the nation’s largest auto financier, Gupta leads all aspects of digital transformation and information technology to transform and expand Toyota Financial Services’ business.
In 2018, Gupta was appointed CIO at the captive, which boasts a $92 billion portfolio. Before joining Toyota, Gupta served as executive vice president and CIO for Key Community Bank, a business unit of KeyBank, where he drove customer-focused digital transformation. Before KeyBank, he served as business information officer at PNC/National City Bank.
Gupta previously told AFE that his goal for TFS is to usher in a future of mobility services to the captive. He said TFS will drive innovation by focusing on three strategic objectives: agility, digital experiences and using data and analytics to deliver new services. Since joining TFS, Gupta has fostered a digital-savvy workforce via an internal learning program for employees and business partners called TFS Digital Academy.
Gupta’s fireside chat during The Auto Finance Innovation Summit takes place on Tuesday, March 10 at the Omni San Diego, directly following the Auto Finance Sales & Marketing Summit. Check out the full agenda here.
Auto Finance Excellence asked Gupta five questions to learn about his company goals, advice that has helped him earn top management roles, and a surprising fact that his colleagues might never expect.
AFE: What are your company goals in 10 words or less?
Vipin Gupta: We’re enriching lives by enabling mobility.
AFE: What is your favorite piece of leadership advice you’ve ever received?
VG: Before you can lead others, you have to lead yourself. You have to believe that what you do counts for something. Leadership begins with you. This is from the authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, of the 1987 book, “The Leadership Challenge.”
AFE: What do you think is the most underrated trend in lending practices?
VG: The most underrated trend in our industry continues to be the ability to truly know your customer. That applies to all auto finance customers, including dealers, businesses and consumers. This is at the core of every aspect of our business. It should drive the decisions we make, the products we offer, the rates we deliver, the discounts we provide, the loyalty we promote and the experiences we deliver on customer-chosen channels.
AFE: What person has had the biggest influence on your career?
VG: My dad was a huge influence on my career in my early formative days, and continues to inspire me even today. He instilled simple principles in us: Be who you are, respect and be respected, and work harder than everyone else around you.
AFE: What’s something all your employees would be surprised to learn about you?
VG: I self-learned to read and write Tamil language, but I can’t speak it and I don’t understand it.
