Anamika Talwar’s Journey with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services

Anamika Talwar (MBA ‘00) recently reflected on a remarkable 25-year career marked by leadership, innovation, and a commitment to giving back.

Talwar’s early career began in strategy consulting before she transitioned to the corporate world, joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in 2005. Over two decades, she has held a variety of roles across the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions, from heading strategy and business development to pioneering digital transformation and leading country operations.

“It’s been a very entrepreneurial experience, even within a large corporate environment,” Talwar shared. “I had the opportunity to build an insurance business from the ground up, getting it licensed in 50 states, launching new products, and growing profits tenfold in three years.”

Her leadership journey took her from managing regional businesses and functions in the Americas to moving to Singapore as head of sales and marketing for Africa, Asia and Australia, where she helped launch new markets in Asia and the Middle East while driving record growth in the region. Talwar was also instrumental in driving digital innovation as Chief Digital Officer, leading the rollout of apps that created an end-to-end online car-buying and financing experience. Additionally, she launched a fintech accelerator that fostered co-creation with startups.

“We transformed a very primitive digital presence into a cutting-edge platform,” she said. “Taking on that role was much easier having built a solid tech foundation during my undergrad and further developed it at CMU. The finance, marketing, and strategy elements really prepared me for a holistic business experience, where data and human decision-making work hand in hand.”

Talwar credits the Tepper School’s data-informed approach for much of her success.

“One of the reasons I chose the Tepper School was because it was so data focused. That foundation helped me make data-driven decisions throughout my career, unlocking great value through analytics.”

Taking on CEO roles in Singapore and Malaysia, Talwar navigated challenging periods, including pandemic-related disruptions. She leveraged banking relationships in Singapore to re-engineer funding costs, delivering exceptional profits in an economic downturn. Her pioneering role in introducing the industry’s first fully automated digital lending solution brought both bottom-line efficiencies and superior customer experience, earning several accolades.

As CEO, she led the business through several large-scale transformations and turnarounds. “When I joined Malaysia, the business was struggling with heavy credit losses for the first time in its history. It was a real turnaround situation. Within six months, we saw performance improvements, and then record profits in the following years,” she recalled. She led the strategic transformation of Southeast Asia operations by integrating Singapore’s back-office functions into Malaysia, streamlining the business, and positioning it for long-term success.

Beyond her professional achievements, Talwar remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of students, as well as community service. She currently chairs multiple Mercedes-Benz Financial Services entities and serves as an independent board advisor for a U.S.-based nonprofit supporting education for underprivileged children in India.

“I grew up in a semi-rural region in India where many girls were forced to drop out of school early, but I was fortunate to have supportive parents who valued education and encouraged me to pursue a career,” she reflected. “That environment either crushes your spirit or makes you strong. For me, it gave me the energy and determination to succeed.”

Her advice to students, especially women starting their careers, is clear: “Believe in yourself. Don’t wait to check all the boxes before raising your hand. Often, female talent waits until they meet every requirement, but sometimes you have to be fearless and go for the opportunity.”

Talwar’s journey is a powerful testament to perseverance, adaptability, and leadership shaped by diverse experiences and a passion for impact, values that continue to inspire the Tepper School community.

She added, “It’s important to have your own definition of success and to invest in yourself. Take time to recharge and do what energizes you and always pay it forward by mentoring and supporting others.”