Krishnaraj Kanagaraj

When Krishna joined MSCI in 2022, he was one of the first employees at our Coimbatore office. With over 12 years of experience spanning various industries, he was ready to take on a new challenge and help build out a new Center of Excellence from the ground up. Two years later, he now leads the Company and Real Assets Data team in Coimbatore, ensuring the seamless collection and processing of critical data to help MSCI deliver insights to our clients. His journey wasn’t always smooth, but Krishna played a key role in shaping the Coimbatore team’s growth and success by navigating the early uncertainties of a new office setup and leading impactful innovation projects. 

What was it like being one of the first employees at MSCI’s Coimbatore office? 

“When I joined, there were only four of us — my manager and three team leaders. The office wasn’t even on the map yet! I remember questioning whether I had made the right decision. We were working together with teams from MSCI’s other offices in India to set up everything from scratch, including finding the right talent, conducting interviews, setting up governance structures and defining and establishing processes. 

There were moments of doubt, especially in the first six months. But once we started delivering data and receiving positive feedback from our stakeholders, we knew that all the effort had paid off. Eventually we built out the local teams and the office grew to over 300 employees. Today, seeing how far we’ve come, I feel proud to have been part of this journey and having helped shape the unique culture of MSCI in Coimbatore.“ 

What is your current role? 

“I manage the Company and Real Assets data collection function at MSCI’s Data Operations Center (DOC) in Coimbatore. We collect data from a variety of public sources and align it closely with the evolving needs of MSCI’s products and solutions. We used to source this data from external vendors, but bringing this capability in-house, we’ve improved the quality, accountability and agility in how data is sourced, verified and delivered. Our work is foundational — not just operationally, but strategically.  

My role is to run operations with a focus on driving accuracy, efficiency and service-level adherence. More importantly, I align our efforts with the DOC’s vision of delivering top-quality data at scale. And as a manager, I’m committed to building a high-performing team that embraces innovation, continuously improving and supporting future-ready data operations.” 

What qualities do you look for in someone joining your team?  

“While technical expertise is always a plus, what truly stands out to me are strong analytical skills and the right behavioral attributes. Our work demands attention to detail and the ability to apply logic to solve day-to-day challenges. 

I am looking for talent who demonstrates the ability to think critically and solve problems independently. During interviews, I often use situational questions to assess how they approach problems: Do they ask thoughtful follow-up questions? Are they trying to understand the “why” behind the task? These interactions tell me a lot about their mindset. 

We also value talent that brings fresh perspectives and helps us move beyond conventional thinking. Above all, I look for people who are curious, eager to learn and willing to grow. If someone shows openness and willingness to develop, we can provide the right environment and tools to help them succeed.” 

How would you describe the culture at MSCI? 

“The culture at MSCI is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. People here are respected at all levels and there’s a real sense of openness. 

What really sets MSCI apart is how much it genuinely cares about its people – about their growth, development and well-being. I see people here who have been with MSCI for over fifteen years, and I understand why. It’s not just a job, it’s a place where people feel heard, respected and empowered. 

We are also encouraged to constantly improve and find new ways to tackle problems.” 

In your experience, how does MSCI encourage innovation? 

“There’s always a push to take smart risks. My manager, who oversees the Data Operations Center, has been instrumental in fostering this mindset from the go. We’re encouraged to think beyond our daily tasks and drive changes that have a real impact for our clients. 

One example is our DOC-a-thon, a competition designed to spark new ideas. For the most recent one, I divided the team into ten groups, each asked to develop one improvement idea over the course of a week. On Friday, each group presented their proposals, and we selected the most impactful ones to implement. The initiative not only led to meaningful process improvements but also encouraged the team to think more creatively about how they can drive change.” 

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned at MSCI so far? 

“I have grown a lot as a leader. I’ve learned how to better inspire people, empower them to grow as professionals and make sure they feel valued. At MSCI, feedback goes both ways: managers here don’t just give feedback, they ask for it too. This creates a sense of real trust and accountability.”