A Singapore-based woman’s heartfelt story of meeting former DBS Bank CEO Piyush Gupta during a trip to Bali has captured the internet’s attention not for the reason she expected. The twist? It turns out the man she met wasn’t Piyush Gupta at all.
Janney Hujic, a professional based in Singapore, shared what she believed was a powerful encounter with the Indian-origin banker, renowned for transforming DBS into a global digital banking powerhouse. Her enthusiastic and touching post on LinkedIn quickly went viral, earning thousands of likes and reactions. In the post, she described how she recognized him sitting quietly in a Bali café and approached him for a chat.
“I glanced across the room and thought, that looks an awful lot like Piyush. Curious, I walked over—and sure enough, it was him. Piyush Gupta, the former CEO of DBS Bank. Casual. Composed. Entirely unassuming,” Hujic wrote. She further praised what she believed was Gupta’s humility, his lack of an entourage, and his attentive conversation. According to her, their talk wasn’t just about leadership but also about her mission to empower women through travel.
Hujic mentioned she shared details of her upcoming all-women expedition across a frozen lake in Mongolia, aimed at supporting the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund. She recalled the man’s response as supportive and thoughtful, calling the trek an "incredible opportunity" for women to step out of their comfort zones.
She concluded the post by saying, “The best leaders don’t just inspire with their words they lead by how they show up in the world.” The accompanying selfie with the man she believed to be Piyush Gupta added a personal touch that resonated widely online.
However, the story took a humorous and unexpected turn when the real Piyush Gupta, who served as CEO and Director of DBS Group from November 2009 until his retirement in March 2025, commented on the post. His response was short but decisive: “Sorry to disillusion you. That isn’t me!”
The revelation triggered a flood of reactions on social media. While many found the post heartwarming and hilarious, others expressed curiosity about the identity of the mystery man. Some users dubbed the incident “comedy gold,” and many admired Hujic’s sincerity despite the mix-up.
Though the encounter didn’t involve the real Piyush Gupta, the story resonated with thousands as an inspiring moment nonetheless. It underscored the human tendency to look for meaning and connection, especially when encountering people who embody the qualities we admire. The case also serves as a modern-day reminder of how fast stories travel and how quickly the truth can follow on social platforms like LinkedIn.
In the end, while the man in the café may not have been the renowned banking leader, he certainly played the role well. As for Hujic, her post continues to circulate as a tale of mistaken identity wrapped in genuine admiration, leaving people wondering who that humble gentleman truly was.
