Masoom Minawala – Digital Influencer and Entrepreneur
I have always been very ambitious and have had very clear financial goals. I truly believe that consistency will pay off way more than perfection can. You just have to keep going at what you’re going at.
You automatically become an expert at something when you are passionate about it.
Aleena Gandhi – Founder, Social Media Dissect
I handle my finances myself and I also don’t take money from anyone since I was 18 years old. So since then I knew I had to have an emergency reserve. I know I don’t like to ask anybody for anything and so I am going to make that contingency fund for myself.
If somebody tells me I can’t do something, I HAVE TO DO IT!
I didn’t reveal myself on the page for a year and the funny part was that everybody on my DMs and comments would say Hi sir?, ?Hey bro?. And I thought why isn’t it striking anyone that there could be a possibility of a girl behind this!
Educate yourself every step of the way and take risks.
Navya Nanda – Co-Founder of Aara Health & Founder of Project Naveli
It would be easy if I just became an actress. I was very clear from early on that I want to be known for my own successes. I have my own identity and don’t want to live under the shadow of someone else’s success.
With privilege comes responsibility. We’ve built a self-funded organisation without taking funds from our family.
Cash is king. Say No when you have to, don’t over promise. Be brave and more confident in yourself.
Neha Motwani – Co-Founder & CEO, Fitternity
Raising funds may be tough, but not because of your gender. It all depends on the product you’re building.
Creating a safety net and having a Plan B when you start your own business is important.
Devika Patel – Founder of Clarity Business Lab and The Bombay Legal
A contingency fund is extremely important to differentiate your business finances versus your personal finances.
Treat your business like you work for your business. You have to be at the service of your business.
Manasi Chaudhary – Founder of Pink Legal
Almost 90% urban women did not know about their legal rights!
Be prepared to work hard and make money management an absolute priority.
Panel 2
If financial planning had to be a curriculum taught to women- what chapter from your life would you use as lessons
Kanika Tekriwal – Founder & CEO, JetSetGo Aviation :
Setting up a business can be very unnerving at the early stages, but it’s up to you to look at the advantages. As you look at the advantages the world is your playground.
We have never been told that you are allowed to dream big, you should think about conquering the world? It’s a lot to do with the conditioning and environment we grew up in also.
Faye D’Souza – Renowned Journalist :
When I decided to quit my fairly decently paying job and hoped to be an entrepreneur, I was empowered by the fact that I had saved money for so many years, that I could make that decision. That really changed everything for me.
One of the things that I was told that shocked me was – News is a man’s business, people who watch news are largely men and so they do not consider a woman credible? So I was told to hire a man to sit next to me to make the program sound more credible! Some else said ?tum ladki ho, tum pyaar se apna kaam kyun nahi chalati? Why are you so aggressive?? Nobody would say that to a man!
You are not your business card. You are not your designation, or the size of your cabin, or the fact that you have a 100 member team working for you. Who you are is the contribution you make to the society, to your family, and to yourself.
Women as young girls are not encouraged to make mistakes, we are afraid to make mistakes and learn from them, that reflects on why we are also afraid to make money decisions independently. We need to encourage girls that it?s ok to make mistakes because that leads to learning.
Vanshika Goenka – CEO and Founder Kool Kanya :
The idea of wanting to prove myself started off when I was very young. I was maybe 5/6 and I remember hearing a conversation between my father and my uncle. He asked him ,You have 2 daughter, aage jake kaam kaun karega? You’ve built a business, who is going to inherit it? Inki toh shaadi ho jaaegi, yeh chali jayegi.? That incident stuck with me, that how are these people already dismissing me! That’s why I have always done something to empower women.
Money is more than just an enabler. There’s also a sense of self-worth and confidence that comes with money.
What always helps women when they are getting back from a break is writing on the cover letter what they did during the time they took a break. Highlight what you learnt during the time. Life is your biggest teacher.
Mansi Sajeja – fund manager at SBI Mutual Funds –
Women are getting there. Money matters no longer seem to be the forte of only a few.
Money lessons for women: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take that first step and learn from your experiences, and keep emotions away from your financial matters.
Capt. Nivedita Bhasin – The youngest women pilot in world civil aviation history
I went to the flying school when I was in class 10 to get admission. There they scoffed at me and scolded me saying you are too young to become a pilot. You must study.? That really angered me and I said ?This is what I want to do and this is what I am going to do.? When they said you can’t do it, in my mind I said ?I’ll show you how I do it!?
