Neha Mehta is the Founder and CEO, FemTech Partners. She is a UNDP SDG Finance Expert and a team lead for the £1.2 billion Prosperity Fund (PF) for the SEA region. The fund is administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government.
Neha is listed in the inaugural Singapore 100 Women in Tech. Neha is featured in FinTech 50, 2019 and 2020, Asia's 50 Most Influential Women in Renewable Energy, 2020, and "Global Future Fintech Leader" Award at the Fintech Festival Abu Dhabi 2020. Neha is a legal and finance professional with 12 years of experience in Asia and Europe.
A proud recipient of the British Chamber of Commerce 21st Annual Business Award for the UK Impact in Singapore 2020, FemTech Partners has been highly involved in bringing the UK and Singapore FinTech ecosystems. Neha Mehta spoke exclusively to Asian Voice about women in leadership roles in finance and technology.
What is it like being a woman in FinTech in a leadership role?
As the CEO of a FinTech startup, I feel that there is a need for me to prove to the world that women can survive and excel in the finance industry. There have been times when I was the only woman in a meeting or a conference but I didn’t let that deter me.
Do you think more women must join this landscape? What keeps them from doing that?
Yes, I think more women should join this landscape, since it's agile and ever dynamic there are plenty of opportunities for everyone. Not having enough knowledge about the FinTech industry, male to female ratio working in the industry and a lack of mentors who can guide them are some of the factors stopping more women from joining FinTech.
What does it take for any young woman to become someone like you? What would be the right way to go about it?
Self-belief and overcoming limiting beliefs- we can all be and do whatever we set our eyes on. Find your holy grail, be clear on what you want and work on yourself before you launch your idea/mission/job search. All the answers lie within us. Success is a numbers game, don't let failures dishearten you.
Where do you see the position of women in Fintech in the post-Covid world where there’s going to be a massive cutthroat competition for employment?
I see a favourable position of women in FinTech. It is becoming normal to work from home, thus many industry-specific positions have become more accessible. The pandemic has provided a chance to upskill oneself, which will help women to beat the competition.
What is it that you as a woman bring to the table that your male counterparts maybe can't?
As a woman, I bring a sense of compassion and understanding to the table accompanied by fresh ideas and social responsibility. I want to use FinTech as a force of good for the betterment of communities around the world.
How can South Asian women become more aware and exposed to learning about FinTech?
In South Asia, we have seen an increase in connectivity. More and more females now have access to the internet. They can now access the free materials online easily, we also need to spread awareness about why it is important to have knowledge of finance, to remove the stigma that it is only required for jobs, anyone can learn it and apply the principles in their life to better their quality of living.
