Shibani Lal

Growing up in India, there was no escaping the inequalities of income and the lack of opportunities for the vast majority of the population. I watched women – particularly from lower-income backgrounds – work hard all day and often for very little. What bothered me more than the fact that they didn’t make much, was that their contribution to society was barely acknowledged. “Surely, we should add the economic contribution of housework and women-led micro businesses to GDP calculations,” I’d argue, to my Economics professors. I tried to solve for this as part of my MA thesis, but a combination of lack of data and it being deemed “too big to chew” stopped me in my tracks.  

I’ve spent over a decade in the fast-paced world of Investment Banking, advising UK, US and European financial services firms on their longer-term strategic growth and M&A. I loved the buzz of it, loved the opportunities and doors that my career opened to me. 

But, as I continued to travel – and live in other countries (5 and counting!) – I kept thinking about the question that consumed me all those years ago. Offering marginalised women control over their financial affairs, I realised, was a way by which their contributions to society could be measured. I also began to see how advances in technology were embracing women and offering opportunities like never before and the impact was particularly noteworthy in lower-income countries. And in Lucy – I see the opportunity – to embrace a once untapped workforce, offering them financial solutions that not only offer them the financial flexibility and independence they deserve, but also, for them to carve out opportunities for themselves in ways they could never think of doing before. 

So, in joining Lucy, I’ve gone from asking a question – to being a part of a movement. One that’s ambitious and bold, and quite frankly, long overdue. For me, being a part of Lucy, is a continuation of a journey I started many years ago: I may not have been able to answer the question then, but today, I’m proud to be contributing to Lucy’s growth, offering a much-needed solution to empower millions of women, allowing them to contribute their skills and talents to the world.