LEADERSHIP

36

Neha Mehta , Founder , FemTech Partners

men . This is particularly true in the tech space , which is already a male dominated arena . From the discussions I regularly have with women in the region , I ’ m in little doubt that this is still a major challenge .”

Breaking from this point , Mehta considers the venue in which Money 20 / 20 Asia is taking place . “ Sometimes I ’ m at events like these , on the panel or just attending , and I realise there are four or five women in an audience of 500 or more ,” she comments . “ When it comes to the numbers of women in the finance sector , in Europe you ’ re looking at around 40 %, but here in Asia it ’ s more like 20 %. We need a push ; we need more action from managers and executive-level people in the sector , who should more actively look to hire female candidates .”

Of the challenges facing those women looking to advance in the sector , Mehta points to two areas : access to the required funding needed to start a business or any entrepreneurial activity , and greater need for education on the prerequisite technology skills . On the former , she states that a lack of peer support is a key factor : “ There are so many more male entrepreneurs and startup founders ,” she adds , “ that they can far more easily reach out to existing contacts in the market to discuss funding and growth opportunities .”

Achieving the required technological skillset and learning is a broader challenge . “ In my opinion , fintech is ‘ more fin than tech ’. We don ’ t see the same levels of female participation because many women are not so comfortable with technology , especially things like blockchain , AI or robotics , for example . That is purely down to education and the start that young women receive . Thankfully , there are exceptions . In

OCTOBER 2019