Meet our Chief Financial Officer, Neha Sethi

We are so excited to introduce you to our new CFO, Neha Sethi . While Neha is new to this role, she is certainly no newcomer to the Prodigy team and has spent the last five years leading Capital Markets at Prodigy Finance with exceptional impact and success.?

After completing her BA (Economics) at the 英国剑桥大学 , Neha spent over twelve years at 德意志银行 , where she worked her way up to Director level, with a focus on Structured Finance.?

Over the course of her career, Neha has become an experienced leader in the financial services industry. Her deep expertise in Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, ESG and Structured Finance, combined with her passion for scaling new business models and leading teams to raise capital through various cycles, makes her an absolute game changer in the Prodigy Team.

Why did you join Prodigy Finance?

“I was first introduced to Prodigy through my work in the investment banking industry. I was intrigued and inspired by the mission and purpose of Prodigy and the unique opportunity to leverage my expertise in a way that would have a meaningful impact on people around the world. When the opportunity arose for me to join Prodigy and continue to build my career behind a purpose that really mattered to me, and with a fun and highly motivated group of people - the decision was easy.”

What is exciting about your specialist area?

“Stepping out of the more traditional investment banking industry and into the world of a scaling business in what is currently an especially tough macro environment requires a level of strategy, innovation and commitment second to none. Markets are tough, it takes longer to raise capital, and investors are more selective in their investments. Achieving success in this space therefore, requires us to think beyond what has been done before and solve problems through disruptive thinking and problem solving. I find the challenge rewarding, exciting and enjoyable.”

What motivates you to get up in the morning and drives you to be excited about your career at Prodigy?

?“I joined Prodigy for the opportunity to leverage my expertise in a way that has a meaningful impact on people around the world - Five years later, it remains this purpose to democratise equal access to life-changing education globally that continues to inspire me every day. Another significant motivator is the wonderful people in my team and the broader business, who make every day fulfilling and enjoyable as we collaborate and solve problems together.”

What advice would you give someone aspiring to follow in your footsteps as a Finance and Capital Markets Professional?

“I think the most important thing to understand is that achieving your career goals in this space can, at times, be a challenging process that takes grit, resilience and hard work to see you through. While it’s not always easy, if you’re enjoying it, having fun and growing happily at the same time, then it's worth it. Another key piece of advice is to surround yourself with the right people who can help you grow and who care - this has stood me in good stead and is something that I am always aware of as a leader.?

We have to create well balanced workplaces and increase diversity at the senior executive levels - there are still very few women executives. It can be lonely at times as a leader but remember the change you’re making and the impact you’re having is very rewarding. ”

What are three trends to look out for this year?

1. AI: We are seeing some exciting things happening with AI? - I am really interested in seeing the impact that this will have on our ability to generate fast and accurate analytics that provide valuable insights into market conditions, consumer behaviour, and future trends.
2. Hybrid (remote) working and its impact on culture: I think that there is still so much to be learned about how to go about achieving high levels of team engagement and motivation, as well as high performance in the context of hybrid and remote work. Getting this right is a key focus area for me as I lead my team.
3. Keeping morale high in a tough macro environment: As I have mentioned, we are currently operating within a tough macro environment and are in many cases seeing a growing need for stability and more assurance around career growth. Keeping this front of mind when thinking about leadership strategy will play a key role in keeping morale and energy high.