‘Financial Freedom Should Feel Like Oxygen’: Women in Investments Speak at News18 SheShakti
Investment experts and fund managers at News18 SheShakti said that for women, being financially independent is the first step towards making stronger investments.
One must have such control over their finances that it feels as essential as oxygen or as empowering as Independence Day, said experts who advised women to prioritise financial freedom above all else.
“Financial independence is like oxygen. For women, it should feel like Independence Day. The aim is to have such control over your finances that it feels like oxygen to you,” said Lakshmi Iyer, President Designate (Investments) at Bajaj Finserv Group, during her session titled ‘The ROI of Being She’ at the first-ever Mumbai edition of News18 SheShakti.
Her co-panelist, Roshi Jain, Senior Fund Manager (Equities) at HDFC Mutual Fund, mentioned that when women are financially independent, it marks the beginning of a stronger investment journey.
“Investing is always about balancing risk and reward, and women naturally have a better sense of evaluating risks. They understand that investing is not just about returns, but also about risk management,” Jain said.
When asked if women struggle more with personal finance and often depend on male family members, Iyer stated that managing money is “gender neutral”.
“When I began my career, there were barely any women in the room. Navigating finance is all in the mind—you just need to step forward and do it,” she said.
On a lighter note, both panelists highlighted research showing that women can be “better fund managers” than men.
“Having a strong emotional quotient (EQ) and intelligence quotient (IQ), along with today’s need for a digital quotient (DQ), makes a difference—and women tend to handle all three well, giving them a slight advantage,” said Iyer, who also enjoys films and food, and shared investment advice with a Bollywood twist.
“Like Vidya Balan says in The Dirty Picture: ‘Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment’—my investment mantra is ‘Compounding, compounding, compounding’,” she added.
Jain, meanwhile, focused on the importance of asset allocation and equity investments for all age groups.
“Equities are like Red Bull for your portfolio—they give the boost. On the other hand, debt is like nimbu paani. If you want a rush in your portfolio, opt for equity; if you want steady hydration, nimbu paani works in all seasons,” Iyer joked.
Jain also shared the advice her father gave her when she was starting out: “Just be yourself and do what you wish. We don’t often realise how this shapes our decisions and builds the confidence we need,” she said.
She further added that many Indians begin investing quite late in life. “The best time to invest was 30 years ago. We came late to the equity markets,” she said. Her top advice for aspiring investors? “Mutual funds sahi hai.”
About SheShakti
The Mumbai edition of SheShakti serves as a curtain-raiser to the grand national celebration scheduled in Delhi on August 21. The theme this year, ‘From Breaking Barriers to Building Bharat’, reflects the evolving role of Indian women.
The event features a diverse line-up of pioneers—diplomats, policymakers, entrepreneurs, sportspersons, artists, and media professionals. Key personalities include Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ashwini Bhide, Principal Secretary to the CM and MD of Mumbai Metro Corporation; foreign dignitaries like H.E. Ambassador Chavanart Thangsumphant (Ambassador of Thailand to India); and actors Nimrat Kaur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Renuka Shahane. Olympian shooter Anjali Bhagwat also joined the gathering.
News18 SheShakti 2025 honours women who are shaping India’s future—not only by breaking through limitations, but also by building the foundations of Bharat. This year’s theme highlights women who are making real impacts: generating employment, leading innovation, transforming society, and building more inclusive systems. From grassroots changemakers to tech innovators, SheShakti celebrates how women are not just challenging norms but laying the groundwork for a stronger, more self-reliant India.
