Are Women Uncomfortable with Finances?

Women and the F-Word

When I stepped onto the stage at our Together event in 2022, I knew we were about to spark a conversation that would make many in the audience uncomfortable. The topic? Women and finances – a subject that has become deeply personal to me through years of entrepreneurial experience.

A Panel That Divided the Room

Our panel that year was unlike any other. It was raw, unfiltered, and provocatively honest. The audience was split down the middle – and that was exactly the point. Sometimes, the most important conversations are the most controversial.

My Personal Entrepreneurial Wake-Up Call

I'll never forget my early days as an entrepreneur. Naively, I allowed my male co-founder to take the lead on financial conversations with investors. It seemed natural at the time – a decision I would come to regret deeply.

The Hard Lesson in Financial Visibility

Investors don't just want a pitch. They want to see you – the founder – confidently speaking about numbers. My silence spoke volumes, and not in a good way. This wasn't just my experience. A startling pattern emerged: in 90% of co-led teams we've encountered, women hesitate to take the financial lead.

The Paradox of Female Financial Management

Here's the irony that became the heart of our panel discussion: Women are, in fact, financial maestros. We calculate:

• Household expenses (hisaab)
• Company financials
• Product margins
• Family budgeting

Yet, when it comes to broader financial conversations, we often retreat into the background.

The Karthi Kumar Marshan Revelation

During our panel, Karthi Kumar Marshan shared dipstick poll results that sent shockwaves through the audience. Women typically engage with personal finances only after two life-altering events:

• Death of a loved one
• Divorce

Breaking Down the Unspoken Barriers

The panel became a mirror reflecting deeper societal patterns. Even women who are:

• High earners
• Family breadwinners
• Financially savvy

Often find themselves excluded from critical investment decisions.

The Invisible Financial Landscape

We don't hear about female angel investors. Retail investing remains a male-dominated space. But why?

A Nuanced Perspective

I want to be clear – this isn't an attack on men or a criticism of brilliant female founders. It's an observation from years of being on the investor side of the table.

Changing the Conversation, One Number at a Time

The panel may have been controversial, but it opened up a crucial dialogue. Investors want to see confidence with numbers. And women have those numbers – we just need to learn to speak them.

The Invitation

To every woman reading this: Your financial voice matters. Your numbers tell a story – are you ready to tell it?

A Personal Challenge

How can we change the narrative? How can we ensure that women:

• Feel confident in financial discussions
• Take lead in investment decisions
• Become visible in the financial ecosystem

Final Thoughts

This isn't just about finances. It's about reclaiming our power, one decimal point at a time.

Disclaimer: These are observations born from experience. Individual journeys vary, but collective change is possible.