Her money, her rules- Financial independence, the ultimate power tool for women

On screen or off it, stories of women creating a professional identity and becoming financially independent are plenty. Financial independence for women is not just about pay parity. It’s about having a choice - whether it’s to leave a bad job, walk out of a relationship that’s not working, or to live life on one’s own terms. Today, women are earning, investing, building businesses across industries and shaping their financial futures. Yet, the larger conversation goes far beyond income. Starting with basics For many women, it starts with learning the basics and understanding how money works, be it through saving and investing methods, budgeting, understanding credit, insurance, or retirement planning. Financial literacy and independence are also about dignity, agency, and security, especially in a world with gender pay gaps. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 suggests that at the current pace, full gender parity, including pay equity, could still be over a century away. Hence, closing the gap is more about building a mindset - think negotiating salaries, asking questions unapologetically, seeking mentors, and building multiple income sources as modern survival tools. When women control financesThe shift from contributor to decision-maker is something Neha Bhandari, group CFO at Runaya, has witnessed firsthand. “Over 50% of our workforce comprises women. I have witnessed women who were hesitant about stepping into core engineering roles, gradually evolving and contributing financially to their families. More importantly, they even influence financial decisions at home,” she says, adding that when women control their finances, families become more resilient, workplaces more inclusive, and communities more progressive. The power to back your dreams For Chandni Gaglani, head of Aisle Network, the turning point came when she realised that independence is ultimately about funding one’s dreams. “Financial independence buys agency. It lets you back your dreams,” she says, adding that the ripple effect begins with leadership, where one creates pathways for other women. “Whether it’s providing opportunities, championing women’s voices at the table, or simply encouraging confidence in someone’s potential, these ripple effects matter,” adds Varna Bhat, founder & CEO, Blisswater Industries. Did you know?*In In FY 2023-24, Rs 2.22 lakh crore was disbursed to 4.24 crore female entrepreneurs in India *As of January 2025, over 40% of UDYAM-registered MSMEs are constituted by women *In 2024, 27 million women were actively monitoring their credit, a striking 42% increase from 2023 *In 2024, one in every four new stock market investors was female (Source: Client Associates, Transunion CIBIL-WEP (Niti Aayog), State Bank of India and Microsave Consulting reports)