Shubha Ganesh : Finance Literacy Advocate & Capital Market Strategist
Shubha Ganesh
Independent Director
What’s your role as an Independent Director at El Forge?
I monitor financial performance, cost controls, and working capital needs in a cyclical, capital-heavy business. As an Independent Director on the audit committee, I act as an impartial “financial watchdog” of the board, overseeing financial reporting, audits and internal controls. I oversee the integrity of financial statements, reviewing quarterly and annual accounts before they go to the board.
Tell us about your work as a strong advocate of financial literacy.
While teaching MBA graduates, I noticed that even finance students were clueless about personal finance. Hence, I started teaching personal finance at colleges in 2005. At that time, financial literacy was a lesser-known concept in India. I pioneered personal finance education and successfully launched financial literacy programs for diverse sections of society under Moneyshiksha.
In personal finance, calculating how much to save and invest for retirement involves complex and lengthy calculations. I was keen to see if this tedious task could be automated through AI. Fortunately, I met two young software founders who shared the same vision and collaborated with them.
How does your financial planning software work?
X2A Soft Labs Private Limited has proprietary AI software. X2A’s proprietary AI helps financial institutions provide fiduciary-grade advice at scale, enabling advisors to personalize wealth management and reduce advisory costs. In markets like India, where guidance is limited, X2A acts as the intelligence layer behind advisory workflows, supporting relationship managers with this AI tool that automates every thing. This efficiency instills confidence in long-term investors
and delivers better client outcomes for institutions.
How important is technology in shaping the future of wealth management?
Technology is now mission critical to the future of wealth management. Projections suggest AI powered robo platforms could manage trillions of dollars by 2030.
Wealth management firms that fail to become tech led will lose relevance. Fintech companies like ours have come up with plug-and-play innovations that wealth management firms can easily integrate with their systems.
What is your advice for young investors?
Young investors should start by educating themselves on basics like compounding and diversification, and beginning with low-risk options such as index funds.
They must follow buy-and-hold strategy for long-term compounding. They should invest in equity based on their risk appetite and rebalance their portfolio yearly.
My special advise to young women is to stop depending on others and learn about managing money to achieve economic indepen - dence.
As a research analyst, what is your advice to a first-time stock market investor?
You can begin your analysis with a simple stock picking checklist. The first point on the checklist should be understanding the business model of the company and where its growth comes from.
This should be followed by an analysis of its core financial statements - profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flows.
Finally, use a small set of ratios to compare the company with its peers, and to analyse its past performance. Even a great company at the wrong price is a bad investment.
Every first-time investor should read the book ‘The Checklist Manifesto – How to get things right’ by Atul Gawande. This book explains how a simple checklist can leverage the abundant information available today and build on others’ knowledge for your success.
How do you give back to society?
I decided to join a large institution so that I can create a bigger impact as part of a large group of people. I am part of two initiatives at FKCCI. One focuses on skill development by impar -
How important is technology in shaping the future of wealth management?
Technology is now mission critical to the future of wealth management. Projections suggest AI powered robo platforms could manage trillions of dollars by 2030.
Wealth management firms that fail to become tech led will lose relevance. Fintech companies like ours have come up with plug-and-play innovations that wealth management firms can easily integrate with their systems.
I aspire to be a catalyst for positive change by empowering people
What is your advice for young investors?
Young investors should start by educating themselves on basics like compounding and diversification, and beginning with low-risk options such as index funds.
They must follow buy-and-hold strategy for long-term compounding. They should invest in equity based on their risk appetite and rebalance their portfolio yearly.
My special advise to young women is to stop depending on others and learn about managing money to achieve economic indepen - dence.
As a research analyst, what is your advice to a first-time stock market investor?
You can begin your analysis with a simple stock picking checklist. The first point on the checklist should be understanding the business model of the company and where its growth comes from.
This should be followed by an analysis of its core financial statements - profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flows.
Finally, use a small set of ratios to compare the company with its peers, and to analyse its past performance. Even a great company at the wrong price is a bad investment.
Every first-time investor should read the book ‘The Checklist Manifesto – How to get things right’ by Atul Gawande. This book explains how a simple checklist can leverage the abundant information available today and build on others’ knowledge for your success.
How do you give back to society?
I decided to join a large institution so that I can create a bigger impact as part of a large group of people. I am part of two initiatives at FKCCI. One focuses on skill development by impar -
ting practical training to make students job ready and another is Manthan: a business plan competition inculcating the spirit of entrepreneurship in young minds. The program includes workshops on entrepreneurial skills, idea validation, financial planning, and marketing featuring sessions with industry experts.
How do you strike the right balance when it comes to managing your leadership roles?
Balancing leadership roles is about managing time and energy, setting boundaries for each role, and regularly pruning commitments so that effectiveness is never diluted. I run a regular ‘portfolio review’ of my time. I audit my calendar and commitments, cut or delegate low impact activities, and protect time for reflection, learning and personal life to improve the quality of my work.
How do you define success — both personally and professionally?
I define my professional success by the impact I make and my contribution to my team. Achieving fulfillment in areas like relationships, health, self-growth, and inner peace is my definition of personal success.
How do you stay updated?
I read books and attend conferences. I like to read on diverse topics that help me make co-relate unrelated topics. For example, attending a temple architecture and iconography course enlightened me about money management in medieval India and how temples acted as banks and lenders to traders and farmers.
What are your plans for the future?
Life presents numerous challenges, and our responses to them ultimately define our character. Throughout my career, I have successfully navigated many such obstacles by maintaining a positive attitude. I intend to continue to contribute my time and energy in enabling more youngsters and continue my professional commitments.
•Hobbies: I travel a lot. I find exploring cultures and history of different places in India and abroad interesting. I practice yoga and go for a walk daily to keep fit.
•Favourite Cuisine: Morrocan and Vietnamese
•Favourite Book: Flash Boys by Micheal Lewis
•Favourite Movies: Legal Drama
•Favourite Travel Destination: Netherlands
•What You Don't Like: When people say ‘I don’t know anything about investing’
How do you strike the right balance when it comes to managing your leadership roles?
Balancing leadership roles is about managing time and energy, setting boundaries for each role, and regularly pruning commitments so that effectiveness is never diluted. I run a regular ‘portfolio review’ of my time. I audit my calendar and commitments, cut or delegate low impact activities, and protect time for reflection, learning and personal life to improve the quality of my work.
How do you define success — both personally and professionally?
I define my professional success by the impact I make and my contribution to my team. Achieving fulfillment in areas like relationships, health, self-growth, and inner peace is my definition of personal success.
How do you stay updated?
I read books and attend conferences. I like to read on diverse topics that help me make co-relate unrelated topics. For example, attending a temple architecture and iconography course enlightened me about money management in medieval India and how temples acted as banks and lenders to traders and farmers.
What are your plans for the future?
Life presents numerous challenges, and our responses to them ultimately define our character. Throughout my career, I have successfully navigated many such obstacles by maintaining a positive attitude. I intend to continue to contribute my time and energy in enabling more youngsters and continue my professional commitments.
•Hobbies: I travel a lot. I find exploring cultures and history of different places in India and abroad interesting. I practice yoga and go for a walk daily to keep fit.
•Favourite Cuisine: Morrocan and Vietnamese
•Favourite Book: Flash Boys by Micheal Lewis
•Favourite Movies: Legal Drama
•Favourite Travel Destination: Netherlands
•What You Don't Like: When people say ‘I don’t know anything about investing’