Category: Inspiring-Women-Leading-Business-Jun25-listing

 

1. Can you share your leadership journey and what inspired you to become a leader in your field?
   
   My leadership journey started with a deep belief in finance as a tool for empowerment. Early in my career, I worked with Kiva, supporting microfinance institutions in Southern Africa that provided capital access to entrepreneurs in underserved communities. That experience showed me how transformative financial inclusion could be. After earning my MBA from Yale, I worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, advising retail banks in the Middle East and Europe on strategy and innovation. But over time, I realized I wanted to build companies that reflected my own values. I founded Okta Investment GmbH, a private investment firm with SPVs focused on renewables and emerging markets, and later Moola Money, a software platform helping millennials and Gen Z gain affordable access to personalized financial guidance. Across both ventures, my focus has been on creating systems that democratize access — whether to investment opportunities or financial knowledge.
   
   
   
2. What key qualities do you believe are essential for a leader in today’s business world?
   Today’s business world demands adaptability and resilience. Living and working across Southern Africa, the USA, the Middle East, and Europe taught me how to quickly adapt to different business cultures and lead across diverse environments. My expeditions, like kayaking in Greenland and cycling across continents, reinforce the importance of being a team player and being practical and resourceful in unpredictable conditions. Another essential quality is boldness despite differences. As a female Asian founder and investor operating in spaces where I’m the only one who looks like me, I’ve learned that leaning into what makes me different, rather than trying to fit a mold, has been critical to building authentic leadership and driving innovation.
   
   
   
3. Which company do you represent and in which industry does it operate?
   I represent both the companies I founded, Okta Investment GmbH and Moola Money, which operate within the broader finance industry. Okta is a private investment company with experimental strategies targeting sustainable sectors and emerging markets. Moola Money is a fintech platform built to democratize financial education and guidance, helping individuals make smarter financial decisions without the high costs typically associated with traditional wealth management services.
   
   
   
4. What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations of women in business?
   I hope to leave a legacy of empowering others to take control of their financial futures. Through running investment education workshops for women founder networks like Dreamers & Doers and Amela, I’ve seen firsthand how financial literacy can unlock leadership potential. My dream is to scale that impact further by making financial empowerment part of the foundation for future generations of women founders and leaders.
   
   
   
5. What steps do you believe the business world still needs to take to further support and empower women in leadership roles?
   Businesses need to rethink traditional work structures. At Moola Money, we’ve organically built a founding team of women — CEO, COO, software engineer, and founder’s associate — by prioritizing talent and passion over stereotypes. Our team includes an aspiring pilot and software company founder, a top-notch corporate lawyer and COO and an independent asset manager. We’ve also embraced flexible working arrangements, including part-time contracts and remote-first policies, to support different life stages and realities, which sometimes mean team members call in from an AirBnB in Spain. Creating flexible, inclusive paths to leadership makes it easier for women to rise and stay in leadership roles.
   
   
   
6. What advice would you give to other leaders and entrepreneurs aspiring to drive innovation in their fields?
   Start before you feel ready, because true innovation comes from iteration, not waiting for perfection. Build a strong, values-aligned network because innovation isn’t a solo journey. Surround yourself with people who push you to think bigger, stay on track and most importantly, laugh.
   
   
   
7. Who has been a key mentor or role model for you, and how has their influence helped shape your journey?
   I’ve been fortunate to have powerful mentors and role models who also happen to be women of adventure. Ruth Storm, a leadership coach, helped me understand how emotional intelligence can be a source of strength in high-pressure business environments, and how to have your cake and eat it when it comes to having a family, career and adventure. Hannah McKeand, a polar explorer who holds multiple records for reaching the South Pole, has been another role model. Her example showed me that preparation, endurance, and mental toughness are transferable skills, and how to deftly manage team dynamics in harsh environments.
   
   
   
8. What changes do you think businesses should make to support women leaders?
   Businesses need to normalize diverse leadership styles and institutionalize sponsorship programs. Sponsorship, where leaders actively advocate for women’s advancement, is far more powerful than mentorship alone. Putting more women in leadership and hiring positions can help to create change as women are more likely to hire other women – my all-female team at Moola is testament to that.
   
   
   
9. Can you discuss a significant challenge you faced as a leader and how you overcame it?
   One of the greatest challenges I faced was navigating hostile work environments early in my career. It wasn’t just about difficult individuals, it was about cultures where competition was valued over collaboration, and politics over purpose. I overcame these experiences by staying deeply rooted in my values, setting my personal boundaries, and ultimately deciding to build my own companies where culture is intentional, positive, and empowering from the ground up.
   
   
   
10. What advice would you give to aspiring leaders looking to make a difference in their respective fields?
    Dare to build what doesn’t yet exist, and choose work that you genuinely believe in. When your work is aligned with your values, it’s much easier to find the perseverance needed to lead through challenges. Also, have the self-respect not to stay in environments where you are not valued or respected. Leadership starts with setting your own standards — knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to stay and build.
    
    
    
11. Brief us about your future roadmap?
    For Okta Investment, I’m focused on expanding our portfolio of sustainable and impact-driven investments, continuing to channel capital toward initiatives that create long-term value. For Moola Money, we’re preparing to launch publicly in the UK, making accessible, affordable financial guidance available to a much broader audience. I’m excited to keep building ventures that are both commercially successful and deeply meaningful.

• 📌 Visit Linda Du 👉  – LinkedIn Profile
• 🌐 Explore Okta Investment GmbH  👉 – Company Website

 

The Journey

Sheetal Story’s path to leadership commenced following the arrival of her second child, driven by a profound aspiration to assist others. This marked the awakening of her intuitive abilities, which evolved from a subtle prompting into a significant guiding force. By heeding this inner call, she gradually found herself engaged in her current role of supporting individuals in realizing their soul-aligned purposes. Although Sheetal did not initially aim to take on a leadership role, her commitment to this calling inspired others to follow her example. 

Overcoming the Challenges

One of the most significant challenges that Sheetal encountered was managing the demands of her family life alongside her professional career. With two teenagers and a husband who rely on her, she had to adapt her priorities dynamically in response to various situations at home, such as travel, illness, or emergencies. This challenge motivated Sheetal to establish a business that demands less of her time. By offering a membership for women interested in spiritual growth and developing a comprehensive collection of self-paced courses, she created a business model that profoundly supports her clients without the need to exchange time for money.

The Essential Qualities of a Leader

According to Sheetal, a powerful leader in today’s world must possess self-awareness, emotional intelligence, spiritual alignment, and the ability to listen intuitively. Such leaders should be profoundly connected to themselves, to others, and to the vision they uphold. There is a growing need for leaders who operate from a place of authenticity, recognizing that inner alignment is equally as crucial as external strategies.

Steps to Empower Women

Women should be supported not only in their roles as leaders but also as the multifaceted individuals they are, encompassing their identities as mothers, daughters, partners, and community builders. It is essential for women to redefine the concept of leadership itself. They do not have to emulate male leadership styles to wield power effectively. The corporate environment must adopt values such as collaboration, emotional intelligence, and the essence of femininity. Furthermore, it is crucial to create more opportunities for women to uplift one another within a community framework rather than fostering competition.

Message to the Inspiring Leaders

“Get radically honest about who you are and what you are here to do. Innovation comes from soul alignment, not trend-chasing,” says Sheetal.

Sheetal emphasizes that originality, personal experience, and intuition are invaluable assets. She encourages leaders to place their trust in these qualities. Additionally, Sheetal advocates for delivering messages in unconventional settings. She enjoys engaging with diverse individuals to broaden her impact and convey her message to a larger audience.

My Role Model

Sheetal has been shaped by numerous mentors, with her three most significant influences being her mother, Oprah, and Spirit. Her mother, an immigrant from Malaysia and a dedicated working professional, exemplified resilience, and commitment as she pursued her education while raising Sheetal. Oprah’s journey of overcoming adversity, trusting her instincts, and creating a service-oriented empire has profoundly motivated Sheetal. Additionally, Spirit has consistently served as her foremost mentor, providing guidance through every decision, obstacle, and achievement.

Leaving a Legacy Behind

Sheetal aims to transform the leadership landscape for women permanently. She envisions a future where the next generation understands that intuition and achievement can harmoniously coexist. She believes that experiencing grief does not equate to being broken, it is actually a big evolutionary jump point for your life and soul. And that intuition serves as a valuable leadership asset, and that aligning with both cosmic and human design is not merely a mystical concept but a strategic approach to generating wealth, freedom, and meaningful impact.

The Future Ahead

Sheetal is dedicated to the ongoing development of Story of Spirit Inc. by enhancing their programs, broadening the membership base, and creating initiatives that assist women during life transitions and spiritual awakenings. She aims to expand her Story of Spirit Podcast to engage larger audiences and to present on platforms and subjects that significantly impact individuals’ lives. Additionally, she is planning to host exclusive retreats and introduce a new mastermind program for intuitive women leaders. In the long run, she envisions herself authoring a book, fostering a community for the spiritually inclined, and continually elevating the standards of soul-aligned leadership in this new business era. 

🌐 Explore Story of Spirit  👉 – Company Website

Erika Jordan, the Owner and Director of Hyperbarics Orlando and Hyperbarics New Smyrna, has dedicated 18 years to the hyperbaric field. She began her career in a private hyperbaric clinic and progressed to the role of senior safety director at a prominent hospital. Through her diverse experiences in various positions, Erika gained invaluable insights that informed her decision to establish her own centers. This extensive background allowed her to identify effective practices as well as areas for enhancement, ultimately aiming to elevate patient care and safety standards.

Breaking the Barriers

“As a leader one of the hardest challenges was when I opened my second location in New Smyrna Beach. I had moved to the area to ensure a smooth opening,” added Erika.

Erika highlighted that she believed she had everything meticulously organized until she discovered she was pregnant, just three days before her relocation. The pressure of launching a second location, managing the existing operations in Orlando, and preparing for motherhood proved to be overwhelming. However, she persevered.

Through this experience, she uncovered a newfound inner strength that ignited her determination and enthusiasm to continue. When there were no patients, she actively engaged with the community, going door to door to establish connections while promoting her practice. In that initial year, Erika forged valuable relationships that were essential for her business’s growth in a small town.

Qualities of a Great Leader

Erika asserts that effective communication, empathy, and resilience are crucial qualities for a leader in the contemporary landscape. Without strong communication skills, a leader’s vision may remain unclear, hindering others from understanding and following their direction. Given the numerous changes and pressures present today, demonstrating empathy towards team members is vital, as it fosters trust and support. Furthermore, as a leader, you are often the first point of reference for guidance during challenging times. By exhibiting resilience, you convey to your team that you are steadfast, capable of overcoming difficulties, and able to maintain a positive demeanor.

Leaving behind a Great Legacy

Erika Jordan’s legacy is centered around her transformative work in hyperbaric medicine, particularly her efforts to make hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) more accessible to a broader population. Her legacy is built on several key pillars such as:

Advancement of Hyperbaric Medicine: Erika has spent over a decade in the field, rising from chamber operator to senior safety specialist, and ultimately founding her own hyperbaric healing center. Her experience and expertise have helped push the boundaries of how HBOT can be used for a wide range of conditions beyond the traditional, insurance-approved indications.

Founding Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center (HHTC): In 2017, Erika founded HHTC in Orlando, Florida, with a vision to provide affordable, high-quality HBOT. Under her leadership, HHTC expanded to multiple locations and grew to operate several state-of-the-art chambers, benefiting patients of all ages and conditions.

Community Impact and Outreach: Erika has worked to integrate hyperbaric therapy into the broader community, with a strong commitment to supporting nonprofits, particularly those helping veterans. She has also been involved with organizations like the American Cancer Society, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive societal impact beyond patient care.

Education and Advocacy: As a certified hyperbaric specialist, Erika advocates for broader awareness of HBOT’s potential benefits, pushing to expand treatment access for various medical and wellness needs.

Empowering Women in Leadership

Erika advocates for businesses to establish clear and transparent pathways that enable women to progress into leadership roles. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that women are given equal consideration for promotions, high-profile projects, and leadership positions, asserting that gender should not be viewed as a hindrance.

Advise to the Aspiring Leaders

Erika emphasizes the importance of discovering ones’ passion and pursuing it wholeheartedly. When a person is genuinely enthusiastic about one’s field, he is motivated to enhance the knowledge and improve the skills continuously.

Eriks also highlights the fact that something has not been accomplished previously does not imply that it cannot be achieved; it simply means that a solution has yet to be found. Additionally, progress will not occur instantaneously. It is essential to recognize that success requires time, and each obstacle should be viewed as an opportunity for learning. The speed at which you navigate these challenges will significantly influence your personal development.

My Mentor

An influential and motivating mentor in Erikas’s journey was Dr. William Maxfield, Erika’s initial medical director. As a radiologist and a globally recognized pioneer in the field of hyperbaric medicine, he was the primary resource for any patient-related inquiries. He provided guidance on patient care and necessary treatment adjustments. His extensive knowledge was evident in his numerous publications, and he consistently offered thorough explanations, ensuring that Erika understood the factual basis for his responses.

• 📌 Visit Erika Jordan 👉  – LinkedIn Profile
• 🌐 Explore Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center  👉 – Company Website