Women Leading the Green Finance Revolution: Breaking Barriers & Driving Sustainable Impact
With over two decades of experience in the financial services sector, Amishi holds responsibilities spanning across HR & admin functions. She brings to the role a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
How is the role of women evolving in green finance and ESG models, and what impact does diverse leadership have on sustainable investments?
Women are driving transformative change in green finance by integrating nuanced perspectives into ESG frameworks and decision-making processes. Their growing representation in leadership roles has been linked to stronger environmental stewardship, as studies indicate that diverse teams prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. This shift is reshaping investment strategies to better address climate risks and social inequities. Women leaders often advocate for inclusive solutions, such as community-centric renewable projects or circular business models that align financial returns with measurable environmental and social impact. The cognitive diversity they bring enhances innovation, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement, ultimately creating more resilient and equitable sustainable investment portfolios.
What are the biggest challenges for women in finance leadership, and how can the industry promote greater inclusion?
Women in finance leadership continue to navigate systemic barriers, including unconscious biases in promotion processes, unequal access to high-impact roles, and workplace cultures that undervalue collaborative leadership styles. Many face a "double burden" of professional expectations and societal caregiving norms, which disproportionately affect career progression. To address these challenges, the industry must institutionalize equitable practices—such as transparent pay structures, sponsorship programs linking women to growth opportunities, and policies that normalize flexible work arrangements. Cultivating inclusive environments requires active allyship, leadership accountability for diversity metrics, and platforms to amplify women’s contributions in shaping financial strategies.
As e-mobility and clean energy expand, what financial and policy shifts are needed to accelerate growth in these sectors?
Accelerating e-mobility and clean energy adoption demands coordinated policy and financial innovation. Governments must phase out fossil fuel subsidies and redirect capital to scale affordable financing for EVs, charging infrastructure, and distributed renewables. Risk-sharing mechanisms, such as green bonds and blended finance models, can attract private investment by mitigating technology and market risks. Streamlining land acquisition and grid connectivity processes will reduce project delays, while skilling initiatives can build a workforce to support manufacturing and maintenance. More importantly, aligning state-level regulations with national decarbonization goals will create consistency for investors and enable cross-sector synergies, such as integrating EV batteries into renewable energy storage systems.
What are the key challenges and opportunities in financing India’s green transition, and how can the industry scale investments for net-zero goals?
India’s green transition faces financing hurdles, including fragmented risk assessment frameworks for emerging technologies and a mismatch between the tenure of domestic capital and the long-term nature of green projects. However, the scale of opportunity, particularly in renewables, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture, is unparalleled. Institutional investors and banks can bridge gaps by developing specialized green credit vehicles, leveraging AI to evaluate climate risks, and partnering with global climate funds. Democratizing access through retail green investment products and fostering regional collaborations to pool resources will be critical. Success hinges on standardizing ESG reporting, fostering trust in new asset classes, and aligning financial flows with India’s unique development needs.
What role do policy frameworks and government incentives play in driving sustainable finance and clean energy adoption?
Robust policy frameworks act as the backbone of sustainable finance by creating predictable markets for clean technologies. Mandatory climate disclosures and green taxonomy regulations guide capital allocation, while production-linked incentives for solar panels or EV components stimulate domestic manufacturing. Targeted subsidies for early adopters such as tax rebates for rooftop solar or EV buyers—help overcome initial cost barriers. Governments can further de-risk investments through sovereign guarantees for green infrastructure projects and by anchoring carbon markets to monetize emission reductions. These measures, coupled with international climate finance partnerships, enable systemic shifts by aligning economic incentives with ecological imperatives.
Can you elaborate on the emerging trends in sustainable mobility and climate finance to support a net-zero future.
Sustainable mobility and climate finance are coming together to accelerate the shift toward a net-zero future. The growth of electric vehicles, cleaner public transport, and emerging energy solutions like green hydrogen are driving meaningful reductions in transport-related emissions.
At the same time, innovative financial mechanisms such as green bonds, carbon markets, and public-private partnerships are unlocking the investment needed to scale these solutions globally. The challenge now is to ensure this transition moves swiftly while creating green jobs and making sustainable transport accessible to all. Together, these efforts are paving the way for a zero-emission future.
How is the role of women evolving in green finance and ESG models, and what impact does diverse leadership have on sustainable investments?
Women are driving transformative change in green finance by integrating nuanced perspectives into ESG frameworks and decision-making processes. Their growing representation in leadership roles has been linked to stronger environmental stewardship, as studies indicate that diverse teams prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. This shift is reshaping investment strategies to better address climate risks and social inequities. Women leaders often advocate for inclusive solutions, such as community-centric renewable projects or circular business models that align financial returns with measurable environmental and social impact. The cognitive diversity they bring enhances innovation, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement, ultimately creating more resilient and equitable sustainable investment portfolios.
What are the biggest challenges for women in finance leadership, and how can the industry promote greater inclusion?
Women in finance leadership continue to navigate systemic barriers, including unconscious biases in promotion processes, unequal access to high-impact roles, and workplace cultures that undervalue collaborative leadership styles. Many face a "double burden" of professional expectations and societal caregiving norms, which disproportionately affect career progression. To address these challenges, the industry must institutionalize equitable practices—such as transparent pay structures, sponsorship programs linking women to growth opportunities, and policies that normalize flexible work arrangements. Cultivating inclusive environments requires active allyship, leadership accountability for diversity metrics, and platforms to amplify women’s contributions in shaping financial strategies.
As e-mobility and clean energy expand, what financial and policy shifts are needed to accelerate growth in these sectors?
Accelerating e-mobility and clean energy adoption demands coordinated policy and financial innovation. Governments must phase out fossil fuel subsidies and redirect capital to scale affordable financing for EVs, charging infrastructure, and distributed renewables. Risk-sharing mechanisms, such as green bonds and blended finance models, can attract private investment by mitigating technology and market risks. Streamlining land acquisition and grid connectivity processes will reduce project delays, while skilling initiatives can build a workforce to support manufacturing and maintenance. More importantly, aligning state-level regulations with national decarbonization goals will create consistency for investors and enable cross-sector synergies, such as integrating EV batteries into renewable energy storage systems.
To promote greater inclusion of Women, the business world should institutionalize equitable practices such as transparent pay structures, sponsorship programs linking women to growth opportunities, and policies that normalize flexible work arrangements
What are the key challenges and opportunities in financing India’s green transition, and how can the industry scale investments for net-zero goals?
India’s green transition faces financing hurdles, including fragmented risk assessment frameworks for emerging technologies and a mismatch between the tenure of domestic capital and the long-term nature of green projects. However, the scale of opportunity, particularly in renewables, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture, is unparalleled. Institutional investors and banks can bridge gaps by developing specialized green credit vehicles, leveraging AI to evaluate climate risks, and partnering with global climate funds. Democratizing access through retail green investment products and fostering regional collaborations to pool resources will be critical. Success hinges on standardizing ESG reporting, fostering trust in new asset classes, and aligning financial flows with India’s unique development needs.
What role do policy frameworks and government incentives play in driving sustainable finance and clean energy adoption?
Robust policy frameworks act as the backbone of sustainable finance by creating predictable markets for clean technologies. Mandatory climate disclosures and green taxonomy regulations guide capital allocation, while production-linked incentives for solar panels or EV components stimulate domestic manufacturing. Targeted subsidies for early adopters such as tax rebates for rooftop solar or EV buyers—help overcome initial cost barriers. Governments can further de-risk investments through sovereign guarantees for green infrastructure projects and by anchoring carbon markets to monetize emission reductions. These measures, coupled with international climate finance partnerships, enable systemic shifts by aligning economic incentives with ecological imperatives.
Can you elaborate on the emerging trends in sustainable mobility and climate finance to support a net-zero future.
Sustainable mobility and climate finance are coming together to accelerate the shift toward a net-zero future. The growth of electric vehicles, cleaner public transport, and emerging energy solutions like green hydrogen are driving meaningful reductions in transport-related emissions.
At the same time, innovative financial mechanisms such as green bonds, carbon markets, and public-private partnerships are unlocking the investment needed to scale these solutions globally. The challenge now is to ensure this transition moves swiftly while creating green jobs and making sustainable transport accessible to all. Together, these efforts are paving the way for a zero-emission future.
