From Fear of Finance to Finding My Voice
Sreemoye Chakraborty's Empower Her Workshop Experience (2025)
Published on the 23 September 2025 by UNSW Business School EDI Team
A Returning Student, A Renewed Purpose
Until 2023, I studied at Delhi Public School, Bangalore North (DPSBN) in India. That year, I moved to Australia and attended Arthur Phillip High School (APHS) in Sydney.
Now in 2025, I’m a Year 12 student preparing for the HSC with a clear goal in mind: to pursue a Double Commerce degree (Bachelor of Commerce/Information Systems), majoring in either Finance or Business Analytics and Information Systems.
My journey into business began with the UNSW Girls in Business Camp in 2024, a program that reshaped my understanding of commerce and helped me discover my passion. That experience gave me clarity and confidence.
So, I was honoured to be invited back by UNSW Business School for the Empower Her: Women in Finance, Economics & Politics Workshop, I knew I had to say yes!
This was held in partnership with the UNSW Gender Equality Hub. This two-day workshop, hosted at the UNSW Parramatta Innovation Hub, was designed for female-identifying students in Years 11 and 12 to explore careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, connect with trailblazing women, and build confidence in leadership, financial literacy, and decision-making.
Day One: Demystifying Finance and Building Confidence
We began with a warm welcome, an Acknowledgement of Country, and introductions. Each student shared their year level, subjects, and post - school plans. “We were welcomed with a thoughtful gift pack from UNSW, which made us feel valued and excited for the day ahead, which set a warm tone for the rest of the workshop.”
The day focused on finance, and we were encouraged to network with mentors and student ambassadors. Having already created my LinkedIn profile, I was eager to learn how to make the most of it. The session showed me that networking is about more than visibility, it’s about building trust and opportunity.
I asked questions like:
- What would I study if I chose Finance as a major?
- What level of maths is involved - medium or hard?
- What types of assessments are there?
The answers reassured me: finance involves manageable maths, and most calculations are supported by tools like Excel and QuickBooks.
Our first group activity explored the question: “What is finance?” My answer was simple: “money.” But through discussion, I learned it’s about managing, saving, investing, borrowing, and lending.
“This first activity session was led by Shilpa Balaji, a current UNSW Business School student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce/Computer Science, majoring in Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence. Her insights made the topic feel approachable and relevant.”
We talked about why many women avoid finance; mainly due to fear of maths and worked together to debunk this myth. We solved sample finance questions using formulas for simple interest, compound interest, and future value. This session gave me a reality check and completely removed my fear of maths in finance.
We also heard from seven inspiring women across throughout the day:
In the morning:
- Natalie Vanstone – President, Women in Banking and Finance (WiBF)
- Rachael McKenzie – Executive Manager Life Operations and CX, Westpac
- Kate Mulready – Economist, HoustonKemp
In the afternoon:
- Associate Professor Kristle Romero Cortes – UNSW Business School
- Dr Natalie Oh – UNSW Business School
- Sally Wang – Investment Associate, Nomura
- Isabella Capp – Equity Research Sales, RBC Capital Markets
They shared their journeys in investment banking, asset management, and economics. One powerful example was how women can successfully lead entire organisations, including male colleagues. I learned that finance offers diverse roles from analyst to FinTech specialist and that career paths are flexible and evolving.
Later, we worked on a household budgeting challenge, where my team had to decide how to spend an imaginary surplus. It was surprisingly difficult but a great way to learn about financial decision-making.
We also created personalised life - goal timelines, mapping out our future in finance from HSC to university to career milestones. My group shared our ideas with a student ambassador, who gave us positive feedback. It was empowering to see that there’s no single “right” way to succeed.
The afternoon featured more stories of resilience and leadership. We explored the global impact of financial illiteracy and the gender leadership gap. By the end of Day 1, I had gone from knowing very little about finance to having a deep understanding of the subject, the career opportunities, and the confidence to pursue it.
Day Two: Exploring Economics, Politics, and Leadership
Day 2 shifted to economics and politics, areas I hadn’t explored before. We began with discussions on gender equity, unconscious bias, and leadership gaps. Reviewing industry data, we saw how these fields are mainly dominated by men and why it’s crucial for women to step in and propel this sector forward to strive for better representation through equality.
We examined the unforgettable Jane Elliott “blue eyes/brown eyes” experiment, reflecting on how stereotypes and bias shape behaviour and opportunity. It was a powerful reminder of how systemic inequality works.
We also explored how gender norms influence career decisions and pay outcomes, and how women’s reluctance to compete contributes to the gender pay gap. It made me reflect on how confidence and assertiveness play a role in success.
We played a fast - paced maths quiz - 35 questions, no calculators, under time pressure. I answered 15 questions; the winner got 20. It was a fun glimpse into university - style competitions, where speed and collaboration matter.
Later, we submitted anonymous questions on sticky notes for a reverse panel where we got to ask the questions and where we in turn were asked questions about our future plans. The mentors answered with honesty and insight. One answer that stuck with me was: “You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be brave.” That really stayed with me.
Professor Alberto Motta, UNSW Business School of Economics, shared data on the gender gap in economics. He explained that economics is about human behaviour, incentives, and decision-making not just theory.
His interactive teaching style made the subject feel accessible and relevant, even for students like me who don’t study economics. I realised that economics teaches valuable transferable skills like critical thinking and problem-solving.
We then heard from a powerful leadership and policy panel:
- Associate Professor Mehera San Roque – UNSW School of Law, Society & Criminology
- Camilla Love – Non-Executive Director, Perennial Venture Capital GP
- Angelica Ojinnaka - Psillakis – Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Manager
- Joanna Nash – Head of Portfolio Management and Senior Quantitative Portfolio Manager, RQI Investors
They spoke about leadership, resilience, and navigating bias in politics, law, and economics. Their stories were raw, powerful, and deeply inspiring.
“In your future career journey, take every opportunity that comes - seize it. You never know what it can unlock.”
Day 2 ended with a group photo and final reflections. Students shared what they had learned and how they planned to apply it. For me, the highlight was realising how bias and stereotypes shape entire industries but also how powerful women leaders are working to change this from the inside.
A Stronger Voice and a Clearer Path
The Empower Her Workshop didn’t just expand my knowledge; it reshaped how I see myself and my future.
I learned to overcome my fear of maths in finance, understand multiple pathways into careers, and appreciate economics and politics as a tool for critical thinking. I built confidence in networking, leadership, and asking questions.
Most importantly, I discovered that I’m not alone. There is a network of inspiring women who are paving the way, and they are ready to welcome us in.
I also learned to embrace uncertainty. As the end of high school approaches, so does the pressure to choose the “perfect” degree. But hearing from women who built successful, unpredictable careers taught me that uncertainty isn’t something to fear it’s where the most powerful lessons lie.
“Before this workshop, I thought finance was intimidating. Now I see it as empowering.”
I’m grateful to UNSW Business School, and the Gender Equality Hub, and all the mentors who made this experience unforgettable for me. I’m now exploring university programs and internships that align with what I learned at Empower Her - and I feel ready to take the next step.
Advice for Future Students
To anyone considering Empower Her in 2026: Just say yes!!!
You’ll gain knowledge, confidence, and a supportive community.
You’ll leave knowing you belong in the world of finance, economics, and politics.
