Women CFOs Shine in Performance but still Lack Ample Representation

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Monday, 3 April 2023

There exists a general notion that women are not good at finance as compared to their male counterpart. But two categories of women are challenging this very notion, the first being women who run households. They run a tight ship and know exactly how to handle the money to run a household smoothly.

The other category is women CFOs. Although women CFOs are far and few in between, yet their capabilities have been recognized the world over.

A study by S&P Global Market Intelligence found that within the first 24 months of appointing women CFOs, companies witnessed a six percent increase in profits, and eight percent better stock returns. Collectively, women CFOs brought $1.8 trillion additional cumulative profits. The S&P Global Market Intelligence study also highlighted that companies headed by female CEOs or CFOs demonstrated a culture of diversity and inclusion.

The proof is in the pudding. Read through the stories of successful women CFOs and how their expertise is driving growth for their respective organizations. The current edition of Women Entrepreneur magazine brings to you some such stories.

Meet Bindu Sharma, CFO, FM Logistic India. Armed with a Bachelor of Law from Panjab University being a qualified CA and Company Secretary, her professional journey so far includes prestigious companies such as BILT, Carnation Auto India, LG Life Sciences, Hapag Lloyd AG, and DP World.

As the Director of Finance of FM Logistic India, Bindu has been providing professional solutions to a variety of businesses for about two decades.

Joining Bindu in this edition is Guna Thantry, CFO, Schenck Process. She is a proficient leader, with vast experience in administering various departments of an organization. As the CFO of Schenck Process, she is formulating plans for the financial expansion of the firm. Guna is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and has also worked as an auditor, financial controller, and HR Manager in different parts of the world. Before joining the position as CFO of Schenck Process, Guna also worked for big corporate giants like Deloitte, Hewlett Packard, SAP and Citrix.

These women are shining examples of the wonders a women CFO can do for any given organization. Joining these prolific women CFOs in the current edition is another leader of substance, Marina Mathews, Founder and CEO, MM Communications.

Marina has worked with many international brands, including Discovery Network, Fairmont, Gulf Air, KLM, Leica, Moet Hennessy Diageo, Netflix, Nike, P&G, Six Senses and Qantas, among others.

Marina has also worked with international celebrities, artists, and business personalities such as Alec Monopoly, David Foster, HRH Prince Harry, Jackson Galaxy, Jamie Cullum, and Paris Hilton, as well as multiple Michelin-Starred Chefs including Christian Le Squer and Gary Rhodes. Read on and do let us know your thoughts.