Leaders

Indian women leaders are redefining the global finance and consulting industry through their expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and resilience in rapidly evolving markets. Across taxation, compliance, financial consulting, and strategic advisory, women professionals are building impactful enterprises that contribute significantly to international business ecosystems.

Their journeys reflect professional excellence, innovation, and the growing influence of women in shaping modern financial leadership globally. One such inspiring leader is CA Shikha Chirag Agarwal, Managing Partner of Earningo Accounting & Tax L.L.C.Born and raised in Mumbai, she completed her graduation in Commerce from Narsee Monjee College before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2012.

She began her professional career with BDO India in Mumbai, where she gained valuable exposure to the financial consulting industry and developed expertise in advisory and compliance services.

Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, Shikha and her husband, who is also a Chartered Accountant, envisioned building their own professional practice rather than pursuing long-term corporate careers. In 2016, they moved to Dubai during a transformative period for the UAE economy as the country prepared to introduce VAT and later corporate tax frameworks.

Recognizing the immense opportunities within the evolving financial landscape, they founded Earningo Accounting and Tax Consultancy in 2017 with a vision to create a client-centric advisory firm. What began as a two-member practice has now evolved into a growing consultancy serving more than 300 clients across industries.

Today, Earningo stands as a trusted name in taxation, compliance, and strategic financial advisory within the UAE market. Let’s hear from her.

What core vision drives the firm, and how do you differentiate your services in a highly competitive UAE market?

From the beginning, my vision for Earningo was to ensure clients never viewed us merely as a compliance cost, but as a valuable business partner. I strongly believe in a client-first approach focused on sustainable value creation, responsiveness, and long-term relationships.

We differentiate ourselves by taking ownership of complex assignments and remaining deeply involved in our clients’ growth journeys.

Since we started young, we were always willing to invest extra effort and time to deliver quality outcomes. Beyond tax and compliance, we aim to provide strategic financial guidance that helps businesses make confident decisions and grow sustainably in the competitive UAE market.

How do you perceive the evolving role of Indian women leaders in global financial and consulting sectors, particularly in regions like the UAE?

I believe this is one of the most empowering phases for women in business and leadership. Today, women are leading organizations, building startups, managing investments, and creating successful enterprises across industries. In India especially, I see tremendous growth in women-led businesses contributing to innovation and economic development.

The UAE’s multicultural and inclusive environment further encourages women to pursue leadership and entrepreneurship confidently. What inspires me most is that women are no longer waiting for opportunities; they are creating them.

Indian women leaders today are financially aware, globally connected, and strategically driven, and I believe their influence across consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship will continue to grow significantly.

What key financial strategies do you believe businesses in the UAE must adopt today to remain resilient and competitive in a rapidly evolving economic landscape?

I believe businesses today must focus on what I call the “three Ps” - Planning, Policies, and Procedures. Every business should begin with a clear roadmap and structured financial systems. Seeking professional guidance early can help avoid costly mistakes later.

Financial discipline is equally important, especially maintaining healthy cash flow, optimized working capital, and emergency liquidity reserves. Another critical area is digital adaptability.

The UAE is rapidly embracing AI, automation, and advanced technologies, and businesses that leverage digital tools for governance, analytics, compliance, and reporting will remain competitive. In my view, resilience comes from combining strategic planning, financial discipline, and technological adaptability.

In an increasingly digital and compliance-driven environment, how is Earningo leveraging technology and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and client experience?

At Earningo, our approach is completely data-driven, and technology plays a central role in our operations. We use internal dashboards for real-time KPI tracking, profitability analysis, recurring revenue monitoring, and client portfolio assessment. This helps us make informed business decisions and improve efficiency continuously.

We also leverage automation tools for compliance reporting, expense management, and financial monitoring, which significantly reduces manual errors and improves accuracy.

Additionally, our anti-money laundering systems and risk management tools help us identify compliance risks proactively. Technology enables us to deliver faster turnaround times, greater transparency, and more effective advisory support to clients in today’s evolving consulting environment.

Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Earningo, and what advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs who aim to build impactful businesses in international markets like Asia and the Middle East?

My long-term vision is to position Earningo as a trusted advisory ecosystem that supports businesses with finance, taxation, compliance, and strategic decision-making across the UAE and beyond. As the region continues to grow as a global business hub, I want Earningo to become a long-term strategic partner for companies seeking sustainable growth and financial clarity.

For aspiring women entrepreneurs, my advice is simple - do not wait for perfect conditions because perfection often delays progress. Start with the knowledge and resources you currently have, remain consistent, and continue learning through experience. Resilience, discipline, and adaptability will always create greater success than perfectionism.

CA Shikha Chirag Agarwal, Managing Partner, Earningo Accounting and Tax Consultancy

CA Shikha Chirag Agarwal is the Managing Partner of Earningo Accounting and Tax Con­sultancy, Dubai. A Chartered Accountant from Mumbai, she co-founded the firm in 2017 with a vision to provide client-centric tax and financial advisory services. Today, Earningo serves over 300 clients across industries in the UAE.