Transforming Finance in Manufacturing: Strategies for Sustainability, Growth & Inclusion

By: Kashiish A Nenwani, Director, Shivtek Spechemi Industries

Kashiish A Nenwani leads financial strategy, digital transformation, and sustainability across group entities, driving operational excellence through SAP integration, robust risk management, CSR initiatives, and a strong commitment to leadership diversity and inclusive growth.

In an engaging interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Kashiish shares her insights on how financial leaders in manufacturing are driving sustainable transformation. She also talks about balancing innovation with resilience, and inspiring women professionals to lead with purpose in today’s complex economic and ecological landscape.

How are financial leaders in manufacturing changing their strategies to boost investor confidence and drive sustainability in today’s uncertain economy and climate-focused world?

Financial leaders in manufacturing are increasingly aligning capital allocation with sustainability benchmarks. To reduce exposure to volatility, they are adopting long-term planning models that integrate environmental risk and compliance into financial strategy.

Digital systems like ERP and resource-monitoring tools are helping improve transparency and reporting accuracy, which in turn enhances investor trust. Capital expenditure is being reoriented towards energy-efficient technologies, waste reduction processes, and emission controls. These measures are not just reactive but are being used for future-proof operations.

Sustainability is no longer treated as a separate objective but embedded into core financial goals.

This dual focus on cost efficiency and ecological responsibility is enabling financial leaders to ensure stable growth while meeting environmental expectations.

How are advanced tools like climate-risk analytics and AI-enabled forecasting redefining financial decision-making in specialty chemicals?

Climate-risk analytics and AI forecasting are improving financial visibility and control across specialty chemical operations. These tools allow leaders to simulate environmental impacts, optimize resource inputs, and flag compliance risks in advance. Real-time data from integrated platforms is being used to refine procurement, inventory, and production strategies, reducing both material waste and regulatory exposure.

Financial forecasting models are now linked to sustainability KPIs such as emissions per unit, water usage, or energy intensity. This integrated approach helps ensure that profitability is based on efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The result is a more predictable and compliant  financial ecosystem that supports responsible growth without compromising performance.

In your current role, how do you balance innovation-driven growth with the responsibility to embed long-term social and ecological resilience into financial risk frameworks?

Innovation in the manufacturing industry is driven by investment in technology and automation that improves efficiency and reduces risk. Integrating social and environmental impact with financial decisions demands careful evaluation of resources. With experience, this is possible by integrating sustainability into risk frameworks through real-time monitoring, compliance checks, and performance-linked investments.

An ideal way out is to have a structured capital plan, including measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside profitability targets. The focus is on creating stable systems that support long-term business health and stakeholder confidence.

What new green finance models can women leaders in industry promote to drive innovation and meet sustainability goals?

Women leaders in finance have a unique opportunity to move beyond traditional capital models and shape financial instruments that are responsive to the climate transition. Models like performance linked green bonds, internal carbon pricing, and outcome based finance are not just policy tools, they're levers for innovation.

By linking capital to measurable environmental milestones such as emissions reduction, water efficiency, or circularity finance leaders can embed accountability into growth itself. This isn’t about funding projects in isolation; it’s about shifting the financial architecture to prioritize impact.

It is a fact well established that strategic capital structuring when aligned with environmental thresholds can unlock both investor trust and operational innovation. Women, with their systematic thinking and long horizon approach, can lead this evolution that doesn't just fuel innovation but ensures it leaves a lighter footprint.

Beyond representation, how can women directors in male-dominated sectors influence systemic cultural shifts to enable inclusive leadership models that accelerate business and societal impact?

Representation is only the beginning, but if we look at figures, the number of women serving as directors has grown more than three-fold over the past decade. Real influence comes when women reshape boardroom dialogue from competitive to collaborative, from transactional to transformative. In traditionally male dominated sectors, financial decisions set the tone for cultural evolution.

Women leaders must champion governance that values diverse thinking, inclusive planning, and long term impact. By reframing success metrics and embedding purpose into financial KPIs, women create not just equity, but systems that sustain it. Inclusion must be operational, not symbolic and finance is a powerful place to start.

LAST WORD: Advice for Women Leaders

Your purpose is your edge. In industries like finance and manufacturing, where decisions are often dominated by precedent and precision, don’t underestimate the power of your perspective. You bring not only competence but clarity, conviction, and context that can shape how industries evolve.

Ask deeper questions. Create systems that last longer than market cycles. Invest in building people, not just profits.

Leadership for me is earning the trust of the people and connecting with them. The connection rooted in purpose and trust is where it gets real.