Women Driving Inclusive Fintech Transformation Across India

By: Puja Abhishek Singh, CEO, Manipal Fintech

Puja Abhishek Singh is a leader with deep expertise in financial services, digital payments, and inclusive innovation. Known for shaping large-scale transformations, she blends technology, operational discipline, and strategic partnerships to expand financial access, strengthen governance, and drive meaningful impact across India’s evolving fintech ecosystem.

In an interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Puja reflects on her leadership journey, the evolution of fintech partnerships, and how innovation, empathy, and inclusion shape meaningful financial impact.

To explore more about her perspectives on redefining and innovating products, leading with purpose, and empowering women in financial services, see the full article.

You’ve been instrumental in driving large-scale operational growth and expanding Manipal Fintech’s presence across 19,000+ pin codes. How has your perspective as a woman fintech leader shaped this journey?

Expanding to 19,000+ pin codes has been a journey filled with learning, resilience, and collaboration. When we started, the vision was simple, to make financial services truly accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. But turning that vision into reality required us to understand the ground realities, the infrastructure gaps, the trust deficit, and the very human side of finance. What helped us grow was the strength of our partnerships and the passion of our teams. Every branch, every partner, and every customer interaction added to the foundation we were building. We had to continuously adapt, whether it was simplifying digital journeys for customers, supporting our agents in the field, or ensuring that compliance and technology worked hand in hand.

Personally, what’s most fulfilling is seeing the change it brings, a small business owner getting timely access to credit, or a customer in a remote town using our digital platform for the first time with confidence. These moments remind us why we exist as an organization. It’s not just about expansion or numbers; it’s about enabling inclusion that’s real, sustainable, and built on trust.

Can you share a moment where your perspective as a woman gave you a unique advantage in closing offers?

Managing partnerships in the fintech ecosystem is all about balance, combining strategic foresight with a clear understanding of how both organizations create value together. Financial institutions bring scale, stability, and regulatory depth, while fintechs bring agility, innovation, and speed. When these strengths complement each other, the result is powerful.

It’s about building trust through execution, delivering consistently and adapting as the market evolves. The foundation of any strong partnership lies in shared intentworking together consistently, solving challenges collectively, and keeping long-term goals in sight.

Can you share a challenging instance where you reimagined a digital financial product or process to truly reach more people?

Digital inclusion isn’t just about providing access; it’s about understanding what people need to feel confident using technology. While reviewing our gold loan journey, we noticed that many customers in smaller towns weren’t completing the digital process, not because they lacked access, but because they needed trust and guidance.

We simplified the experience, made the communication more local, added assisted digital options, and trained our teams to help customers complete their journeys seamlessly. What we saw next was a shift, more customers were completing their applications confidently, and their trust in the digital process grew. It reaffirmed that financial inclusion happens when technology adapts to people, not the other way around.

Technology, AI, and operational discipline drive Manipal Fintech’s vision. How do you see innovating enhancing your leadership while being empathetic to your team’s experience?

Technology and AI are transforming the way we think, decide, and deliver, and for a company like Manipal Fintech, they sit right at the center of our growth story. In my view, innovation has never been about technology alone; it’s about the mindset behind how we use it. Every new tool or process we introduce is only as effective as the people driving it. When teams understand why change is happening and how it helps them work better, they engage with it more openly. 

AI and data-led decisions help us move faster, but people give direction to that speed. Whether it’s improving workflows or enhancing customer experience, the goal is to make things simpler, smarter, and more meaningful for everyone involved. In the end, innovation isn’t just about transforming systems; it’s about enabling people to achieve more with purpose.

LAST WORD: Advice for Women Leaders Looking to Disrupt Traditional Financial Models

The world of finance is evolving faster than ever, and it is creating new opportunities for women to shape the future with fresh ideas and inclusive thinking.  Women aspiring to lead change should focus on creating solutions that are not only innovative but also inclusive and accessible. Meaningful change begins with understanding people, systems, and the possibilities that innovation can unlock. The next wave of growth in finance will come from leaders who can unite purpose with performance.

The financial industry is moving toward a future defined by collaboration, innovation, and responsibility. This moment offers women an opportunity to contribute meaningfully, not just by introducing new ideas, but by ensuring that those ideas create lasting impact. Through a balanced approach to leadership, women can help shape an ecosystem that is agile, transparent, and designed for sustained growth. The change ahead is not only about technology or policy; it’s about creating a financial environment that reflects progress, inclusion, and purpose in every sense.