Sakshi SodhiSenior Technical Assistance Advisor for Education Finance
Opportunity International, India

Sakshi Sodhiis a financial inclusion specialist, renowned for her ability to translate consumer needs into tailored loan products that drive meaningful impact. With over 16 years of experience in investment banking, microfinance, and strategic brand positioning, Sakshi has consistently demonstrated her expertise in leading and managing client relationships while possessing a deep understanding of the microlending ecosystem.  In her current role with Opportunity's Education Finance division in India, Sakshi plays a key role in directing increased capital towards the budget private school sector while also encouraging financial institutions to expand their lending in education. Sakshi holds a range of degrees, diplomas, and certifications from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, International Management Institute in Belgium, University of Cape Town, London Business School, the University of Virginia, and the Indian Institute of Management.

A woman you admire and why:

Sudha Murty, an author and chair of Infosys Foundation. Sudha broke gender barriers as the first female engineer at Tata Motors, inspiring young women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields.

Biggest gender myth you'd like to bust:

One of the biggest myths we need to bust is the idea that simply lending to women borrowers makes a financial institution automatically gender-inclusive. This perspective is limiting and often overlooks the deeper systemic biases and challenges that women face in accessing and benefiting from financial services. True gender inclusivity goes beyond just the numbers—it’s about the approach, the policies, and the environment that financial institutions cultivate.

A change you’d like to see for women in the next decade:

In the next decade, the change I would like to see for women is the freedom to fully exercise their potential without being constrained by societal expectations or unsafe environments.