Neelkantha

I now work where questions of leadership, purpose, people, and planet intersect. My approach differs from traditional non-executive directors. My contribution is to hold a mirror quietly, honestly and without judgement  so leaders and organisations can see themselves more clearly. When people see clearly, they lead differently.

My philosophy has been shaped by a lifetime of lived experience and over three decades in finance, strategy, treasury, sustainability and transformation. I’ve learned that culture and conscience are as important as capital and that long-term resilience emerges when purpose, compassion and discipline move together. 

Earlier in my career, I served as a Board Director and CFO, working across finance, governance, operations, HR and IT. Those years taught me how organisations behave under pressure and how people respond in moments of uncertainty. I’ve guided teams through crises from the global financial crash to COVID-19, helping leaders steady themselves, rebuild trust and navigate complexity. 

I’ve resolved complex stakeholder conflicts, restructured teams with care, and managed investor and banking relationships, including arranging more than £1 billion in financing. But the work that mattered most was always human: making sure people felt seen, supported and able to perform at their best. 

Alongside my advisory and board work, I am an entrepreneur. Through Elimumatokeo, an education and financial literacy venture rooted in Tanzania, I am building tools that open pathways for young people and teachers. This work grounds me in the belief that commercial discipline and social impact strengthen each other — and that leadership at its best lifts communities, not just companies. 

I speak internationally on leadership and sustainability, emphasizing that human capital has become as critical as financial capital in determining long-term success. My work in Tanzania reinforces this daily: transformation begins with people and ripples outward.

At the heart of my journey are the values that guide everything I do: truth, authenticity, service, and conscience, shaped by my devotion to Shiva and Shakti. From that stillness comes a reminder that leadership is not about control but awareness; not about authority but presence.

I now dedicate myself to three things: helping leaders find their truest voice, building organisations that honour both people and planet, and opening pathways for the next generation to lead with wholeness.