Neelkantha

With over 50 years of lived experience and more than 30 years of professional expertise in finance, treasury, leadership, and sustainability, I have guided organisations through transformation, growth, and challenge. As a Board Director and CFO, I led cross-functional teams across finance, governance, operations, HR, and IT—developing and executing strategies that delivered strong commercial results while building long-term value.

My career has taken me through defining crises, from the global financial crash to the COVID-19 pandemic—moments that tested not only business models but the resilience of people. I have restructured teams, resolved entrenched challenges, and, most importantly, fostered cultures where individuals feel supported, motivated, and able to perform at their best. Along the way, I have managed complex investor and banking relationships and arranged over £1 billion in debt financing, including sustainability-linked loans that were pioneering at their time.

In recent years, my focus has shifted toward human capital and sustainability—recognising that people and nature are the true engines of resilience and long-term success. This perspective has deepened my commitment to ESG and reinforced my belief that profitability, purpose, and people are not in conflict; they can, and must, work in harmony.

Beyond the boardroom, I serve as a non-executive director with NGOs and charities, and as a mentor, advisor, and coach to leaders navigating the pressures and uncertainties of today’s world. My approach is anchored in authenticity, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership—helping organisations grow while creating impact for people, profit, and planet.

As an international speaker on leadership and sustainability, I highlight the changing role of human capital—now as critical as financial capital in shaping long-term success. Through lived experience, I share insights that empower others to lead with courage, vision, and integrity. I also invest in projects in Tanzania that embody this balance, driving change that benefits both people and planet.

At the core of my journey are values of truth, authenticity, service, and inner conscience—principles rooted in my devotion to Lord Shiva. In Shiva’s stillness and compassion, I find a reminder that leadership is not defined by the power one holds, but by the humility with which it is practiced. My mission is to uplift people today, inspire the leaders of tomorrow, and protect our planet for generations to come.