SHE Relatable Leaders Career Journey Spotlight

The SHE Women’s Network Support Heal Empower is all about empowering, supporting and elevating our members, and inspiring future generations of female leaders. Across 2025 we will spotlight the careers journeys of some of our amazing members. Today we hear from Hina Desai

The Uncharted Path to Success

Hina Desai, Private Client Partner, Financial Planning

My Dad always wanted me to be an accountant which was his dream and any one from my social background would know that the order of success was always Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant. I am none of those, professional services was the goal. Whilst I am none of the above, I have found an interesting, varied and challenging career, doing what I enjoy.

By sharing their experiences, my Parents guided me that I would always have to work twice as hard to succeed, a first-generation migrant (like many in our community my story is not unique) building from scratch, for me success became about working so as not having to worry about money. What I love is that I inherited my parent’s work ethnic which has served me well but also led to my thinking that I need to keep working harder, this was driven by the desire to make them proud.

Introduction

By profession, I am a qualified and experienced Independent Financial Adviser and a Private Client Partner at Forvis Mazars. I help clients by bringing meaning to their money, so that they can make it work harder for them to achieve what they want out of life and pass on wealth to future generations rather than just be custodians of it. For most of my career, I have worked in international accountancy firms and with fellow professionals to work for our clients and help them achieve what they want personal and for their businesses.

Early Career

I began my career on a graduate programme in Banking and that is where I found my passion for working with people, whether that was with clients or with colleagues, as I undertook my first management role there. I enjoyed client contact and thought that I could help them better by training to advise in a regulated way. Whilst I could have taken this route where I was, I knew that I needed to be brave and work as part of a financial services team to learn form others and grow.

Financial Planning was my greatest career move and an area that wasn’t recognised as a career choice and like most at the time I fell into it. It was the best decision that I made as it allowed me to use my skills, knowledge and passion for helping people, whilst also finding an area that I really enjoy doing. For me it is about building relationships, trust and educating on finances, supporting my clients through the personal and financial challenges that come their way.

Pivotal Moments

The area I was going into was male dominated and whilst it has improved it continues to be so. The women that were in the profession when I started were an inspiration, in terms of their resilience and ability to fit in but also stand out. There were moments that the highly competitive sales environment felt tough, however with focus, drive and determination, I was recognised for the value that I brought. I learnt to adapt my style to have impact in a room, regardless of my gender even thought there were times when I was unsure. Being brave and working hard has served me well.

Leadership Lessons

Trust your gut instincts and speak up, even if your voice shakes. Learn to speak slower and with focus, so that you have impact. Find your trusted people, who you can share challenges with and who are your cheerleaders, nothing worth having is ever easy. Break down the challenges into smaller step and embrace change as that is where growth happens.

Advice for Others

Lead with kindness and honesty, as you impact everyone around you with your interactions.

Find a mentor who inspires you, they can be your trusted counsel but also help you to navigate the challenges and focus.

Closing Thought

Trust the journey, be brave and find moments to breathe and look after you, what is meant for you will come to you when the time is right.

A quote or some advice that you found valuable

Money can’t buy time, so whatever you do make your time count, every interaction that you have with someone has impact.

Editor Asma Nafees