At The Wealth Company, We Prioritize Products With Lower Volatility: Lunawat

Being first Indian woman to launch a mutual fund, she believes that greater participation of women in finance is essential for driving economic growth

- ANINDITA ACHARYA

Madhu Lunawat has etched her name in history as the first Indian woman to launch a mutual fund. Just a few days ago, her firm, The Wealth Company, part of the Pantomath Group, received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its mutual fund business. But resting on her laurels is not in her nature.

Coming from a lower-middle-class background in Assam, Madhu has always known that success is built on perseverance. When we met her on a rainy morning at a hotel in Kolkata, Madhu, who is also the co-founder and executive director of the Pantomath Group, was already in meetings with Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs) from the region. For the past 20 days, she's been on a relentless travel schedule. After Chandigarh, she was in Kolkata to train and engage with MFDs. Next, she is heading to Nashik before returning to Mumbai.

Madhu is on a mission to take The Wealth Company to every Tier 2 and Tier 3 city in India. A graduate of Guwahati University and the top ranker in her Chartered Accountancy batch, she has always believed in the untapped potential of India's hinterlands. The mother of two is equally passionate about encouraging more women to join the financial services sector. Her company is preparing to launch specialized training programmes to equip women with the skills and confidence to build careers in finance. From the weight of being India's first woman to launch a mutual fund business to the challenge of winning over hesitant middle-class investors, Madhu is all set to reshape how India invests. Excerpts from an interview with Millennium Post.

Congratulations on SEBI's approval for The Wealth Company to launch the mutual fund business. With this, you have become the first Indian woman to do so. What does this milestone mean to you, both personally and professionally?