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This is a great discussion with maths-fiend, Mensa member Rachel Pether (Abu Dhabi), who trained as a journalist before switching to finance. She packed her bags aged 21 and moved from New Zealand to London, to pursue her dream of working for the BBC. Now settled in the UAE, where she has been for almost twenty years, Rachel combines her journalism skills with finance in a number of ways. She is a host on FinTechTV, Managing Director of 3iQ Assets and runs the Speakeasy Club, to help others find their own public speaking confidence.

"What I found as the number one top tip was about mindset. So much of it can be down to nerves, and the mindset trick that I use can work with every single audience. So it's not specific to any situation, but instead of thinking: 'Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous.I have to speak in front of X,' or 'I'm so nervous. I have to go and ask my boss for a raise,' whatever it might be. If you just change your mindset and tell yourself, 'I'm so excited for the opportunity,' it really changes everything. If you are hosting an event, rather than thinking, 'I have to get on stage in front of 300 people who are all finance CEOs or successful entrepreneurs,' you think: 'I am so grateful that I get to be in a room with great finance leaders and entrepreneurs.'"

This episode was edited by Vanessa Heaney.

Music by Alex Vickers

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Forum 500 member Manoj Gursahani (Mumbai) started India's first e-commerce travel portal, the beginning of a long career in which a blend of technology with entrepreneurial vision has been the hallmark. Chair of Tiger 21 in his home city, Manoj is an established mentor and coach of high networth leaders, and as co-chairman of the India Business Group, he strengthens India's role in internationa trade and partnerships. An established speaker, author and currently working with Vira Healthcare on AI-led health diagnostics, Manoj is also a dedicated father. This is a very enjoyable and relaxed conversation with a high achiever! However, Manoj is honest about the fact it took an intentional step to achieve this balance.

"Personally, for my side, it was tough for me to be vulnerable. It was very tough. When my daughters were growing up, I did not give them enough time. And I was busy working and largely focusing only on the work aspect. And then I realized what I've been missing out on. I started ten years back deciding that, listen, we need to stop and smell the roses kind of thing... And then it was initially very tough to adapt that. When I'm working, I try to work with less distractions. And in today's world of constant pinging, I also try during the weekend to sometimes put my phone on airplane mode."

This episode was edited by Vanessa Heaney.

Music by Alex Vickers

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This episode sees Jessica Fellowes talking to Sarah Anderson (Boulder), the founding partner of Vault Fund, which principally invests in company builders. Sitting in her round home office – a converted silo – where she lives on 100 acres with her family, Sarah talks with great enthusiasm about the world she works in, one that is very different from the enormous corporations she worked with when at J.P.Morgan (Proctor & Gamble, Facebook, Electronic Arts).

With a great sense of humour and an ability to describe complex ideas simply, Sarah discusses A.I and the current concerns/hopes around it, as well as drawing nice comparisons with her former pole vaulting achievements!

There's also a great moment discussing the number of women and people of colour in finance (not enough, less than there were five years ago...).

"We definitely do still have women that are able to be successful against all odds. But I think when we start seeing large funders roll back, that's when it starts to hurt. And we have made so much progress. So to me, it's quite sad. I think that there are so many capable women. There are so many capable people of color. And to be honest, I don't know that a white man would have started this. It's too different. You have to have a very unique perspective to see it, to do it. And I think that there's just a natural hunger there to prove it out. Not that a white man couldn't have done it. They have so many more opportunities that someone like you or me may not have.

"I tend to think that women and diverse people in this category actually have a huge advantage. Because we're remembered. There aren't many of us."

This episode was produced by Vanessa Heaney.

Music by Alex Vickers