Women leaders are transforming industries through innovation and purpose-driven leadership. Across science, technology, and business, they are advancing solutions that address global challenges and improve people’s lives.
For Tala founder and CEO Shivani Siroya, the challenge was clear: expanding access to essential financial services for underserved populations and narrowing the global financial inclusion gap.
She did not wait for a seat at the table. She built her own.
Recognized among Forbes’s 250 Greatest Innovators, Siroya also marks Tala’s 10th consecutive year on the Forbes Fintech 50 list, reflecting the company’s sustained impact in the financial technology space.
Her Brand of Leadership
Siroya’s journey began with her passion for numbers and people’s stories. In 2014, she founded Tala while working full-time, starting with a small team united by a shared mission of expanding financial opportunity.
Today, she leads more than 600 employees across three continents, driving a mission to provide the global majority with access to financial services that help unlock economic potential.
Her leadership is rooted in long-term impact rather than short-term execution. Beyond operations, she focuses on strengthening networks, deepening expertise, and listening to customer insights to better connect global capital to underserved communities.
As a CEO and mother of two, Siroya prioritizes balance between work and family. She protects family time on her calendar and sets aside quiet moments for reflection, whether through journaling, reading, or walking her dog. Staying grounded allows her to lead with clarity, presence, and purpose.
Through purpose-driven leadership, Siroya continues to bridge financial systems and the communities that need them most.
Driving Innovation in Financial Access
Siroya’s work as an analyst and microcredit researcher at the United Nations Population Fund gave her first-hand insight into the financial barriers faced by small business owners across Africa and Asia.
Through interviews with members of the global majority, the financially underserved population representing more than half of the world’s people, she discovered how the absence of credit history and financial identity limited access to traditional financial services.
Tala was built to address this gap.
The platform uses alternative data and machine learning to modernize credit assessment, moving beyond legacy credit scoring systems to evaluate creditworthiness more inclusively. As a result, loan applications through the Tala mobile app are designed to be fast, simple, and accessible.
This customer-focused innovation helped shape Tala into a disruptor in digital lending and earned Siroya recognition among the world’s top living innovators.
“I am honored to be recognized by Forbes alongside visionary leaders. Innovation is only meaningful when it creates real impact. At Tala, we will continue using technology and trust to provide the global majority with access to credit that helps them grow, thrive, and build financial resilience,” said Siroya.
Global Impact of Tala
Founded over a decade ago, Tala now operates in six markets: Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, India, Panama, and Guatemala, and has delivered over USD 7 billion in credit to more than 13 million people worldwide.
A 2025 impact study by impact measurement firm 60 Decibels found that 82% of Tala customers reported improved quality of life, better financial management, and reduced financial stress after using Tala services.
Tala was also named among Forbes’ top fintech companies for 10 consecutive years, underscoring its leadership in building accessible financial services for the global majority.
These achievements reflect Siroya’s vision of creating a financial system that works for everyone, where access to credit becomes a tool for opportunity, growth, and resilience.