At Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East 2026, Mizuho was delighted to be part of the conversations on female leadership in the financial sector in the MENA region.
Alethea Sheehan, Director, Head of Planning, Middle East, Africa, Turkey & Central Asia Caucuses at Mizuho moderated two discussions that brought together accomplished female leaders to share their experiences and on leadership.
In a fireside chat with Fahima Al Bastaki, Board Member of DWE and ARIE & former Executive of UAE Capital Markets, the conversation explored how the financial industry can move beyond representation at the table, or hitting a gender target, towards meaningful influence for women in leadership and decision-making roles. This meant building inclusive cultures and creating pathways that enable women to thrive and lead, as well as helping to break down the barriers that women encounter throughout their careers.
Shradha Gupta, Head of Corporate Clients, Middle East at DBS Bank, shared her remarkable journey to the summit of Mount Everest in the interview hosted by Alethea in the Women’s Mentorship Network session. Her story demonstrated the power of resilience when faced with setbacks, perseverance through challenging conditions, continuous self-development, and approaching ambitious goals one step at a time.
Reflecting on both conversations, Alethea said:
“What stood out to me was that leadership takes many forms, but the common thread is resilience, self-belief and a willingness to embrace opportunity. Fahima and Shradha shared very different journeys, yet both demonstrated the impact women can have when they are empowered to lead, challenge boundaries, and inspire others.”
At Mizuho, we believe diverse perspectives strengthen our industry and drive better outcomes for clients and communities. We were proud to contribute to these discussions and to support the ongoing conversation around creating greater opportunities for women to lead across the financial sector in the MENA region.
