Sonal’s journey is a powerful testament to how a woman can triumph over numerous challenges to achieve success. From working at Ola and Flipkart to overseeing and optimising Prodigy Finance’s commercial operations on a global scale, strengthening client relationships, and enhancing overall customer experience, she demonstrates that resilience and determination can break the barriers of traditionally male-dominated tech and finance sectors. Sonal is now in a leadership role as the Global Chief Business Officer of Prodigy Finance, but her journey was not an easy one.
Sonal’s path began as many of yours might – a student with a dream too big for her bank account. After completing her Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, she refused to let the funding dim her vision. With a zeal to succeed, she took the bold leap by enrolling at the Indian School of Business for a Postgraduate Degree in Management, specialising in Marketing. This was the move that would set the stage for everything to come.
To make it work, she took out a student loan, and her father believed in her capabilities; he opted to help her by being a co-signer. This student loan came with its own set of responsibilities, along with opportunities to pursue her career goals. With this, she also had to be careful not to add any extra financial burden on her father. The load of this student loan was something she carried with her every day, fuelling her determination to succeed.
It was not an easy path. Every day while studying, Sonal often felt that she wouldn’t make it in her career and worried about the loan she had taken. She even thought of dropping out of her postgraduate studies to start her own business, but she held on, trusting that her education would pay off and unlock big opportunities for her in the future. All these experiences and the pressure of a student loan had a big impact on her. It gave her a deep understanding of what many students go through while completing their higher education.
After graduating, she worked with big names like Stanton Chase and Ola, broadening her skillset. That experience paved the way for a game-changing role at Flipkart, where she spent eight years and built their fintech ecosystem. During this period, she discovered the power of financial solutions and laid down strategies for funding the businesses.
Now, with over 14 years of experience in fintech, innovation, and product innovation, Sonal is working towards the mission of Prodigy Finance to break down financial barriers for students who want to study a master’s abroad. Prodigy Finance’s new loan option provides students with the flexibility to choose between a co-signer loan or a no co-signer loan, allowing them to select the option that best fits their financial situation.
Sonal’s passion ignites opportunities like scholarships, empowering ambitious women to reach their global goals. The big news is that Prodigy Finance will join hands with Esade to launch the Future Female Leaders Scholarship, specifically designed for women pursuing their aspirations in Esade’s graduate programs. This scholarship offers a significant one-time award of $8,000 to empower your educational journey. More information on this will be announced soon on Prodigy Finance’s website.
“That loan wasn’t just money; it was my promise to my father to succeed.” Sonal Kapoor states, “Signing those loan papers changed everything,” She further added. “The Esade Future Female Leaders Scholarship is a kickstart for women pursuing an Esade graduate program. I didn’t receive scholarship support while I was pursuing my higher education, and I wish I had. I believe this scholarship will be a ticket for women with big dreams to achieve their desired careers.”
Now, as the Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, Sonal is working on creating innovative funding options for an international master’s degree. She uses her personal experiences to lift others who are going through similar funding issues.
Sonal’s story is for every student who’s ever worried about financing, doubted themselves, or dreamed of a global career. She is an example of what women can do when given equal opportunities. She has proven that leadership is more than gender – it’s about vision and impact. Her story shows that every dream can be achieved with determination, education, and the right support.