Rupa Pandit

Managing Director, Nereus Capital; Head of Strategy, The Swaddle; and Strategic Advisor to Companies

1) What was your inspiration to work in your field?

When used properly, money can change society and improve the environment. I like the thrill and challenge of building something from scratch, whether figuring out an idea for a company or getting a product to an end user who can't finance it. Finding unusual ways to grow revenue or finance a business allows the company to stay viable while still creating access for communities it is trying to help

2) What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment was getting my investment team in India to adapt to being an operating company. Negotiating in a room where you aren’t the one writing the checks requires a very different skill set. As a team, we learned a lot about power dynamics, how to get results that benefit most parties, and how to listen instead of assuming we know best what everyone needs.

3) How did you get your first opportunity in your field?

Out of college, I started work at a finance firm focusing on going against the status quo and doing things differently. Their method was to take a group of problem solvers from different backgrounds and training, give them an investment mandate or goal, and then provide them with the freedom to design the right strategy to achieve that goal. I have always enjoyed that approach to finance and business building. That job took me to India, where I got to see how creative financing can help solve problems across industries.

4) Who has been your biggest influence? (e.g., mentors, books, leaders)

Through family, friends, and colleagues, I have been surrounded by numerous kind, generous, and big thinkers—the ones who always try to use what they are good at to solve a bigger problem. Here are a few things I've read recently that have made a difference.

Insanely Simple - Ken Segall

I've read this many times over the last decade. The book shares the perspective of Ken Segall, the ad agency head behind some of Apple's most successful branding. Its message is about how simplicity, over complexity, can be the most effective tool in building a business. 

Robert Reich - Saving Capitalism 

I found this book when trying to find something that could articulate my feelings about how capital can be used for good. He gives an excellent overview of how a free market with the right rules and boundaries can help in today's world.

The Swaddle 

I have worked as an advisor for The Swaddle for many years, so I'm biased, but the team here, with everything they write and produce, has changed how I read, consume content, and interpret the world. They are an incredibly talented, woman-led organization that gets people talking about how to change the world. 

5) If you could change one thing about the world, then what would it be?

I think we would all benefit from people learning how to be more vulnerable in front of others. Teams could learn from managers sharing how they navigate uncertainty. Kids can learn from parents who share their mistakes and accept more imperfections. We can be ambitious and creative and build great things, but share how human we are on the way. It would make everyone spend more time building substance and less on the form.