Grow your money tree.
What Would the World Look Like if Women Had True Financial Independence?
This week on the Brave New Girls podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Ayesha Ofori, founder and CEO of Propelle, the UK’s first female-focused financial education and investment platform with the aim to make the world fairer, stronger, and more prosperous for everyone.
Ayesha was shortlisted for the Bold Woman Awards by Veuve Cliquot, that celebrate women who are innovative, leading, and challenging the status quo – her nomination for the Bold Future Award is a well-deserved reflection of the work she’s doing to help women build financial independence.
With a background in high finance, including a decade in investment banking and managing over half a billion pounds at Goldman Sachs, Ayesha knows how wealth works- and more importantly, who it’s not working for. She shared how most wealth clients in the UK are men, while women are largely sidelined from serious investing, not due to lack of interest, but due to systemic barriers and lack of tailored tools.
That’s why she created Propelle. Originally a supportive community to educate and empower women, it evolved into a fully-regulated investment platform when women repeatedly told her they were hitting walls with existing tools. “These platforms weren’t built with women in mind,” she said. “They were built by men, for men.”
Propelle is changing that by giving women access to personalised financial education, investment tools, and confidence-building resources. It’s not just about making more money- it’s about making money work for women.
“We’re not just helping women- when women invest, whole communities benefit.”
And the numbers are urgent. The gender pension gap in the UK is 40%- double the pay gap. Too many women reach retirement with far too little, despite years of work and saving. The problem? They're not investing, and their savings are eroded by inflation. As Ayesha put it, “Your money sitting in cash is losing value. Inflation is invisible, but powerful.”
Through Propelle, women learn how to turn fear into action- whether it’s understanding the difference between saving and investing, the magic of compound interest, or choosing a Stocks & Shares ISA over a Cash ISA.
Ayesha’s story is one of purpose as much as progress. Sparked by noticing the absence of women in her high-flying finance circles, she felt called to act. "It wasn’t about me. Women needed this, and I knew how to build it.”
With Propelle expanding across the UK and beyond- it’s clear her bold vision is just getting started.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Understand the cost of inaction. Money loses value over time- learn how inflation works.
Ditch the jargon. Use resources like Propelle to break down investing in plain English.
Start small. Even £10 a month gets you in the game- and builds the habit.
Use a Stocks & Shares ISA. It's a tax-efficient way to grow your investments.
Set clear goals. Women invest better when there's a purpose- retirement, children, freedom.
Know your risk tolerance. Investing is not gambling- it's strategic long-term planning.
Embrace compound interest. The earlier you start, the more your money grows.
Diversify. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket- spread your investments.
Invest consistently. Automate monthly contributions to stay on track.
Stay in it for the long haul. Long-term investing reduces risk and increases gains.
When women invest, they invest in their freedom, their families, and a fairer future for everyone.
PS. Listen HERE to AYESHA'S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
