This month, we're sharing the story of Prarthana Shetty, MFE '22, who's making her mark in the world of quantitative finance. Prarthana's journey offers valuable lessons, especially for women, in navigating this challenging and rewarding field.
Prarthana was drawn to quantitative finance because it combines her love of numbers, finance, and coding. "I was looking for a field that didn’t force me to choose between disciplines,” she said. "I loved that [quantitative finance] rewarded intellectual rigor, but also demanded creativity and adaptability. For someone like me — who thrives on solving hard problems with elegance and intention — it just felt like home."
Coming to the Berkeley MFE, the program's rigorous coursework pushed her to develop both her technical skills and her ability to guide others, something reflected in the current MFE class where nearly one-third are women. "I learned that good leadership isn't just about being smart," Prarthana said. "It's about listening, speaking clearly, and having the courage to stand by your ideas."
However, being a woman in a field traditionally dominated by men has come with its own set of challenges. "I had to confront the internal pressure to constantly prove my worth," Prarthana admits. "Over time, I realized that confidence isn’t something you wait for. I’ve had to unlearn the belief that I needed to be perfect to speak up, and instead lean into being prepared, curious, and unapologetically ambitious."
She points to the lack of female representation and the constant pressure to exceed expectations as significant hurdles. "When you don’t see people who look like you in leadership or technical roles, it subtly reinforces the idea that you have to work twice as hard just to belong," she said. And beyond these external challenges, there’s also the psychological effect of imposter syndrome that comes from being in a historically underrepresented field. "There’s an invisible tax many women carry," Prarthana said. "Tackling these barriers requires both systemic change and a shift in how we empower women to take up space confidently."
Fortunately, Prarthana was able to find a network of women in the Berkeley MFE that has carried her beyond the MFE program itself. "Having a group of women who understood not just the academic demands, but also the unique challenges we face in this industry, created a layer of support that went beyond coursework," Prarthana said. "That community helped me navigate the program with more confidence and perspective, and it’s a bond that’s continued even after graduation."
Ultimately, supporting women within the financial engineering space goes beyond diversity statements and comes down to sustained efforts in building culture. "Creating spaces where women feel not just welcome, but genuinely seen, heard, and valued," Pratharna said. "That’s when we stop talking about inclusion as an initiative and start living it as a norm."
Until then, Prarthana’s advice for women who are considering a career in quantitative finance or financial engineering is to take up space. "Don’t wait to be invited into the conversation," Prarthana said. "Own your ambition unapologetically, and build a career that reflects your values and strengths. And as you grow, make room for others. Empowered women empower women — and the more we lead with intention, the more we change the spaces we step into."
