Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto: Pioneering Leadership in Investment Banking
- Childhood in Delhi and move to Mumbai
- Spent 15 years in Singapore and Jakarta managing a family office fund
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Overview
Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto, joins TBCY’s “Leaders Who Care” series for an inspiring conversation with host Mark Sadovnick. Covering her remarkable journey from India to Singapore and Indonesia, her personal challenges, breaking barriers as a woman in finance, and her thoughts on the future of AI, Vandana shares powerful insights for entrepreneurs and leaders alike.
00:51 — Who is Vandana Tolani? What is her early background and family story?
- Childhood in Delhi and move to Mumbai
- Spent 15 years in Singapore and Jakarta managing a family office fund
- Returned to India 12 years ago
- Raised two children as a single mother
- Personal loss and her mother’s influence
02:44 — What was Vandana like as a child and teenager?
- Quiet, curious, and disciplined in her studies
- Enjoyed creative hobbies such as drawing, painting, fashion, and beauty
- A lifelong learner who participated in skill-based workshops, including chocolate making
- Believes engaging in new experiences helps develop leadership skills
04:56 — Why did Vandana choose commerce and finance for higher education?
- Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai and an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)
- Developed an early interest in finance by following business news
- Naturally drawn to the business world and financial markets
- Dreamed of becoming a successful businesswoman from a young age
06:14 — How did Vandana transition into family offices and investments?
- Managed her in-laws’ family office in Singapore and Jakarta after marriage
- Gained experience in large-scale capital allocation and investment decisions
- Learned long-term portfolio management and investor thinking
- After her divorce, returned to India and became deeply involved with startups and angel investors
07:42 — What has it been like being a woman in finance and investment?
- Began her career when very few women were involved in financial decision-making
- Faced underestimation but remained focused on letting her work speak for itself
- Drew motivation from her passion for finance and her desire to inspire her children
- Founded Convanto (Consultant Vandana Tolani) after returning to India
10:19 — What challenges did she face as a woman and a woman of color in the investment world?
- Persistent global stereotypes that women cannot manage money effectively
- Determined to prove women’s capabilities in financial management
- Balanced single parenthood, work, and household responsibilities independently
- Built her career without a safety net and managed every challenge on her own
13:18 — How does Convanto help startups and growth-stage companies raise capital?
- Supports early-stage and growth-stage companies with fundraising, investor materials, and strategy
- Focuses on founder-investor alignment, clarity, and trust
- Has helped approximately 400 companies across 45 countries, along with six VC funds, raise capital
15:11 — How important are relationships and credibility in entrepreneurship?
- Strong client management leads to referrals and testimonials
- Values honesty, transparency, and long-term relationships
- Understands that not every deal succeeds, but transparency builds trust and understanding
17:12 — What is Vandana’s leadership and team management style?
- Offers flexible working hours without rigid attendance rules
- Does not deduct salaries for holidays and provides food and transportation, especially for women employees
- Empowers team members to make decisions and avoids micromanagement
- Focuses on developing confident, accountable leaders
19:39 — How are AI and technological transformation affecting founders and businesses?
- Points to demonetization and COVID-19 as catalysts for digital payments and virtual meetings
- Encourages businesses to adapt quickly to technological change
- Believes AI could replace many knowledge-based jobs, not just manual work
- Predicts a more human-centric future where ethics and the humanities will become increasingly important
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Vandana Tolani: LinkedIn
Enjoyed this podcast?
Vandana’s approach to fundraising is simple: “Trust is everything.” Raising capital isn’t just about numbers—it’s about clarity, communication, and alignment between founders and investors. To date, she has helped approximately 400 companies across 45 countries, along with six VC funds, raise capital.
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Profile
- Vandana Tolani is the Founder and CEO of Convanto, with extensive leadership experience across Asia.
- Her journey from India to Singapore and Indonesia reflects resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to breaking barriers, particularly for women in finance and business.
- Vandana is passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership development, and leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to drive business transformation.
