Inspiring Woman, Rohini Finch makes her mark

Rohini with Sir David Attenborough

Rohini Finch on careers and staying true to yourself

When we first asked Rohini to write in this feature, she was reluctant. She doesn’t see herself as inspirational in any way. “I am just someone who made the most of the opportunities presented and had a lot of luck along the way. All I have is a few insights to share as an Asian woman of a certain age, who has negotiated male dominated environments”, she says. Here’s her fascinating journey.

Wimbledon-based Rohini Finch spent her early career working in the oil industry, as a chemical engineer and an oil trader at Texaco and Vitol. She has served as Chairman and trustee to the World Land Trust. With her husband Bob, she founded Generations, a charity donating to causes supporting children, sport and environmental issues. The charity supports several local causes, including Regenerate, Momentum, Stem4, Homestart Merton and Jigsaw4u. Rohini is also co-founder of Talis Capital, a Wimbledon-based venture capital firm. I was born a British Indian in Tanzania, and my family moved to the UK when I was nine in 1972. The UK was a very different world in the 70’s. It was tough for many, in fact most people. Racism was overt and ugly. It felt as though we immigrants dreamt small and held our communities close. But

I wholeheartedly thank the UK for a state funded, well-rounded education, which included metalwork, woodwork, needlework alongside academia. I went on to study chemical engineering at UMIST.

Upon graduating, in 1985, after a struggle to land a job as a female engineer, I joined Texaco as a process engineer at their refi nery in Pembroke, Wales. I was the fi rst female engineer and the fi rst person of colour onsite. The fi rst few months were the most unpleasant experience of my life with racism, sexism, bullying so overt that I was openly reduced to tears. But that was one person only. The other 150+ people onsite were Team Rohini and could not have been kinder and more supportive. I have nothing but fond memories of that time.

What did I learn? That racism exists in the ignorant and small minded at every level of society. I learnt never to accept it or internalise it. I learned to stand tall and selfassured knowing that the vast majority of people are kind and respectful and always try to speak to that part of them. I am disappointed in myself that I did not make lasting changes in the places that I went, and I am in awe of today’s young people who are fi erce in demanding change.

In 1987, age 24, I transferred to Texaco’s head offi ce in Knightsbridge to trade oil for the company and simultaneously study for an MBA at the London Business School. The LBS was nothing short of transformational. A next level education that was engaging and insightful delivered by inspirational lecturers to us, as adults not troublesome undergraduates. I continued to enjoy a career in oil trading, eventually joining the energy trading giant Vitol in 1992, as their fi rst female trader. What did I learn about sexism from my years as a trader? As with racism, it manifests in overt ways and subtle ways. Often, you are not even aware that you are considered ‘less’. It is subtle and insidious and runs through every part of society from the workplace to ones’ own household. There is no magic bullet but a daily challenge. And, I am certain that change will only come if we women support and encourage each other, leading by example.

I eventually left the markets when my best friend took her own life in the throes of a nervous breakdown. I could not talk of this without crumbling for almost a decade. It was a wakeup call that forced me to properly value what is important and what is not. My ever-supportive husband and I set up a family foundation, Generations, that allowed us to support the causes that are dear to us. My husband is a Wimbledon born and bred family man, so we have the privilege to be able to support the many people working tirelessly for our local community.

I have always loved the natural world, and studied at UMIST as they offered a pollution control module. I had donated monthly from my meagre student allowance to WWF and Greenpeace since 1983 and continued to do so throughout my trading years. I deepened my support through a wonderful charity called The World Land Trust. They raise money to save the most critically endangered biodiversity rich hotspots in the world. We became supporters in 2006 and I was fortunate enough to serve as trustee and Chairman with Sir David Attenborough as our patron.

In 2008, we set up our own Wimbledon based family offi ce, which has grown into the venture capital business Talis Capital. We invest in exciting entrepreneurs that are leading the technology revolution that is transforming every aspect of our society.

And fi nally, lessons learnt from a long career are in place. At Talis, CSR (corporate social responsibility) is centre stage. Our team is multinational representing Italy, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and of course India. We are more than 50% female led and maternity and paternity policy is shaped to understand that to keep talent, especially female talent, we must offer access to a different career path. n

Change will only come if we women support and encourage each other, leading by example

To read more please go to darlingmagazine.co.uk to darlingmagazine.co.uk

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