Break Barriers ft. Alina Patel

In today's world, many barriers remain in fields of work. Fields like engineering and business/finance are highly male-dominated, but there are still women working in these areas because gender barriers didn't stop them.

Recently, I got a chance to connect with Alina Patel, the founder of elevateHER_finance. She has given many presentations on investing, saving tips for kids, and future careers in finance. When asked about her motivation for founding this organization, she replied, "The motivation came from my personal experiences during business competitions, where I was often the only girl participating. This highlighted the need for better financial education and support for young girls, inspiring me to create an organization that addresses these gaps and promotes gender equality in finance and business." I found it intriguing how she experienced a real-life gender barrier and wanted to do something about it. Alina said, "It was very intimidating being the only girl in the room. I felt out of place and like I didn't belong in the finance world. I started taking the finance test at the competition and realized I knew a lot of the concepts. Once the test was over I realized I had placed first in the state! Looking out into the audience, I saw all the guys in my room cheering for me, making me feel like I belonged! The most important thing was believing in myself because I studied hard, and not feel inferior because of my gender."

Alina is a role model for many other girls/women who want to go into the finance world. She took her experiences, and made an Instagram page that anyone can follow to gain financial knowledge! ElevateHER_finance is an organization dedicated to empowering young girls by teaching them financial literacy and encouraging them to pursue careers in finance and business. She says, "The goal is to close the gender gap in financial education, fostering financial independence and confidence among young girls."

To connect with Inner Glow's mission, we asked her why financial literacy is important to avoid future problems that may affect mental health. She replied, "It enables individuals to make informed decisions, manage money effectively, and avoid debt. This reduces financial stress and anxiety, improving mental health and overall well-being."

To top it all off, Alina shares, "Seek out opportunities, and don't be afraid to be the only girl in the room. Your unique perspective is valuable, and breaking barriers will pave the way for others!" Clearly, Alina has paved the way for many individuals with dreams like hers. We can learn so much from her experiences like staying persistent, believing in yourself, and taking action when you notice something that needs to be fixed. Like Alina, go break barriers!