Women are reshaping the world of different investments, driven by growing wealth, greater financial literacy and expanded access to latest platforms. From healthcare innovations to blockchain-powered opportunities, women usually are not only investing more but are redefining what success looks like in alternatives. The future is evident: women are changing the choice investment landscape.
This post is the second in a two-part series providing insights into women and alternative investing today from the angle of greater than 50 financial industry executives from around the globe. Here I share among the key highlights and choose quotes which were edited for clarity.
When we discuss women and alternative investments, all the pieces we discuss is a component of a broader context of economics, monetary policy, regulatory frameworks, politics and culture. This is especially true of the “money culture”. These elements are sometimes interrelated and vary significantly by country or region, as the next findings show.
Women’s wealth is growing. The same goes for his or her need for financial mastery
The ongoing intergenerational wealth transfer is accelerating, with women poised to play a number one role. Women reside longer, inheriting family wealth and becoming vital decision-makers for his or her financial future.
“Women are breadwinners and earn more for their families while having more control over their finances,” emphasized Alicia Syrett, founder and CEO of Pantegrion Capital and founding father of Madam Chair, New York.
Caroline Miller, an independent business leader based in Montreal, Canada, noted: “Women are moving from the high-spending phase of raising children to managing the finances of aging parents and maintaining their lifestyle despite rising costs. Your goal is not just financial literacy, but financial literacy.”
This shift is resulting in a brand new wave of female investors who’re able to navigate the complex financial landscape with confidence and long-term strategies.
New platforms and tokenization: A blessing for ladies
Digital transformation has democratized investment opportunities and made alternative investments more accessible than ever. “Fintech tools like robo-advisors and AI-driven platforms simplify the process and provide transparency and convenience for retail investors,” explained Sofia Beckman, co-founder and partner at North House in Stockholm.
Diana Biggs, partner at 1kx in Zug, Switzerland, noted: “Tokenization is a game-changer – removing traditional barriers like check size and gender, enabling smaller investments and expanding access to private equity for women.”
Hanna Pri-Zan, chairwoman of Israel Experience in Tel Aviv, highlighted Israel’s progress: “In 2010, only 30% of women had securities accounts. Today, thanks to easier account setup and digital platforms, that number has increased to 42%.”
Platforms like Moon trip And Crowdcube “Allow retail investors to enter the private equity space with smaller stakes, breaking the longstanding exclusivity of the super-rich,” noted Callum Woodcock, CEO of WineFi in London.
Healthcare is the #1 sector of interest
HealthTech and FemTech have emerged as leading sectors of interest to female investors as women discover gaps in healthcare innovation. “Women know how to invest in the health and wellness sector because they understand these needs firsthand,” said Alice Tang, chief operating officer at MA Asset Management in Sydney.
Charlotte Beyer, founder and executive director of the Quest Foundation and founding father of the Institute for Private Investors in New York, shared her excitement: “I invested in a company that is working on a birth control pill for men. Women are driving breakthrough innovations that challenge traditional health norms.”
Anna Pearson, co-founder of Harriet in Singapore, highlighted the difficulties inside FemTech: “The market is expected to reach $60 billion by 2027, yet many companies are still struggling to secure funding secure. This highlights the need for greater support in this critical sector.”
Invest in culture
Cultural dynamics play a very important role in women’s engagement in alternative investments. In male-dominated regions like Switzerland, women will be cautious and never spend money on things they do not understand, while men sometimes jump in with overconfidence, observed Peter Wüthrich, advisory investor at Gehrenholz GmbH in Zurich
In contrast, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia and Turkey have greater gender parity within the region, in line with my interviewees. Metin Aslantaş, Partner and TMT Country Leader at Deloitte in Istanbul, commented: “Turkish women are investing strategically, focusing on lower-risk products and staying in the game longer. They often outperform their male counterparts when it comes to long-term success.”
JoAnn Fan, enterprise capitalist and executive director of Cheng-An Investment Company in Taipei, added: “Many women here are second-generation family business leaders. They are actively expanding their portfolios with private equity and private credit and demonstrate a strong commitment to alternative assets.”
Regulatory framework and guidelines
Regulations have a serious impact on access to alternative investments. Anna Jonsson, CEO of Storebrand Asset Management in Stockholm, noted: “Strict rules for marketing illiquid products require extensive onboarding processes, which can deter potential investors, especially women.”
In India, Hansi Mehrotra, founding father of The Money Hans in Bengaluru, pointed to revolutionary solutions corresponding to gold bonds: “They offer a 2.5% yield and exposure to gold without the effort of physical storage, making them attractive to conservative investors. “
Meanwhile, in Australia, Anna Shelley, chief investment officer at AMP in Melbourne, highlighted the country’s value-driven culture: “Our pension system focuses on low-fee, high-performance products. Fund managers with high fees don’t even bother entering this market.”
Geopolitics and alternative investments
Geopolitical aspects influence investment trends, particularly in Ukraine and Lithuania. Olga Burenko, vp of investment banking at Dragon Capital in Kyiv, shared: “War memorabilia has become an investment in resilience – telling the story of our brave people and their sacrifices.”
Nora Laurinaityte, green finance expert at INVEGA in Vilnius, Lithuania, highlighted the change in perception: “Defense technology, like drones and radar systems, is no longer seen as macho. These investments are practical tools for resilience and security.”
Pension systems and tax policy
Pension systems and tax policies vary greatly across regions and shape women’s investment behavior. Judith Sanders, sustainable investment strategist at ABN AMRO Bank NV in Amsterdam, noted: “Our pension system reduces the need for aggressive private capital investment, but as social costs rise this may change.”
In Eastern Europe, tax-subsidized retirement plans encourage long-term investments. Kateřina Bendová, a financial advisor in Prague, noted: “These plans are great opportunities, but many older generations are still hesitant to fully embrace them.”
Lack of alternatives in some regions
In certain countries there’s a big shortage of alts and alt investors (men or women). In cash-driven societies corresponding to Japan and China, a conservative investment culture can hinder the adoption of different investments.
Stephanie Leung, Chief Investment Officer of StashAway in Hong Kong SAR, China, summed up the environment: “The traditional investment culture in Asia revolves around cash: cash accounts for 40% of personal financial assets.” For comparison: each Europe and the United States States have money reserves within the range of 15% to 18%. The idea of “hiding” money within the bank has been around for a really very long time in Asia, and in contrast to Europe or the United States, there’s a scarcity of monetary advice there, which makes matters worse.”
Keiko Sydenham, CEO and co-founder of LUCA Japan Co. in Tokyo, lamented that many individuals lack a high level of monetary literacy and are unaware of alternatives and due to this fact have no idea what they need to take a position in.
Social changes
The rise of ladies in alternative investments is just not only a financial trend, but a social change. As women gain greater access to wealth, financial literacy and revolutionary investment platforms, they’re breaking barriers and shaping the longer term of alts in unprecedented ways. From driving advances in HealthTech and FemTech to leveraging digital tools that democratize access, women are driving change not only for themselves, but for your entire investment landscape. Their influence expands opportunity, encourages innovation and ensures alternative investments reflect the various needs of a changing world. The message is evident: the longer term of alts is increasingly female and the industry is stronger consequently.
For a deeper dive into my in-depth interviews this summer, try Women & Alts: A Global Perspective. white paper.
