It’s Women’s History Month, and we’re thrilled to have sat down with powerhouse leaders from PFG portfolio companies to discuss building culture and relationships, finding flexibility at work, and how things have changed for women over the past few decades — and what we as a society still have left to work on.
Meet Our Leaders
Rachel Gatehouse, co-CEO at Vamp, brings experience in banking and financial services to her current role at the global influencer marketing platform.
Ancila Desai, Chief Administrative Officer at MedAdvisor Solutions, took an unconventional path to leadership, beginning her career in music before transitioning to finance.
Emma Stepcic, Chief Financial Officer at Envirosuite, built an extensive career at the intersection of finance and technology. Her expertise spans managing complex financial operations, corporate restructurings, business transformations, and technology integrations.
The Connection Advantage: From Playground to Boardroom
“I went to a seminar where they talked about studies of children in the playground,” Gatehouse recalls. “They studied girls in the playground, and their first point of contact is very much about making a connection. ‘Oh, my mom plays tennis.’ ‘Oh, my mom plays tennis, too!’ ‘That’s so cool!’ And you try and build a connection.”
The contrast with typical male interaction patterns was illuminating: “Then they studied boys in the playground, and sometimes they’re more likely to say, ‘I can jump higher than you.’ ‘No, I can jump higher than you!’ So, it’s more a point of competition.”
Gatehouse has seen this dynamic play out in the boardroom: “I noticed that sometimes in the workforce – that’s always stuck with me. Sometimes, I’m trying to accommodate: is this a moment where I make a point of connection with someone? Or is it a competitive play? My preference is always the connection,” she says.
Overcoming Barriers: Finding Voice and Visibility
“Like many women in finance and tech, I’ve had to navigate the challenge of being heard in rooms where I was often the only woman,” Desai explains. “I tackled this by focusing on preparation and performance — ensuring that when I spoke, my insights were backed by solid analysis and strategic thinking.”
“Another challenge was breaking out of traditional finance roles,” Desai continues. “CFOs are no longer just financial stewards — we’re strategic enablers of growth. Making that shift required me to continuously upskill, embrace technology, and expand my perspective beyond financial metrics to broader business strategy.”
The result? “Today, strong CFOs are not just welcomed to the table but expected to play a leading role in shaping the future of the business.”
Stepcic’s experience mirrors this evolution, too. As a woman who has risen to C-suite ranks in both finance and tech-driven companies, Stepcic exemplifies the growing impact of women in these fields. Her appointment as CFO of Envirosuite in late 2024 was celebrated for bringing “a wealth of knowledge in both corporate and international tax as well as local and international commercial finance,” giving her “the perfect background for a company experiencing growth and in need of business transformation.”
Stepcic has acknowledged that empowering women in leadership leads to better business outcomes, citing research that shows companies with more women executives tend to outperform those with fewer. Her perspective aligns with growing evidence that gender-diverse leadership teams drive innovation and improved financial performance, and she’s not just talk: Under its diversity initiatives, Envirosuite set an ambitious target to reach 40% women in its workforce. A commitment that echoes International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 theme of ‘Accelerate Action.’
All three leaders’ experiences highlight how the challenges women face have often forged distinctive leadership qualities that have tangible business value:
- Thoroughness and precision in preparation that leads to more robust analysis
- Finely-tuned skills in building consensus and facilitating collaborative decision-making
- Ability to connect financial metrics to broader business impacts and human outcomes
Technology: The Great Equalizer for Women Leaders
All three women highlight the ways in which technology has removed traditional barriers, and created unprecedented flexibility, which revolutionized what work can look like — especially for working mothers.
Desai describes technology as “a great equalizer” with transformative impact: “AI, automation, and digital platforms are removing traditional barriers to entry, making it easier for women to access opportunities, launch businesses, and scale their impact.”
The Crucial Role of Mentorship
For Desai, mentorship has been “instrumental. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who pushed me beyond my comfort zone, encouraged me to take risks, and helped me see my potential before I fully recognized it myself.”
She distinguishes between mentorship (guidance) and sponsorship (active advocacy): “Having strong sponsors has opened doors to new opportunities and reinforced the importance of visibility in leadership.”
All three leaders now prioritize mentoring other women, creating a virtuous cycle of female leadership development. As Desai puts it: “Once you get a seat at the table, pull up a chair for the next generation.”
Stepcic is equally committed to paving the way for more women in technology and finance. She supports organizational efforts to mentor and promote women, and Envirosuite’s leadership works to “create pathways for women in tech leadership.” The company has noted that it is fortunate to have strong women at the top and supportive male allies, emphasizing that “change happens when we collectively make an effort…when we ‘move as one’.”
All three leaders now prioritize mentoring other women, creating a virtuous cycle of female leadership development. As Desai puts it: “Once you get a seat at the table, pull up a chair for the next generation.”
Words of Wisdom for the Next Generation
Desai is emphatic about self-advocacy: “Own your narrative. Your background, experiences, and unique perspective are your strengths—lean into them.” She addresses a common pattern she’s observed: “Women often wait until they feel 100% ready before pursuing opportunities, but growth happens outside of comfort zones.”
She reminds women to “speak up, take on challenges that scare you, and build a strong network of mentors and sponsors. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning, adapting, and creating impact.”
Gatehouse returns to her core insight about cultural alignment: “Just to be really intentional and thoughtful around the culture that you choose. If you’re in a company and it’s not working out, often it’s not about you. Often it is just a cultural mismatch. Sometimes it’s okay to just say, you know what, it’s not me, it’s not you, it’s just us. And I’m going to go over here and really thrive.”
Stepcic’s career choices reflect this wisdom, too. Through her professional journey across multiple countries and industries, she has demonstrated that finding the right cultural fit is essential.
This insight cuts to the heart of what all three leaders demonstrate: effective leadership isn’t about forcing square pegs into round holes or maintaining outdated practices. It’s about creating environments where people can do their best work, understanding that financial success follows when you get the underlying human elements right.
That’s our takeaway this Women’s History Month: not that women necessarily lead differently, but that the approaches these leaders have developed offer precisely what modern organizations need: leaders who balance connection with competition and who understand culture as strategy.
