CEO: Zahraa Saifullah
Managing Editor: Nashmia Amir Butt
Creatively Directed by Kaniz Ali
Photography by Danny Singh
Make Up & Styling by Kaniz Ali
Hair by Maison De Poupee, Mayfair London
Shot in The Bilmore Mayfair, London UK
Interview by Kaniz Ali
In this exclusive issue Heeral Shah opens up to our international beauty editor Kaniz Ali on work, life and keeping a healthy balance.
KANIZ :- Talk to us about your background.
HEERAL:- I am the eldest of 3 children, I was born in London, to parents of Gujarati background from Kenya. I grew up in an extended family and was always surrounded by grandparents and cousins, aunties and uncles with endless supplies of home cooked food and lots of chatter.
KANIZ:- – What inspired you to head into the world of banking?
HEERAL – Blessed with parents, who although they arrived in the UK with very little, strived to provide my siblings and I with the best opportunities in life. Education has always been such a focus within the entrepreneurial and hard-working Gujarati community and particularly important for my immediate family. I aimed for no less than straight A’s when it came to my GCSE and A-Level exams. With some great advice from friends and family I was thrilled when I received my 3 As at A-Level in French, Maths and Economics and gained a place to read BSc Banking and International Finance (Hons) at the Bayes Business school in London. Whilst at University I was offered a Sponsorship on the Windsor Fellowship programme which resulted in a graduate role when I left university.
KANIZ: What aspect of the corporate and financial services do you enjoy the most?
HEERAL: The world of banking and finance is incredibly fast-paced, innovative and people focussed. The most fulfilling part is the human connection and collaborating. It’s about business development, interacting with clients and fostering innovation. Technology is playing an important role in disrupting the world of work, be it AI being used to drive efficiencies or technology being used to disrupt how we do things. That said, there will always be a need for people and the human interface. Initially, I did not realise how unique I was in the workplace, as a young Asian female. I now realise that I bring a completely different viewpoint to the table. Over the years, I have been hugely fortunate to have had some great leaders early on in my career who have mentored me, given me opportunities and guided me through my career. For me, it is important to pay it forward, and I have tried to do this through developing talent, by mentoring future leaders and creating an environment where people feel empowered to thrive.
KANIZ: What have been your favourite moments in the banking financial sector?
HEERAL: There are so many moments over the last 25 years, but one standout moment was leading on the government-backed lending schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring businesses had the support they needed during a critical time and working across all departments to develop these new products.
I also love championing initiatives around Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. In 2016, I founded an Employee Resource Group (internal network) for colleagues from Asian backgrounds, with the aim of creating an environment where all colleagues thrive in the workplace regardless of background, gender, ethnicity. We have created mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes as well as coaching programmes to support these colleagues and ensure that everyone has the same opportunities despite starting from different positions.
The current focus on ESG has brought a different element to my skill set and its super exciting to be part of this.
KANIZ:- What has been your biggest challenge to date?
HEERAL: Balancing leadership roles during the pandemic was particularly challenging. Managing risk, delivering government lending schemes, and ensuring the well-being of my team while navigating personal responsibilities of two young children who were being home-schooled required resilience and adaptability.
KANIZ: The world of banking and finance is very male dominated. How have you navigated this?
HEERAL: We are now in a world where diversity is celebrated as a business imperative to drive commercial value, however this was not always the case. I remember joining the world of Banking and in most cases being the only women at the table, I remember times when I had to work twice as hard as my male peers to get appointed on to a particular project or deal team; or to get recognised for the next promotion. I strive to be as inclusive a leader as possible and encourage my male colleagues to be conscious allies and advocates for the various lenses of diversity by using their privilege for others. This means, ensuring that I also show empathy as well as vulnerability to create safe spaces for others.
KANIZ: How do you maintain your physical and emotional health while working on demanding projects?
HEERAL: Balance is vital. Whether it’s carving out time for exercise, practising yoga and mindfulness, or prioritising meaningful moments with family, self-care is integral to sustaining energy and focus. As a family, we also spend time giving back to the local community as well as several charitable causes and not only does this provide grounding but also a sense of belonging. Finally, as I am getting older, I have prioritised my sleep, something that I have neglected for too many years, but I realise is essential for good mental and physical health
KANIZ: Name your favourite memorable moments in your career.
HEERAL: Being recognised as an Empower Role model by Involve the inclusion people and Yahoo Finance in 2019, named as an Inclusive Leader in 2021 and, and recently being named by Brummell on their Inspirational Women List in 2024. Not only is this a recognition but gives hope to all those coming up the career ladder.
KANIZ: How do you manage being a wife, mother, and working life?
HEERAL: It’s all about balance and support. My Gujarati roots taught me the value of community and family, which has been instrumental in managing responsibilities. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and my
husband and I are very fortunate to have the support of our parents and siblings. We share the home responsibilities and ensure we carve out quality time for our children. As a family, we set aside time every week for a family meeting, an open environment to bring anything, positive or negative, to the table. This practice is so important and powerful as it gives us insights into our beautiful children’s lives and teaches us to be better parents.
KANIZ: What are top 3 must-have makeup products?
HEERAL: For me, simplicity is key. A good foundation, a versatile lipstick, and a long-lasting mascara are essentials for a polished, professional look.
KANIZ: What do you like doing in your spare time?
HEERAL: I enjoy singing (Bollywood is my favourite), spending time with my family, and connecting with my
cultural roots through traditional home cooking. We love to travel as a family and explore new lands.
I am a member of YPO (Young Presidents Organisation) in London so that keeps me quite busy, a member of the finance committee for a charity, and I also teach Gujarati at my local school on Saturday mornings.
KANIZ:- What is the best advice you would give to someone starting their career in the world of banking/financial services?
HEERAL: Build your network, stay curious, and embrace resilience. Surround yourself with mentors and advocates who can guide your journey, and always strive to bring your authentic self to the table and believe in yourself. Try to stay up to date with industry developments by reading as much as possible.
KANIZ: What are your plans for the next 5 years?
HEERAL: I plan to continue leading impactful initiatives in finance, championing diversity, and mentoring the
next generation of leaders while finding ways to contribute to the community through sustainability initiatives.
KANIZ: How do you switch off and relax?
HEERAL: I love spending time with friends, be it going for a meal or a walk.
I love a good book, most recently read 4000 weeks, the CEO Activist by Leila McKenzie Delis and am looking forward to reading including: Don’t Fix Women, by Joy Burnford.
But more than anything, I do love a bit of binge-watching Netflix!
