Numerix is thrilled to announce that we have selected the recipient of our 2024 Women in Finance Scholarship. Jaya Gaur will use her $20,000 financial award to pursue a master's degree in financial engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Jaya is eager to further her education and make an impact on an industry where women have traditionally been underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles.
About our Winner
Jaya has a long-standing passion for finance, which is evident in her educational history and her impressive quantitative roles at leading financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments and others.
Jaya’s interest in capital markets and risk management stems from a profound curiosity about the dynamic interactions between financial instruments, market forces, and global economic indicators. She comments, “Financial markets are a cornerstone of the global economy, facilitating the allocation of resources, investment decisions, and economic growth. This complexity captivates me as it requires a blend of analytical rigor, strategic thinking, and real decision-making.”
Jaya describes that risk management is an area that particularly fascinates her due to its domino effect on the financial system, especially on lending institutions. “In the beginning of my career, I witnessed the collapse of a major Asset Management firm and how it led to incredible losses for some of the biggest investment banks in the world due to the amount of leverage offered. This led to enhancing margin calculation models to incorporate non-traditional data sources like Reddit chats and leveraging positions across other lenders.”
Once Jaya finishes her education and gains additional experience in finance, her goal is to return to her home country, India. “I’m excited to use my experience in order to help shape the financial landscape in India, which I believe is up and coming, particularly in the last 5-10 years,” she commented. “I plan to establish my own portfolio management firm, leveraging the talented young population in India, giving them opportunities for career advancement in their own country.”
Outside of her education and career aspirations, Jaya enjoys several hobbies, such as reading, basketball, dance and she will soon be obtaining her level one certification for sailing.
Jaya is grateful for the opportunity that Numerix has given her with the scholarship award. When asked if she could give any words of advice to other women coming up in this field, she commented, “Each year, more women are breaking into traditionally male-dominated fields like finance, as employers increasingly recognize the value a diverse workforce brings to their organizations. This trend is incredibly encouraging. Women should seize every opportunity in finance, actively network, and, once they secure their dream jobs, never hesitate to voice their ideas and opinions. Importantly, they should always take credit for their contributions."
Empowering Women in Finance
The Women in Finance Scholarship is an initiative aimed at supporting and empowering women pursuing advanced degrees in finance. This scholarship program was started and run by FINCAD in 2014 and continued under Numerix following FINCAD's acquisition in April 2023. With an award of $20,000, Numerix stands committed to providing financial assistance to help one woman each year achieve her educational goals and succeed in the finance industry. We are honored to help accelerate the scholarship recipient’s successful path into a career in finance or the capital markets.
Additional Information
Learn more about our Women in Finance scholarship opportunity here. You can read about last year’s winner in the 2023 scholarship announcement blog.