In the world of finance, where wealth has long been concentrated in the hands of a select few, Ayesha Ofori is on a mission to financially empower women. As the Founder and CEO of Propelle, the UK’s first investment platform designed specifically for women, Ofori is tackling the gender wealth gap head-on. She appeared on Lámidé Elizabeth’s podcast and shared her journey from banker to startup founder.

Banking At Goldman Sachs

Ayesha Ofori’s journey began in London, where she excelled academically from a young age. Her aptitude for numbers led her to a career in banking, eventually landing her a prestigious role at Goldman Sachs. While working in wealth management, she witnessed firsthand the staggering levels of wealth among the firm’s clientele—tens, hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars, with Goldman Sachs requiring a minimum of $10 million just to open an account.

Despite her success in banking, Ayesha became increasingly disillusioned with her role. She found herself questioning the impact of her work, realizing that she was primarily making the already wealthy, predominantly white men, even richer.

Meanwhile, she saw a glaring gap in the financial landscape: women were underrepresented in investing, not because of a lack of interest, but due to systemic barriers in education, community, and accessible technology. That realization set her on the path to creating a solution.

The Birth of Propelle

Ayesha’s own financial freedom began with real estate investing. Her portfolio grew to the point where she no longer needed a salary, giving her the independence to walk away from her banking career and fully commit to her passion: closing the wealth gap for women. That passion materialized into Propelle, a fintech platform designed to make investing accessible, engaging, and community driven for women.

According to Propelle, there are 3.3 million fewer women investing in the UK compared to men. She built the platform to change that by offering data-driven insights, jargon-free education, and a supportive community, ensuring women feel confident in their wealth building journey.

“While our individual financial goals will likely differ, we are united in our mission for all women to be financially free…whatever that may look like for them,” Propelle’s mission statement reads.

Ayesha understands that wealth isn’t just about numbers in a bank account, it’s about financial independence, security, and the ability to make empowered choices. Through Propelle, she’s creating a new narrative where investing isn’t an exclusive club for the ultra-rich, dismantling outdated structures that have historically sidelined women in finance.

Through her work, she’s ensuring that every woman has the tools to claim financial freedom.