Building confidence, breaking barriers and staying invested

Praleena Mudley, Investment Solutions Strategist at 10X Investments, believes the best solutions start with the right questions. In this Q&A, she talks to MoneyMarketing about creating clarity in a complex industry, the barriers keeping women from investing, and why the conversations about women in finance are far from over.

What drew you to your current role, and how has your perspective on the finance industry changed along the way?

I have always enjoyed problem solving. That is what drew me to the solutions team at 10X Investments. We work with intermediaries to understand their challenges and develop investment solutions that are efficient, effective and appropriate for their clients.

What I enjoy most is moving from a broad problem to a practical outcome: asking the right questions, researching the options, testing potential approaches and finding a solution that addresses the client’s actual needs. At its core, the role is about creating clarity in an industry that can often feel complicated and overwhelming.

When I first entered the industry, I did so with limited knowledge, and it was overwhelming. I worried about how I would absorb everything and succeed in a role with such a steep learning curve. Fortunately, I was surrounded by people who encouraged me to ask questions, keep learning and challenge myself. That support showed me that confidence does not come from knowing everything at the beginning; it comes from being willing to learn.

My perspective on the industry shifted since I started. I have come to understand that finance is not only about markets and numbers. It is about helping people make important decisions. The industry will continue to change, and there will always be more to learn. What matters is staying curious and embracing the challenge.

10X’s Retirement Reality Report has consistently highlighted that South African women are less likely than men to invest for growth, with 53% having no retirement savings plan at all. From your vantage point, what do you see as the biggest barriers keeping women from investing, and how can advisers help break them down?

Education remains a significant barrier. When I speak to colleagues, friends and family, many people simply do not know where to begin. They may have access to information, but the volume of information can itself be overwhelming. Without a clear understanding of their options, people may delay or avoid investing altogether.

For women in particular, this can be compounded by factors such as unequal income, competing financial priorities, career interruptions and a lack of confidence in making investment decisions. The solution is not simply more information – it is clear, relevant guidance that helps clients understand what applies to them.

This is where advisers add significant value. Good financial advice is much like coaching: the client has a goal, and the adviser helps create a practical roadmap to get there. Advisers can cut through the noise, build confidence and provide clarity on what clients should focus on when planning for retirement and building long-term wealth.

In the current volatile environment, what should advisers be telling their female clients about staying the course and building long-term wealth?

2026 has brought its share of market volatility. We have seen market declines alongside periods in which markets reached new highs. While we cannot predict how long a drawdown or correction will last, history shows that markets have recovered over time.

During periods of uncertainty, advisers should be reinforcing the importance of sticking to a financial plan tailored to the client’s goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. They should also help clients distinguish between short-term market noise and long-term investment objectives.

For many clients, stepping back and avoiding emotional decisions can be difficult, particularly when confidence is already fragile. Advisers can add real value by explaining the plan, addressing concerns and reminding clients that consistent, disciplined actions often produce the most meaningful results over the long term. It may not be the most exciting conversation, but the boring and consistent choices are often the ones that led to great outcomes.

How do you see the intersection of investment data and practical advice shaping the way advisers serve their clients, particularly female investors?

Investment data provides the evidence that connects practical advice to real-world outcomes. For example, an adviser may explain that moving from a growth investment into cash during a market decline can mean missing the subsequent recovery. While a client may initially dismiss this, a clear illustration based on actual market data can make the potential impact more tangible.

Data can therefore transform an abstract concept into something clients can understand and relate to. It can also help advisers demonstrate why remaining invested, maintaining appropriate diversification and following a carefully designed plan are generally more effective than reacting to short-term market movements.

For female investors who may lack confidence or feel overwhelmed by investment decisions, clear and relevant data can be particularly powerful. It replaces uncertainty with evidence and helps make advice feel less intimidating.

There’s an ongoing debate about whether conversations around “women in finance” are still necessary or whether we’ve moved past the need for a gendered lens. What’s your view?

I do not think we have reached a point where these conversations are no longer necessary. Progress has been made, but representation and inclusion remain areas where the industry still has room to improve.

These conversations create space for women to share their experiences and highlight the barriers that may prevent them from entering, progressing or remaining in the industry. Representation is important, but so are access to meaningful opportunities, mentorship, sponsorship and pathways into leadership.

If we think about the next generation, we need to show young women that a career in finance is not only possible but also a place where they can make a meaningful contribution. Improving representation today can help create a more diverse and accessible industry for the future.

As a woman building a career in investment management, what advice would you give to other women entering the industry, and what changes would you most like to see in the next five years?

There is so much to learn in this industry, with many different avenues available. My advice to women entering finance is to do your research and understand the range of career paths open to them. It is easy to view the industry as a collection of traditional roles, but as the industry evolves, it offers opportunities across investment management, advice, research, technology, operations, governance and many other areas.

I would encourage women to ask questions, build their technical knowledge, seek mentors and develop a strong professional network. They should not underestimate the value of their transferable skills or assume they need to know everything before they begin. Curiosity, resilience and a willingness to learn can be just as important as technical expertise.

Over the next five years, I would like to see more women entering, progressing and remaining in the industry. That requires organisations to cultivate genuinely inclusive cultures, encourage mentoring, and create fair pathways to leadership. Greater representation is important, but the ultimate goal should be an industry in which women have equal opportunities to contribute and advance.