TIMES
Rising Strong in Law, Fintech & Life
Inanagewhereindustriesarereshapedbyinnovation,integrity,and inclusiveleadership,certainindividualsstandoutnotonlyfortheir achievementsbutfortheimpacttheycreateacrosstheecosystem.Inthis prestigiouseditionofENTIMESMagazine,“MostInspiringBusiness Leaderof2025,”weareproudtofeatureatrailblazerwhoseinfluencespans law,technology,andglobalbusinesstransformation—MarieChowdhry.
Marie’sjourneyisaremarkabletestamenttowhatmodernleadershiplooks liketoday AsaPartnerandformerGeneralCounsel,shehasearned recognitionontheWomeninFinTechPowerlist(2023&2024)andhasbeen aLexisNexisWomeninLaw—GCoftheYearFinalist(2023&2024), affirmingherexcellenceattheintersectionofregulatoryleadership,financial innovation,andstrategicgovernance.Herabilitytonavigatecomplexlegal landscapeswhileempoweringteamsandshapingethical,future-ready organizationssetsherapartasaleaderwhoseinfluenceextendsfarbeyond hertitles.
WhatmakesMarietrulyinspiringisherunwaveringcommitmentto elevatingothers.Shechampionsdiversity,strengthensethicalframeworks, andleadswithaforward-thinkingmindsetthatcontinuestoredefine standardsinboththelegalandfintechsectors.Hervoiceisonethatpushes industriestowardgreatertransparency,innovation,andinclusion.
Aswepresentthisedition,weinviteyoutoexploreMarieChowdhry’s exceptionaljourney—onethatembodiesresilience,vision,andthepower ofleadershiprootedinpurpose.
ONTENT S T ABLE OF 08. 16. 24. 32.
Marie
Chowdhry Partner | Pinsent Masons LLP
The Digital Money Revolution: How FinTech Is Rewriting the Rules of Global Finance
Rachel Koretsky FOUNDER AND CEO | Upace
The Future of Justice: How Technology Is Transforming the Global Legal Landscape
MARIE CHOWDHRY
RISING STRONG IN LAW, FINTECH &
LIFE
PARTNER PINSENT MASONS LLP
OwningSpaceasaWoman
Navigatingmale-dominatedsectorslikefinance andtechwasn’talwaysseamless.Intheearly days,Marieoftenfoundherselfover-preparing justtobetakenseriously.Butwithtime,she learnedthepowerofauthenticityandself-trust.
Oneofhergreatestassets?Mentorshipand community.Frominformaldinnergroupswith high-performingwomentoformal organizationsliketheUAEWomeninLaw, Mariehasconsistentlyleanedintonetworks thatempower.“Themostimpactfulmentorship oftencamefromorganicrelationships,”she shares.
Herleadershipisnowareflectionofthat journeyrootedinconfidence,vulnerability,and thedrivetoliftothers.
InclusionThroughEverydayAction
Mariedoesn’tbelieveinperformative leadership.Heradvocacyfordiversity,equity, andinclusionisquiet,consistent,and intentional.
Whetherit’smentoringaspiringlawyers, speakingatregionallegalsummits,or embeddinginclusivegovernanceframeworks intocompliancestructures,sheleadsby example.Weallcarrycertainprivileges. Recognizingthemisthefirststeptousingthem responsibly,shesays.ForMarie,realchange happensinhowwehire,howwelead,andhow weopendoorsforothers.
ModernLeadershipMeansListening
Intoday’stech-drivenworld,Mariebelieves thatgloballeadershipislessaboutcontroland moreaboutcuriosityandcollaboration.She championsopen-mindedness,especiallywhen innovationandregulationgohead-to-head.
Thebestleadersstaycuriousandask:WhatamI missing?shesays.ForMarie,presencemattersmore thanubiquity.It’saboutshowingup,listening,andbeing adaptableenoughtochallengeyourownassumptions.
StayingGrounded,StayingClear
Behindeveryhigh-performingleaderisagrounding force.ForMarie,that’shervalues.Regularreflection, thesupportoftrustedcolleaguesandfamily,andstaying anchoredinpurposearehertoolsforresilience.
“Leadershipandthepressurethatcomeswithitisa privilege,”shenotes.Thatsimplemindsetshiftkeeps herlaser-focusedonimpact,notnoise.
ImpactThroughEmpowerment
Whenaskedwhatlegacyshehopestoleave,Marie’s responseistelling:“Empowerment.”Sheenvisionsa futurewhereregulationbecomesaplatformfor innovation,notanobstacle.Afuturewherelawand financeareshapedbydiverse,boldvoices.
IwanttoberememberednotjustforwhatIbuilt,butfor whoIliftedalongtheway,shesays.Andtruly,that’s whatmakesMarieChowdhry’sleadershipstorynotjust remarkablebutreplicable.She’snotjustbreaking borders;she’sbuildingblueprintsforotherstofollow.
Conclusion
MarieChowdhry’sjourneyismorethanatestamentto globallegalandfintechsuccess;it’sareflectionofwhat modernleadershiptrulylookslike:groundedin empathy,sharpenedbyexperience,anddrivenby purpose.Herabilitytonavigatecomplexborderslegal, cultural,andpersonalshowsthatthemostimpactful leadersarethosewholistendeeply,leadboldly,and upliftothersalongtheway
Inaworldwheretheruleskeepchanging,Mariedoesn’t justadapt;sheempowers.Andindoingso,sheisn’tjust leading;she’slightingthepathforthosewhodareto leaddifferently.
moreclients,increaserevenue,andmakeagreatersocietalimpact.Forentrepreneursnavigatingthe digitalage,Rachel’sjourneyhighlightstheimportanceofstayingflexible,seizingtheright opportunities,andalwaysaligningdecisionswithcorevalues.
BuildingaLastingLegacy
Beyondhercompany,Rachel’slegacyextendstoherfamilyandtheentrepreneurialcommunityshehas helpedbuild.Asaco-founderofDCStartupandTechWeek,shehascultivatedathrivingecosystemfor over15,000entrepreneursandtechleaders.Hercontributionsgobeyondbusinesssuccess;theyfostera cultureofcollaboration,learning,andsupportforthoseembarkingontheirownentrepreneurial journeys.
Ultimately,Rachel’smissionistostrengthencommunityspacesthatservepeopleacrossalllifestages. ThroughUpace,sheisnotonlyadvancingdigitalsolutionsbutalsoreinforcingthehumanconnections thatmakerecreationcentersindispensabletocommunitywell-being.Herworkcontinuestoshapea futurewheretechnologyempowers,connects,andenhanceslives.
Final Thoughts: Lessons from Rachel Koretsky’s Journey
RachelKoretsky’sstoryisoneofresilience, strategicrisk-taking,andunwaveringdedication tohervision.Aspiringentrepreneurscandraw invaluableinsightsfromherexperiences:
• TrustYourInstincts:Ifyourguttellsyouto taketheleap,doit—evenifitmeansstepping intouncertainty.
• BuildaSupportSystem:Surroundyourself withmentors,peers,andcommunitiesthat provideguidanceandencouragement.
• StayAdaptable:Marketshiftsandchallenges areinevitable;yourabilitytopivotwilldefine yoursuccess.
• PrioritizePurpose:Alignyourbusinesswith amissionthatdrivesyoubeyondfinancial success.
• FindYourWork-LifeHarmony: Entrepreneurshipisamarathon,nota sprint—createarhythmthatallowsyouto thriveinbothprofessionalandpersonal spheres.
Rachel’sleadershipandvisioncontinuetoinspire entrepreneursandbusinessleadersalike,proving thatinnovationandcommunityimpactcango handinhand.Herlegacyisoneofmeaningful change,shapingafuturewheretechnologyand humanconnectionconvergetobuildstronger, healthiercommunities.
