FINANCIER FASHIONISTA DEVIKA PATIL

FROM COUTURE TO CASH FLOW, THIS SILICON VALLEY POWERHOUSE IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. MODELLING HER EFFORTLESSLY CHIC WARDROBE FROM HER CALIFORNIA HOME, SHE TELLS HELLO! THAT SHE'S A TRUE DESI GIRL AT HEART, FINDING JOY IN WATCHING INDIA PLAY CRICKET AND RUSTLING UP PUNJABI DISHES FOR HER FAMILY OF FOUR

- PRIYA KUMARI RANA

I’m on a Zoom call with this Silicon Valley finance whiz, who’s immersed in the exciting world of venture debt, for companies raising money with seed financing — in today’s innovation economy. It’s postdinner time for the chic Devika Patil, dressed in a blue and white Dior sweater, who explains to me the intricacies of her financial job — one that has made her one of the most sought-after banking professionals in California.

THE SEXY WORLD OF INNOVATION BANKING

The Atherton-based Devika, who calls herself the “quintessential desi girl” (more on that later) at heart, was born in Mumbai. She spent her formative years in school in Geneva, speaking French and English (she’s fluent in Hindi as well), returned to Mumbai, then off to San Francisco for five years, then back to Mumbai to study at Xavier’s and the American School, and finally returned to US shores to finish her undergraduate degree in Economics at Tufts University (switching from pre-med). She was immediately hired by investment banking firm JP Morgan and lived the lucrative high life in New York City some two decades ago.

In 2006, Devika moved to the Bay Area, joining the Royal Bank of Scotland at the age of 28 while pregnant with her first child (her son Veyd), where she helped grow the office from one to 35 people. She took a break when her daughter Samaara was born, and then transitioned to a position in venture capital with Silicon Valley Bank, until her present bank, HSBC, happened. “I had never catered to the innovation economy, working with companies that don’t have Annual Realised Revenue yet, so we are the ones who bring them to the market,” says Devika, who is today Managing Director, HSBC Innovation Banking.