An Insightful Interview With Linda Du Of Okta Investment GmbH

Can you share your leadership journey and what inspired you to become a leader in your field?

My leadership journey started with a deep belief in finance as a tool for empowerment. Early in my career, I worked with Kiva, supporting microfinance institutions in Southern Africa that provided capital access to entrepreneurs in underserved communities. That experience showed me how transformative financial inclusion could be. After earning my MBA from Yale, I worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, advising retail banks in the Middle East and Europe on strategy and innovation. But over time, I realized I wanted to build companies that reflected my own values. I founded Okta Investment GmbH, a private investment firm with SPVs focused on renewables and emerging markets, and later Moola Money, a software platform helping millennials and Gen Z gain affordable access to personalized financial guidance. Across both ventures, my focus has been on creating systems that democratize access — whether to investment opportunities or financial knowledge.
What key qualities do you believe are essential for a leader in today’s business world?
Today’s business world demands adaptability and resilience. Living and working across Southern Africa, the USA, the Middle East, and Europe taught me how to quickly adapt to different business cultures and lead across diverse environments. My expeditions, like kayaking in Greenland and cycling across continents, reinforce the importance of being a team player and being practical and resourceful in unpredictable conditions. Another essential quality is boldness despite differences. As a female Asian founder and investor operating in spaces where I’m the only one who looks like me, I’ve learned that leaning into what makes me different, rather than trying to fit a mold, has been critical to building authentic leadership and driving innovation.
Which company do you represent and in which industry does it operate?
I represent both the companies I founded, Okta Investment GmbH and Moola Money, which operate within the broader finance industry. Okta is a private investment company with experimental strategies targeting sustainable sectors and emerging markets. Moola Money is a fintech platform built to democratize financial education and guidance, helping individuals make smarter financial decisions without the high costs typically associated with traditional wealth management services.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations of women in business?
I hope to leave a legacy of empowering others to take control of their financial futures. Through running investment education workshops for women founder networks like Dreamers & Doers and Amela, I’ve seen firsthand how financial literacy can unlock leadership potential. My dream is to scale that impact further by making financial empowerment part of the foundation for future generations of women founders and leaders.
What steps do you believe the business world still needs to take to further support and empower women in leadership roles?
Businesses need to rethink traditional work structures. At Moola Money, we’ve organically built a founding team of women — CEO, COO, software engineer, and founder’s associate — by prioritizing talent and passion over stereotypes. Our team includes an aspiring pilot and software company founder, a top-notch corporate lawyer and COO and an independent asset manager. We’ve also embraced flexible working arrangements, including part-time contracts and remote-first policies, to support different life stages and realities, which sometimes mean team members call in from an AirBnB in Spain. Creating flexible, inclusive paths to leadership makes it easier for women to rise and stay in leadership roles.
What advice would you give to other leaders and entrepreneurs aspiring to drive innovation in their fields?
Start before you feel ready, because true innovation comes from iteration, not waiting for perfection. Build a strong, values-aligned network because innovation isn’t a solo journey. Surround yourself with people who push you to think bigger, stay on track and most importantly, laugh.
Who has been a key mentor or role model for you, and how has their influence helped shape your journey?
I’ve been fortunate to have powerful mentors and role models who also happen to be women of adventure. Ruth Storm, a leadership coach, helped me understand how emotional intelligence can be a source of strength in high-pressure business environments, and how to have your cake and eat it when it comes to having a family, career and adventure. Hannah McKeand, a polar explorer who holds multiple records for reaching the South Pole, has been another role model. Her example showed me that preparation, endurance, and mental toughness are transferable skills, and how to deftly manage team dynamics in harsh environments.
What changes do you think businesses should make to support women leaders?
Businesses need to normalize diverse leadership styles and institutionalize sponsorship programs. Sponsorship, where leaders actively advocate for women’s advancement, is far more powerful than mentorship alone. Putting more women in leadership and hiring positions can help to create change as women are more likely to hire other women – my all-female team at Moola is testament to that.
Can you discuss a significant challenge you faced as a leader and how you overcame it?
One of the greatest challenges I faced was navigating hostile work environments early in my career. It wasn’t just about difficult individuals, it was about cultures where competition was valued over collaboration, and politics over purpose. I overcame these experiences by staying deeply rooted in my values, setting my personal boundaries, and ultimately deciding to build my own companies where culture is intentional, positive, and empowering from the ground up.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders looking to make a difference in their respective fields?
Dare to build what doesn’t yet exist, and choose work that you genuinely believe in. When your work is aligned with your values, it’s much easier to find the perseverance needed to lead through challenges. Also, have the self-respect not to stay in environments where you are not valued or respected. Leadership starts with setting your own standards — knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to stay and build.
Brief us about your future roadmap?
For Okta Investment, I’m focused on expanding our portfolio of sustainable and impact-driven investments, continuing to channel capital toward initiatives that create long-term value. For Moola Money, we’re preparing to launch publicly in the UK, making accessible, affordable financial guidance available to a much broader audience. I’m excited to keep building ventures that are both commercially successful and deeply meaningful.