Aastha Sood

Head of Payments Growth @ PhonePe

About

In my career spanning over 15 years across India and Singapore, I've worked in both large corporations and early-stage startups. I made the move from banking to consumer/fin tech four years ago, wanting to pursue a deep interest to build and scale user-first products. Currently, I head the growth charter for all payment products at PhonePe, India's leading UPI app. Prior to this, I've led Product Management for the Payments and Investments verticals at Jupiter, a financial wellness app, aiming to reinvent the way millions of young Indians interact with their money. In my past avatar as a banker, I’ve spent over a decade at Credit Suisse in Singapore and ICICI Securities in India, advising clients and relationship managers on investment portfolios across market segments, from corporate treasuries to HNI (high net worth) to retail.

Country

India

City

Bangalore Urban

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

Growth Strategies, Strategic Partnerships, User Experience (UX), Market Research, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Strategy, Investment Management, Investment Strategies, Investment Portfolios, Impact Investing, Competitive Analysis, Product Management, Product Road Mapping, Strategic Roadmaps, Product Marketing, Portfolio Management, Investments, Financial Modeling, Structured Products, Private Equity

Experience

Head of Payments Growth

PhonePe

2025-5 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India

Director, Business and Product

Jupiter

2022-5 - 2025-4 · 3 yrs

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Jupiter is a neo-banking platform, co-created with users. I currently lead Product for our payments and investments verticals.

Consultant

Aardvark Advisers Pte. Ltd.

2021-11 - 2022-4 · 6 mos

India

Running a feasibility project for a South Asia Impact Fund for a large European bank

Vice President

Credit Suisse

2019-1 - 2021-11 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Singapore

I handled investments and portfolio advisory for a large book of high networth and family office clients across Asia. My day to day involved managing multiple internal and external stakeholders to deliver the best experience of the bank to our clients.

Assistant Vice President

Credit Suisse

2016-1 - 2018-12 · 3 yrs

Product Manager, Private Wealth team

ICICI Securities

2010-5 - 2015-11 · 5 yrs 7 mos

Mumbai

As one of the earliest hires, I was part of the initial team that set up the product desk at I-Sec PWM. Handled multiple product categories during my tenure at I-Sec, including structured products, mutual funds, PMS (managed accounts), private equity funds, real estate lending. One of the most interesting products in my time here was launching structured products (ELNs etc.) online on the ICICIdirect platform, an industry first. Led a team of three product specialists; awarded the Spirit of Leadership Award in 2014 - one of the youngest to receive this (this is an award based on 360 deg review/feedback and only 0.1% of ICICI Group employees receive this annually)

Management Associate

Allegro Capital Advisors

2009-5 - 2010-5 · 1 yr 1 mo

Bengaluru Area, India

Worked with the Private Banking team on Portfolio Restructuring, Investment Research and Recommendations and Financial / Investment Planning.

Summer Analyst

Goldman Sachs

2008-4 - 2008-6 · 3 mos

Mumbai

Worked as a part of the Asian Special Situations Group, India that makes private equity investments in Indian SMEs.

Project Team Member

danaji -bridging the gap

2008 - 2008

Pforzheim Area, Germany

Danaji is a Stuttgart-based consultancy firm that helps German SMEs to collaborate with businesses in India. Headed an international team of 4 responsible for finding potential sectors for Indo-German business collaboration and identifying potential German SME clients for the firm within these.

Education

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

General Management

Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (MBA equivalent) with a focus on Finance, Strategy and Communication. Was a part of the organizing committee for Confluence '07, IIMA's annual business fest. Co-headed the hospitality team (responsible for all guests attending) for Chaos '09, the institute's cultural fest.