Integrating ESG and Integrity in Tech Hiring for Responsible Fintech: Daneshia Soman Sethi

In this insightful interview, Daneshia Soman Sethi AVP HR l Talent Acquisition, i-Exceed Technology Solutions Private Limited, discusses the integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into technology hiring strategies, specifically within fintech organizations. She emphasizes that ESG is not limited to environmental factors but also encompasses social responsibility, equality, integrity, and governance. Daneshia highlights the importance of transparent and fair hiring processes that promote diversity across gender, geography, and skill sets. She shares practical examples such as hiring freshers to upskill and hiring from remote areas to foster inclusivity and reduce attrition.

Daneshia also explains the critical role of talent acquisition in shaping responsible fintech ecosystems. She describes talent acquisition professionals as gatekeepers of organizational value and culture, ensuring not only technical skills but also integrity and alignment with company values. This approach helps build trust and security, especially important in fintech domains dealing with sensitive banking products. She stresses that cultivating a workforce with shared values and strong ethics strengthens the entire ecosystem’s safety, reliability, and reputation. Ultimately, Daneshia’s approach underscores hiring as a strategic lever for embedding ESG principles and fostering a sustainable, responsible fintech environment.

Key Insights

🌍 ESG in hiring is holistic and foundational: Daneshia’s interpretation of ESG goes beyond the environmental component to emphasize equality, integrity, and governance. This broad perspective ensures that tech hiring strategies contribute to social responsibility and organizational ethics, not just compliance or green initiatives. This insight highlights the need for organizations to embed social and governance factors deeply in recruitment policies to foster sustainable growth.

🤝 Upskilling freshers as a social responsibility: By hiring and training fresh graduates, companies contribute back to society by enhancing employability and skill levels. This practice not only addresses talent shortages but also promotes inclusivity and social mobility. It aligns with the ‘social’ aspect of ESG by empowering new entrants into the workforce and creating opportunities for diverse talent.

🌏 Geographic diversity reduces attrition and enriches talent pools: Daneshia’s strategy to hire from less urbanized areas, such as Salem, demonstrates the value of expanding recruitment beyond metropolitan hubs. This approach taps into underutilized talent pools, fosters regional economic development, and often results in lower attrition rates. It also broadens the organization’s social impact and reflects a commitment to equitable growth.

🔐 Talent Acquisition as gatekeepers of culture and value: The hiring function is framed as a critical safeguard for organizational culture and security, especially in fintech where data integrity and customer trust are paramount. Daneshia’s metaphor of TA professionals as “security guards” underscores their responsibility to ensure new hires align with both skill requirements and core values, mitigating risks related to misconduct or breaches.

🛡️ Integrity as a non-negotiable hiring criterion: Beyond technical skills, integrity is emphasized as essential for maintaining fintech ecosystem security. This focus on ethical hiring reduces risks of fraud, data leaks, and reputational damage, ensuring long-term trustworthiness of the product and company. It reflects how governance principles must be operationalized at the recruitment level.

🤝 Shared values foster cohesion and organizational identity: Daneshia notes that employees often mirror the company’s values, creating a strong cultural ‘twinning’ effect. This alignment not only improves internal collaboration but also strengthens external brand reputation. It highlights how intentional hiring shapes workforce culture and contributes to sustainable organizational success.

🔒 Strong HR and TA practices build ecosystem trust and security: Especially in fintech, where products handle sensitive banking information, the recruitment process itself becomes a pillar of security. The emphasis on transparency, fairness, and thorough vetting builds customer confidence and supports regulatory compliance. This insight reinforces that ESG integration in hiring is a strategic safeguard for business continuity and ethical stewardship.

Overall, Daneshia Sati’s perspectives provide a comprehensive framework for embedding ESG principles into tech hiring, demonstrating how responsible recruitment practices can drive social impact, foster diversity, uphold governance standards, and ultimately strengthen fintech ecosystems.