Geeta Minocha
Photo by Jim McDermott
Lawyer and fashion model, Geeta Minocha, struts the catwalk of justice and style! She's not just turning heads on the runway and the streets of New York, but also in the courtroom. A perfect blend of elegance and intellect, Geeta proves that brains and beauty go hand in hand:
If I could, I would________.
Proliferate a robust system of public financial institutions to keep more money in our communities. We need to support our small businesses and bank the unbanked. Reforming the financial system and democratizing money should be on everybody's mind. After the climate, this will be the great issue of the next decade.
So the US banking system isn't available for everyone? What is the biggest obstacle?
No, not even close! About a quarter of the population is unbanked, meaning they don't have a bank account, or underbanked, meaning they have a bank account but don't have access to other key bank offerings like loans. Lack of banking access keeps poor people poor and makes the middle class increasingly unstable.
The biggest obstacle is that private banks make decisions solely to generate profits. That's fine, that's the prerogative of private entities. But that means these banks get to turn away whomever they want. Who are they turning away? Folks who were late on bills a few times -- they're "risky". Even profitable small businesses owned by experienced entrepreneurs are often reject because they are considered "too small" for a loan to generate enough profits for a bank. It just doesn't make sense. This kind of cherry picking hurts all of us, and it's why the public sector has to step in.
Do you mean governments run banks, or policies that encourage private banks to take clients they otherwise wouldn't?
Both! Public banks are government owned banks that can do all the things the private sector deems too risky, such as investing in new industries (think about the early days of cannabis, when lots of new businesses weren't getting credit). But public banks can also contract with private banks to enable them to take on clients they otherwise wouldn't, or even offer services to those clients themselves.
How would you describe yourself with one word?
Empathetic.
What accessory can Bianca Censori totally let go of at this point: pillow, pantyhose, Kanye West?
Look, in the right context, the pillow thing could have been kind of iconic. The only reasonable answer here is Kanye. Someone help that woman!
What is one thing you'll never wear?
Oh, I can't just give you one -- there are simply too many. Bike shorts. Patterned tights. Anything camo print. The Maison Margiela Tabi heels or any other hoof-like shoe. And, God willing, I'll successfully avoid cargo pants my whole life, too.
TV character you found yourself routing for recently?
Carmela Soprano. Girl, get up!
