For Treyena Prasad, balance doesn’t mean slowing down, it means staying grounded while moving fast. As Head of Partnerships at LoanOptions.ai, she travels across Australia and abroad, leading growth for one of the country’s most innovative fintechs. Her path here wasn’t linear: she started in law, left it behind for the automotive world, managed teams through COVID, and found her place in fintech, blending her love of speed, strategy, and connection.
Today, Treyena channels that energy into helping partners grow while redefining what fulfilment looks like in high-pressure industries. Whether she’s on the road, leading meetings, or carving out quiet moments to reset, she’s learned that balance isn’t about perfect routines, it’s about curiosity, courage, and knowing what truly fuels you. In our chat, she talks about trusting your instincts, staying adaptable, and the power of saying yes (until it’s time to start saying no).
You’ve moved from the legal world to automotive and now fintech. What have these transitions taught you about adaptability and finding fulfillment at work?
I started in automotive, so I already had a taste for what working in the automotive industry felt like. I moved from automotive to legal, and I think having the contrast of the two industries in real time while working in legal was enough for me to make the direct comparison that legal was not my calling nor was it something that I enjoyed or found fulfilling. It was a no-brainer for me to return to something I was actually passionate about (cars).
While moving into fintech was a brand new industry, the foundation of being passionate about cars and providing a sense of fulfillment to clients remained the same. I was very adamant when moving into fintech that I did not want to work in mortgages or property loans because I still wanted the sense of familiarity, which is essentially why I ended up at LoanOptions.ai – Australia’s leading AI-powered asset finance brokerage.
You travel frequently across Australia and internationally in your role. How do you maintain structure and routine when you’re constantly on the move?
In complete honesty, I’ve learned to find or create structure amidst the “chaos” of constant travel. My routine doesn’t always (or ever) look like a 5AM session at the gym followed by a green juice. I try to maintain consistency in small anchors, how I start my day, what I use my time for on flights, when I check in with the team. I always travel with my laptop, a book and my headphones so those three things kind of become like a mobile office, making me accessible anytime and anywhere. I always try to keep one non-negotiable every day even if it’s something as small as making sure I take all my supplements while I’m away which I sometimes forget.
Working in high pressure, fast paced environments seems to be a theme in your career. What habits or mindsets help you stay grounded in that kind of intensity?
I thrive in high-pressure environments, but it wasn’t always like this (take while I was working in the legal industry for example). I started working when I was 14 at McDonald’s and held that job for six years. This, I believe, is probably what taught me how to handle the fast pace and high pressure so I almost don’t know anything else.
When I’m in an environment that moves slower than what I’m used to I actually get really bored and agitated. I enjoy having something to do all the time, no matter how big/small or how important it is, that’s what keeps me moving and motivated. It’s important to just take one day at a time and not get too overwhelmed, knowing what you can and can’t control is probably the main thing that keeps me grounded.
You’ve described that turning point when you realised law wasn’t what you expected. What gave you the courage to change direction, and how did you handle the uncertainty that came with it?
I absolutely could have forced myself to stay in that path for stability’s sake and to make my Indian parents happy. But I knew I would always carry the feeling of “what if?”. My courage both personally and professionally comes from curiosity, at the time I didn’t know what I actually wanted to do yet but I was SURE that it wasn’t that.
I ultimately decided that I would rather figure it out through trial and error than live comfortably in something that didn’t excite me or make me happy. The uncertainty was scary and definitely uncomfortable, but it taught me to back myself even when I didn’t have a plan. That mindset has followed me since. I take leaps before I have all the answers knowing that I can learn and work it out myself.
As Head of Partnerships you’re often “on,” meeting people, representing the brand, and leading growth. How do you recharge and protect your own wellbeing outside of work?
I genuinely don’t always ‘switch off’ and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. My job leans into my lifestyle in a way that I actually enjoy, it’s social, it’s creative and it constantly challenges me. I do really enjoy my ‘alone time’ though and I use that time to recharge my energy. I try to ensure I have enough alone time in my week because it’s the only way I can keep showing up with the same energy.
Looking back, what advice would you give to others who feel torn between stability and the pull of something new, especially those considering a major career pivot?
I’d tell them: the safety net you think you’re clinging to is usually just fear in disguise. Stability is great, but it can also keep you small. The best thing I ever did was walk away from something that made sense on paper but didn’t feel right. Change doesn’t get easier, but you get stronger at navigating it. If something keeps pulling at you, whether it’s an idea, an interest, or a ‘what if’; it’s probably worth exploring. You don’t have to burn everything down overnight, but you do have to move (this is the most important part). The timing will never be perfect, and the uncertainty never really goes away. But neither does the reward of betting on yourself.
