Manit Oberoi, the 233rd person I’ve met on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers, has a wonderfully engaging personality.

Manit put me at ease the moment I met her, with a friendly smile, a burst of energy and a series of genuinely curious questions. Even after all my lunches, I still haven’t mastered the art of a strong first impression, but Manit seems to have it nailed.

Another thing that impressed me about Manit was her openness. She’s someone who feels comfortable sharing her thoughts and feelings, which is another way to make new acquaintances feel at ease.

Manit studied law and business, and has since explored three different career paths. She started as a commercial analyst, then became a commercial lawyer and now works as litigation manager – a role that combines her legal and financial expertise.

Manit’s firm, CASL, is a litigation funder, which means it provides finance for people who can’t afford to fund their lawsuits, and will only receive a return if the claim is successful. Part of Manit’s role is to assess the merits of a potential client’s case and their likelihood of success.