Advice for aspiring women in Fintech with Kashable, Sentifi, Medius, ASA and Tapoly
This October at The Fintech Times is all about the incredible women working in the fintech industry. With women still making up only around 30 percent of the workforce, it’s important to shine a spotlight on those working to make a change and pave the way for them to follow. Some influential women in fintech give their advice to aspiring women in the sector.
After talking about how women in fintech have broken the “glass ceiling”, we turn our attention to advice for women who want to do the same. Here Einat Steklov, Marina Goche, Katarina Andersson, Lisa Goldschier and Janthana Kaenprakhamroy share their advice to ambitious women in the fintech industry.
Einat Steklov, founder and CEO of Kashable, a financial wellness company
“It’s easy for doubt to be cast on women – believe in yourself and what you do! Remember that you don’t need to have all the details planned out before you start – sometimes it’s best to dive in, take risks and accept challenges as they arise.
“Surround yourself with the right people who truly believe in advancing you and your business. Join clubs to meet other women in the fintech industry, find a mentor who understands the industry, your market or how to raise capital and ask about advice. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and learn as you go—the rest will fall into place.”
Marina Goche, CEO of Sentifi, provider of alternative data analytics
“Women make up about 50 percent of the world’s population, and yet only six percent of fintech has female CEOs. It is encouraging to see this trend changing. However, it would be naive to think that women do not face any challenges in realizing their full potential, even today.”
Goche went on to give her top points to aspiring women in fintech: “Some key principles that I think are helpful to excel:
- “Don’t hesitate to take on new challenges as great growth comes from being uncomfortable. When there is no precedent for solving problems, the odds are stacked against you and you must define a new path yourself. These are defining moments of growth. Position yourself right in the path of these opportunities.
- “Take on roles with international, multi-gender, age and cultural exposure. Diversity of thinking enriches the solutions that can be defined, and nothing kills innovation faster than singular thinking. Embrace diversity to formulate richer solutions.
- “Understand that progression means greater responsibility and develop the skills to accurately evaluate and manage the critical path. When the focus is on the critical path, your compass will be pointed in the right direction to guide not only your team, but yourself, even in the midst of in the ever-present noise that threatens to distract you. Ensuring distraction is marginalized and results are optimized is a learned skill.”
Katarina Andersson, senior vice president of AI and capture solutions at Medius, the provider of payment software
“First of all I want to say be brave! Never be afraid to speak your mind, especially in industries like technology and fintech that tend to be dominated by men. I got my first pay check in 1998 and at the time it was very difficult for women in the industry.
“But I feel that companies today are starting to see the benefits of having women around them – it brings a different approach and a different way of thinking. Use your cultural differences to create change.
“At the same time, and in a way that may feel counterintuitive, you have to learn to listen.
“If you talk all the time, you can miss out on knowledge and gaining a deeper understanding of the environment around you. Listening is how you learn.”
Lisa Gold Schier, Chief Strategy Officer at ASA Technologies, a provider of software and marketing solutions
“Never forget the importance of having different points of view around the table, and part of doing that means proactively seeking out those different perspectives. This can often be done through networking and supporting each other.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to other women in the industry, junior or senior, to share advice and insight, ask questions and gain perspectives.
“I believe in women supporting women; speak on panels, nominate each other for opportunities, support each other on social media and at industry events.”
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy, founder and CEO of Tapoly, an on-demand insurance provider
Finally, Kaenprakhamroy offered advice to aspiring women in fintech: “Finding a mentor in the industry who can support you with your ambitions will definitely help. Aside from their connections and insights, mentors can also provide invaluable support during challenging times and be a sounding board. LinkedIn is a great place to start when looking for inspiring women in the industry to connect with.”
“I would also encourage women to expand their knowledge of the sector as much as possible – read articles and listen to podcasts to expand your knowledge. Alongside this, attend virtual and in-person industry and networking events because you never know who you might meet or be introduced to who might open the door next door.”
“Finally, never think that your gender will hold you back or be a barrier to your fintech career. Most of us will have moments when we doubt our own abilities, experience imposter syndrome or lack confidence in our careers, but we are all capable of so much and should feel empowered to go after our dream roles. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, try new things and always do what you love.”
