We would like to celebrate and continue to learn from the inspirational group of women who have joined us as speakers, advisors and supporters, during what has been a uniquely challenging year. Their expertise has continually informed and lifted the work we do and as part of International Women’s Day, we are sharing some of their reflections and words of wisdom as we both look back and plan ahead for better days.
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“As a global citizen unbound by gender, race, place, or industry I’ve been fortunate to navigate three sectors internationally: financial services, technology, and now FinTech. As many times as I’ve had to forge my own successes so too, I’ve been lifted on the shoulders of others and pushed forward. Society is becoming more open to people of all walks and identities to work with flexibility and seek opportunities. Technology is making the art of the possible more realizable and from any location. As a woman of colour blessed with positive experiences, able to achieve, committed to bringing others along, I can’t wait to see what’s next for the collective impact of women. Happy International Women’s Day.”
Lisa Violet, Executive at Varo
“There is much to celebrate and much to do as we recognise International Women’s Day. I am extremely lucky to occupy the CEO suite of a publicly traded company. I was honoured to be one of the only three women in 145 years to chair the American Bankers Association – the trade group representing banks of all sizes. But these are still aberrations. Until we are not impressed with these accomplishments because they were achieved by a woman, we won’t be close to gender parity. I will celebrate by reaching out a hand to others – to lift them up. And I will continue to raise my hand and voice to identify and work to erase barriers.”
Laurie Stewart, CEO | President, Sound Community Bank
“I’m inspired when I connect with others that share our values, especially when we’re able to partner for the common good. I love cheering as kindred spirits achieve greatness. In this recent crisis, the best innovation came from organic and urgent problem solving where egos were set aside and collaboration was with the best of intentions. I’m looking forward to more of this goodness as we return to normal.”
Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond
“Throughout the last few years, the discussion around Women and Diversity has dialled up. Although we are on the right track, we now need to move into action. There is no one solution for such a complex topic, but there are well known areas that can have an immediate impact, namely the gender pay gap, diverse leadership and board and non-biased recruitment practices.”
“On the 8th of March, I always remember the few but strong women leaders I met throughout my career and how much they have inspired me to continue pursuing my dreams in FinTech. Thank you to all of them!”
Rita Martins, HSBC
“In my 30+ years working in information technology and cyber security, I have witnessed the change from being the only woman in the room, to today having more engaged and articulate women in the room. The same can be said about conferences where once, I might have been the only female speaker and with women making up less than 1% of the audience. Now conference organisers are actively seeking out more diversity in their line-ups and audiences. Whilst we have made incredible progress, there is still much to be done and we can all be part of it, take time to support and be an ally to women, to make sure they are in the room and that their voices are heard. Happy International Women’s Day!”
Diane Joyce, Identity Management Consultant and Executive Member of Women in Identity
“I started my career in financial services 20 years ago but remember my first day as a Forex Analyst at a large London-based Hedge fund like it was yesterday. To say I stood out like a sore thumb would be an understatement! A woman and especially a woman of colour on a trading floor was not a common sight.”
“If I were beginning my career today, I feel my experience would be a bit different. Women have come a long way and though we still have a long way to go, I like to believe we are beginning to be heard! I am happy to see large organisations addressing gender balance and diversity within their workforce. Goldman Sachs last year announced they would only underwrite IPOs in the US and Europe of private companies with at least one diverse board member.”
“These are baby steps in the right direction, but policies alone cannot impact significant change. We need a change in mindset and to educate people on the tangible benefits of a diverse workforce. Diversity and inclusion isn’t just about doing the right thing from a social perspective, it directly impacts performance and success. Studies have shown that higher representation of women in C-suite level positions results in 34% greater returns to shareholders.”
“We all have a role to play in raising awareness. I am privileged to be part of Women in Identity, where we are united in our shared vison of a diverse and inclusive world. As a mother to a daughter, for me this is a passionate and worthy pursuit.”
Dia Banerji, Co-Founder, ID4V and Country Ambassador, Scotland at Women in Identity
“Financial Services and community banking is an exciting sector to be part of. Over the last few years, I have seen more and more women entering the sector at a senior level, which is great, but there is still much more to be done. My progress has mainly been down to my own ability to succeed despite, often not being given the same opportunities as my peers. In the future, we need to do more to ensure that those of us who have been excluded are invited and welcomed in.”
Valerie Walwyn-Tait, Chief Executive Officer, Plane Saver Credit Union
“I’ve had a passion for technology from a really young age, being a Gen X, I spent hours in the early 80s on my Commodore 64. This curiosity grew, leading me to study Computer Science and Management Science at Uni. The mix of tech and its application in business to make people’s lives easier is what’s always driven me. Through encouragement and support from many role models in my life, it was inevitable my career would focus on tech.”
“About 5% of my Computer Science classmates were female and while this has risen to c18% today, there is still a long way to go. Tech is an exciting and evolving sector. Now, nearly 30% of Leadership roles within my Digital and Technology Division are female. While this is above average, there is opportunity to gain an even better balance.”
“In my view, inspiring kids in Early Years Education will make the biggest difference. I love that my (4 and 7-year-old) kids have a natural aptitude, curiosity and interest in tech, because whatever they chose to do in life, with the vast majority of future jobs requiring STEM skills, they will need these key skills for work and life!”
Manila McLean, Chief Information Officer, Newcastle Building Society
“We are all here standing on the shoulders of those who came before us working to solve the technical and social challenges of the day to create a better world for those who follow us. Thank you to all the inspirational women and allies who work tirelessly in their fields. In 2021, let’s collaborate to show what we can achieve as we continue to march forward. ”
Keren Moynihan, JD/MBA, CEO, Boss Insights
“I often ask myself what does the International Women’s Day mean to me? Should it be about the celebration or pointing out inequality that women all over the World face? And at the end I feel that both are equally important. It is good to celebrate achievements and be visible but there are still many areas where gender equality is not reached. We must talk about the salary gap, percentage of women in leadership positions, percentage of women in STEM, the social position of women and the overall gender gap. According to the Statista at the end of 2020, the time needed to close the educational gap was 12 years and economical gap 257 years! That is unacceptable and each one of us must advocate for change!”
“This is why, as a woman in business and mother of two daughters, I choose to contribute to the change every day by staying strong and confident, knowing and demanding my rights, being kind to myself, loving my life and sharing my learnings. I believe that my example will enable my daughters to expect equality and accept nothing less. And even though one girl cannot do much by herself, many will lead the change! Happy International Women´s Day 2021!”
Tanja Imamovic, Open API Business Owner/ Tribe Leader, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
“One thing I’ve learned in my career is that women do not need to behave like men to be great leaders and succeed in a male dominated industry. ”
“They do not have to overplay their feminine traits either. The best way for them to thrive in the workplace, is to stay true to themselves, stand for their values and find their own way.”
“Easier said than done in a male dominated industry and a society where biases are omnipresent. When someone tells you that you’re too emotional or too cold, not assertive enough, or that you should deepen your voice, ask yourself if this is valuable feedback or their own unconscious bias that they are projecting onto you.”
“I have great hope for the future, and I count on women and men leaders to reinforce two universal values that can fight biases in the workplace: the ability to listen to and respect others.”
Charlotte Hausemer Trade and Treasury Solution, BNP Paribas
“Over my career in Real Estate Lending, I have seen some positive progress from a once very male dominated industry. While some change has occurred, I still feel strongly that there has been less movement in leadership positions for women in my industry. My hope is that more organizations champion and empower women, so they are promoted and able to achieve their full professional potential. ”
“One of my favourite quotes: “Never measure progress using someone else’s ruler.”
“While some argue there has been progress, it can’t be by their measure, we as women need to continue to push for more! Diversity is critical to the success of organizations and my hope is that the advancement in this area continues forward so we can truly breakthrough those glass ceilings.”
Jennifer Lopez Kouchis, Senior Vice President – Real Estate Lending, VyStar Credit Union
“The past 3 years, I thoroughly focused my time on introducing new ways of embracing technology to the Financial and Services sector. And I really think that these 3 years have been some of the most rewarding in my career. Despite some figures showing that the percentage of female financial services industry leaders globally remains at 12%, I felt that I have met more Executive women in Finance than in any other industry I worked for before. I do think that the financial industry has for long been seen and perhaps still seen as a man’s world, but I’m pleased to see that women are striving to make a difference in this sector by being more and more present in Leadership teams.”
“I think we as women need to support each other even more by sharing knowledge, helping promote our peers, and building the right mindset and most of all recognise successes no matter how big or small they are in order to change the way female workers are considered and represented in Finance.”
Celine Allain, Senior CX Advisor, Zendesk
“I have been lucky to be in the business for a long time and I have had tremendous variety in my career. Along the way, I made sure to advocate for myself to make sure I was advancing in the right direction. Ownership is key, and I believe I would not be where I am today had I not taken control of my career. ”
“I recently came across a photo of my mother and her female colleagues from the 1980’s and found it inspiring. They took part in major milestones for Sony Corporation as systems managers, programmers, and database analysts. I asked her about her time there and she said it was extremely challenging, but they relied on one another and formed a strong support network. Stories like that, have inspired me to continue in their footsteps and drive change. Thanks to women like them and their pioneering spirit, the gap is closing, and young women are continuing to make waves in the technology industry. ”
Kim Prado, Global Head of Client, Banking and Digital Technology, RBC Capital Markets
“A true ally supports gender equity and women’s rights through their actions every day – not just through their words one day of the year. Be thoughtful about who you interview on a podcast and put on stage *all the time* – not just on International Women’s Day. As an industry, we still have ways to go.”
Theo Lau
“If it wasn’t for the support I’ve had from various managers and mentors in financial services, I don’t think I would have ended up in Fintech. When I joined the industry in 2006, there was a real lack of female role models in senior banking positions or in technology, but I had amazing friends and colleagues who knew I was passionate about what I do so they advocated for me and recommended me for opportunities. They were the men who had status and influence so could open doors and they helped lift me up.”
“While I’m hugely encouraged by the quantity and quality of discussions we’re having now about equality and diversity, I’m equally disappointed by the lack of definitive progress at exec and senior levels. There’s a long way to go until we have diversity parity at every level across our major financial services and FinTech firms, and we’re the only ones who can change that. If I had one ask of our community, men and women, it would be to find a female star in your organisation and become her champion. IWD is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on our amazingly talented women but keeping that going all year round is even more powerful.”
Maria Harris, Director, Digital Cat Consultancy
“I’ve been delighted to be part of the Project Imagine founding team, with our consumer offering Dozens, and a super tech platform in Pi1, but we are equally proud of our unique culture where our employees feel like family members and women flourish as much as men.”
“I appreciate that in finance/tech firms the odds are often stacked against women, however until recently at Project Imagine over 70% of our workforce was made up of women, with a large portion of those representing the most senior layer. We didn’t try to hire only women, but there are a few differentiators for us that mean that women might do better than men in our hiring process – particularly that we don’t look at CVs. This means we interview people for who they are, and are not influenced by firm/project/people name dropping on a CV.”
“Women seem to understand this well, but men we interview are often bemused by this, and keep referring back to items on their CV. Our industry could do more in supporting a strong culture of inclusivity and diversity – this shouldn’t just be female-focused but should ensure that all individuals are seen as just that, individuals – not lumped into a group depending on their sex, age, colour, or backgrounds.”
Gemma Steel, Director and General Counsel, Project Imagine
“While I am still relatively new to FinTech, I’ve operated in male-dominated industries throughout my career: military school, start-ups, venture capital. Like many female leaders, I have almost always been “the only” in the room. My hope is that we are the last generation for whom that is true. ”
“We are implicitly catalysts for change, but we must do more. ”
“Diversity begets diversity.”
“If you want to attract more diverse candidates, you must have more diverse candidates on staff. It follows that if we’re to create a more diverse workforce we must recruit with intention – going to the communities, schools, organisations that support women and minorities. ”
Amanda Orson, VP, Head of North America, Curve
