FinTech's DEI Discussions – Powered by Harrington Starr

As artificial intelligence transforms Financial Technology, are human relationships becoming more important than ever?

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, host Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, is joined by Natasha Vernier, Chief Operating Officer at Bretton AI, to discuss inclusive leadership, company culture, meaningful allyship and the importance of human connection in an increasingly AI-driven industry.

Drawing on her experience as an early employee at Monzo, founder and former CEO of Cable, and now COO at Bretton AI, Natasha shares what building and scaling FinTech businesses has taught her about leadership, representation and creating environments where people can thrive.

The conversation explores how company culture is shaped by the everyday actions of founders and senior leaders, why diverse perspectives matter when developing financial technology products, and what genuine allyship looks like beyond corporate diversity initiatives.

Natasha also reflects on her experience of being appointed to a senior leadership position without her identity becoming the focus of the decision, and how representation at leadership level can influence workplace policies, including parental leave.

As AI continues to reshape financial services, Natasha explains why trust, communication and strong professional relationships remain essential to building successful teams. She also shares practical career advice on embracing unexpected opportunities, remaining open to feedback and creating workplaces where people feel respected and supported.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

What if the most talented person in your team is also the quietest?

In Financial Technology, recognising talent goes beyond technical ability, confidence and visibility. But are we creating workplaces where everyone has a genuine opportunity to contribute, develop and succeed?

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, host Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Paige Phúc, Director of Data Engineering & BI at PingPong Payment, to discuss inclusive leadership, career development, representation in technology and the importance of opening doors for others.

Originally from Vietnam, Paige shares her journey from finance and accounting into data engineering, AI strategy and technology leadership. Having worked across multiple countries and industries, she reflects on the curiosity, adaptability and continuous learning that have shaped her career.

Paige discusses her experience of being the only woman in a technical team, how this influenced her commitment to mentoring others, and why leaders must recognise potential beyond those who are the most confident or outspoken.

The conversation also explores how securing a UK Global Talent visa gave Paige greater independence to pursue new opportunities, including building a Vietnamese speciality coffee business alongside her technology career.

Throughout the episode, Nadia and Paige explore the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, the value of transferable skills, overcoming self-doubt and why creating an inclusive workplace means more than simply bringing diverse people together.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

What does ‘human in the loop’ actually mean when AI is making decisions in financial services? And how can businesses ensure that people have the authority, knowledge and opportunity to influence the technology transforming their industry?

In this special pre-conference episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Ronel David, Banking and FinTech Board Member, Non-Executive Director and FinTech Connect Advisory Board Member, ahead of FinTech Connect 2026.

Drawing on 30 years of experience across banking, enterprise technology and FinTech, Ronel challenges what meaningful human oversight looks like as AI becomes increasingly integrated into financial services. From accountability and regulatory responsibility to the risks of automated decision-making, she explores why keeping humans involved requires more than simply including them in a process.

The conversation also examines the relationship between financial innovation and inclusion. As AI, digital payments and smart data reshape financial services, Ronel explains why accessibility, affordability and resilience must remain central to technological progress.

Turning to workplace inclusion, Ronel highlights the importance of involving employees in AI-driven transformation, ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities and creating environments where different perspectives can genuinely influence decisions.

Ahead of FinTech Connect 2026, she also shares why collaboration across banking, payments, AI and digital assets is essential to turning promising technology into practical solutions that work for more people.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

Financial inclusion is about more than having access to a bank account. 

As banking becomes increasingly digital, how can financial institutions ensure people have the knowledge, tools and confidence to manage their money effectively?

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, is joined by Soren Rode Jain Andreasen, Head of Daily Banking & Channels at Nordea, for a conversation recorded ahead of FinTech Connect 2026.

Soren shares how Nordea is approaching financial inclusion through financial literacy, digital banking innovation and partnerships with FinTech companies. He explains how open banking has evolved from a regulatory requirement into an opportunity to improve financial wellbeing, helping customers better understand their spending, manage subscriptions and make informed financial decisions.

The conversation also explores the importance of financial education for younger generations, particularly in increasingly cashless societies. Soren discusses Nordea's financial literacy initiatives, which have reached more than one million children and young people since 2016, and why banks, schools and parents all have a responsibility to help develop practical money management skills.

Beyond financial education, Nadia and Soren discuss sustainable banking products, the relationship between financial health and environmental responsibility, and the growing importance of European financial sovereignty and resilient payment infrastructure.

Throughout the episode, Soren emphasises the value of collaboration between banks, FinTechs and wider society in removing barriers and making financial services more inclusive.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

Is your financial crime team missing the warning signs?

As financial crime becomes increasingly sophisticated, diverse perspectives, inclusive leadership and psychological safety are becoming essential to building effective compliance teams.

In this special pre-conference episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, is joined by Natalia Gburzyńska, Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Senior Financial Crime Compliance Manager at Revolut, ahead of FinTech Connect 2026.

Natalia shares her unconventional career journey from archaeology to financial crime compliance, highlighting the importance of transferable skills, curiosity, adaptability and integrity in building a successful FinTech career.

The conversation explores how diversity of thought helps financial crime teams identify risks, why psychological safety empowers junior employees to challenge senior decision-makers, and how inclusive hiring can strengthen compliance functions.

They also discuss the impact of AI and automation on financial crime prevention, the changing role of compliance as a strategic business partner, and the qualities hiring managers should prioritise when recruiting future-ready FinTech talent.

With financial crime threats evolving across global markets, Natalia makes a compelling case for building teams where different experiences are valued, employees feel confident speaking up and ethical judgement remains central to decision-making.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

Are traditional CVs holding businesses back from recognising talent and potential?

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, is joined by Joe Wilson, Chief Evangelist at bunq, to explore why it's time to rethink recruitment, career development and inclusion in Financial Technology.

Joe shares how bunq challenges traditional hiring practices by focusing on skills and practical assessments rather than CVs. From its distinctive 'Get Shit Done Day' to a workplace culture built on autonomy, ownership and trust, the conversation explores what happens when businesses prioritise what people can do over what they've done before.

Together, Nadia and Joe discuss breaking down age-related barriers, recognising potential and embedding inclusion into workplace culture rather than treating it as an afterthought.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, host Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Leena Khalil, Managing Partner at Key Capital and Co-Founder of Mumzworld, to explore entrepreneurship, investment and the importance of building inclusive networks in Financial Technology.

Drawing on her experience in investment banking, founding and scaling businesses, and supporting entrepreneurs, Leena shares insights into the challenges of raising capital, the importance of timing when launching a business, and how professional networks can influence access to opportunities.

The conversation also explores gender differences in networking, the importance of building the right leadership teams, and what needs to change to create greater inclusion across the investment industry.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, host Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Wincie Wong, Founding Member of Tech She Can and Advisory Board Member for FinTech Connect, to explore why businesses need to rethink their approach to hiring, reskilling and workforce transformation.

Drawing on her experience leading digital transformation in financial services, Wincie shares how she helped reskill over 480 people from non-technical backgrounds into software engineers, demonstrating the power of recognising potential beyond traditional qualifications and experience.

The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping the skills businesses need, why successful transformation depends on people rather than technology alone, and the importance of creating opportunities for overlooked talent.

With FinTech Connect 2026 approaching, Wincie also shares what she's looking forward to at this year's event and why real-world conversations about AI, digital transformation and workforce development matter more than ever.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, host Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Arunjay Katakam, Author, Founder of Inclusive Action Lab and Co-Founder of ThriveNow Education, to explore why diversity of thought is a competitive advantage and how financial services can move beyond traditional approaches to inclusion.

Arunjay shares his journey from investment banking to financial inclusion, the importance of challenging echo chambers, and why the convergence of traditional finance, decentralised finance and AI presents a major opportunity to rethink the future of financial services.

From building purpose-driven businesses to making financial and economic inclusion a reality, this conversation explores why inclusion and commercial success should go hand in hand.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Vanessa Neal, Head of Product Compliance at Elavon Europe, to explore why businesses need to look beyond traditional career paths and recognise the value of transferable skills, curiosity and different perspectives.

Vanessa shares her own unconventional journey into banking and discusses why previous industry experience shouldn’t always define someone’s potential. From problem-solving and stakeholder management to communication and curiosity, they explore the skills that can cross industries and open the door to successful career pivots.

The conversation also looks at the importance of creating environments where people feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions and challenging the way things have always been done. Vanessa shares how collaboration, recognition and giving people genuine opportunities can help individuals grow while bringing new thinking into businesses.

Because building more inclusive workplaces isn’t simply about who gets through the door. It’s about looking wider, recognising what people can bring and giving them the opportunity to show it.

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com