Bridging the Gap 

In our latest episode of the FinTech's DEI Discussions podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Ximena Aleman, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Prometeo. 

 Ximena shared her journey of building FinTech infrastructure in Latin America, emphasizing the importance of getting the foundations right to "empower the future of financial services."

She also touched on the challenges she faced as a female entrepreneur, especially the harsh reality of the funding gap: "28 percent of FinTech founders are women, yet they receive just 1 percent of the funding." 

Ximena's advice? Focus on resilience, self-awareness, and emotional strength: "At the beginning of the journey, the process is emotional...you have to trust yourself and embrace the uncertainty of the person you will become."

Tune in to this powerful conversation and be inspired by Ximena’s vision for a more inclusive and innovative FinTech future. 

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 the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, we’re joined by Leah Glass, VP of Global Marketing at Convera, for an eye-opening conversation on diversity, inclusion, and leadership in the financial technology industry. 

Leah shares how Convera is pushing the boundaries of commercial payments innovation while fostering a culture of compliance and ethics. She dives deep into breaking down the "excuse matrix" surrounding diversity in tech and financial services and highlights the ongoing challenges with tokenism and the pay gap. 

Leah also challenges leaders to move beyond sincerity and make real commitments to diversity, ensuring the future of work is equitable for all. It’s a conversation packed with actionable insights and powerful reflections on the importance of walking the talk in DEI.

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

Championing Inclusion in FinTech: Resilience, empowerment and driving DEI in FinTech

In the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia dives into an inspiring conversation with Nona Fayaz, Head of Partnerships at Fuse Finance. Nona shares her journey from starting as an office manager to leading in FinTech, and how resilience and empowerment helped her overcome personal and professional challenges, including her battle with breast cancer. 

Nona also shares powerful insights on how companies can walk the talk for diversity, equity, and inclusion, from mentorship and equal pay to creating open communication within teams. 

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

Join us on FinTech’s DEI Discussions as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Katy Zack, Head of Sustainability at Griffin. Katy shares her incredible journey from fintech communications to a mission-driven focus on sustainability, sparked by a life-changing epiphany.

In this episode, Katy opens up about how Griffin is pioneering sustainability and inclusion in the fintech world, the power of community in driving change, and why it's crucial for businesses to "walk the talk" when it comes to making a real impact.

Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, curious about inclusion, or just love a good career switch story, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

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 our latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia sits down with Jude Davis, former Apple marketeer turned nonprofit leader, to explore the crucial role of diversity and inclusion in the FinTech industry.

Jude shares his inspiring journey from the corporate world to leading Olmec, a race equality organisation that’s making waves in empowering underrepresented communities. We dive into the impact of diverse boardrooms, the importance of leadership in driving change, and actionable steps everyone can take to foster inclusion.

Whether you’re passionate about DEI or looking to learn how to make a real difference in your organization, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Let’s continue the conversation on creating more equitable workplaces.

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 the latest episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, Nadia welcomes Asya Kuznetsova, Senior Product Manager at Wise, to explore the real challenges and wins in building an inclusive FinTech industry. From navigating male-dominated environments to leading with authenticity, Asya shares her inspiring journey and why fostering gender equality in leadership is crucial.

"So if this senior leadership is mostly men, their perception of who is a good leader or bad one would largely depend on the male perception of leadership."

Asya’s insights on breaking the glass ceiling, balancing diverse perspectives and empowering women in the workplace are a must-listen for anyone passionate about creating meaningful change in tech. 

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 FinTechs DEI Discussions, hosted by Nadia, Inesa Smigola, Head of Presales at Xceptor, talks about her career and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fintech.

Inesa shares her journey at Xceptor, where she leads the EMEA and APAC sales engineering teams. She explains the role of sales engineers and how Xceptor uses data and process automation to solve problems for major financial institutions. 

A key focus of the discussion is DEI. Inesa highlights the Women’s Network she launched at Xceptor to support women’s professional growth. She emphasises how diversity in her team has driven better results and helped the company grow. Inesa also shares how leadership and employees alike can contribute to creating inclusive work environments by encouraging diverse opinions and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. 

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

On the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Abi Bryant Spolar, Global Head of Customer Success at Notabene.

In this episode, Abi shares her career journey, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and flexibility in the fintech industry. She passionately discusses the need for better workplace environments that support individuals through pivotal life moments, ensuring that talent, especially women, can thrive without compromising their personal lives.

Abi emphasises the value of open communication, creating spaces where employees feel safe to express their needs, and the significance of including male allies in the conversation to drive meaningful change.

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

This episode focuses on Karine's career journey and her insights on financial inclusion, workplace diversity, and her return to work after a long career break. Karine describes Edenred Payment Solutions' mission, emphasizing their commitment to financial inclusion not only for the underserved but across a broad spectrum, enhancing everyday lives through payment solutions. She highlights how Edenred balances innovation with a strong company culture.

Karine also shares her personal story, discussing her career in wealth management, taking a nine-year break to focus on her family, and her eventual return to the workforce. She emphasizes the challenges of re-entering the job market, including self-doubt, the importance of networking, and the struggles of navigating return-to-work programs. Despite numerous rejections, she remained persistent and ultimately found the right opportunity with Edenred, where she was drawn by the company’s vision and the challenge of building a new sales team.

The conversation touches on the broader topic of inclusion in the workplace, with Karine advocating for hiring based on talent and values rather than fulfilling quotas. She also offers advice to employers, urging them to give meaningful feedback to job applicants and reconsider biases when reviewing resumes.

Karine encourages individuals navigating career transitions to believe in themselves, and she stresses that career breaks are a strength, not a failure. She urges hiring managers to look beyond gaps in employment and value the skills and resilience these candidates bring.

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

On this latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Isaac Harvey MBE, a Disability Advocate, Ambassador for numerous charities, and President of Wheels and Wheelchairs.

In this episode, Isaac shares his inspiring journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability. He emphasises the importance of true inclusivity, not just within the workplace but also in the daily journeys that disabled individuals face. 

The conversation moves beyond mere awareness, offering practical insights on how organisations can create more inclusive environments that truly cater to everyone.

Isaac stresses the need for flexibility, the importance of understanding individual needs, and the power of giving people a choice in how they work, ensuring that all individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.

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