2 years (still loving) Fintech
This time last year I shared a reflection piece on my first year in the Fintech world. It was a totally brand new and extremely different environment from where I have worked previously – which was slightly daunting. I wanted to share my experiences with anyone who was looking to make the move into this fast-paced, ever-changing industry.
This year, I have felt a lot of personal growth. I’ve met a wide range of people, attended more events than ever, and really got under the skin of what our people at Shieldpay want. But I have really started to feel embedded in this world and more connected to the ‘fintech junkies’.
So, what’s changed over the past 12 months? Here are a few observations about the industry, the people, and suggestions for what to look out for and how to navigate through this world 🌍
- The importance of female leadership - Until recently I didn't fully comprehend the power of women in leadership positions. This topic is highly relevant across all industries, but it has been over the past year that I have felt the conversation ramp up in the fintech space – thanks to incredible communities such as Women of FinTech, The HERD Agencies, and Women in Tech. Shieldpay is proud to have women heading up our Revenue, Operations, and Technology functions - (typically, all male-dominated areas. Seeing these women lead, nurture and deliver incredible achievements in these positions is incredibly empowering for me as a woman. Naturally, I lean on these women as inspiration - they are my hardest critics, while also being my loudest supporters 🦸 ♀️
- Choose your manager wisely - The truth is, working in scaling fintech, post-pandemic, mid-recession, is not smooth sailing - you will make mistakes. While it's essential to limit the impact of these mistakes what's been important to me is knowing I have the full support of my manager. For anyone (like me) who is drawn to fast-paced, ever-evolving firms, you really need to consider who your manager is going to be when interviewing for a new position. Yes, you need to believe in the product and align with the culture of the company, but your manager is your 'right-hand' during the storms – choose your next role, and your next manager, wisely!
- Your high horse 🐴 – When it comes to working for a scaling fintech, it’s business as usual to be asked to jump into new projects, some of which may be considered ‘beneath’ you. If a title is important to you, and you don’t like to be hands-on, I’d suggest another sector. Whilst it's important to be clear on your expectations, I’ve learned that the most successful people are those who will lend a hand and give their time to all.
- 🎸‘Working 9 to 5, is no way to make a living’ - I’m afraid to break the news to Dolly that working a ‘9 to 5' is a thing of the past. But let's be clear, that doesn’t mean working more – we all need to respect our own boundaries and acknowledge when we are at capacity. What it does mean is being flexible to the needs of others. Shieldpay is full of people with different needs; young partners, paw-rants (like me), those with physical or mental health conditions, people who have cultural needs, etc. In my opinion, companies who are uncompromising on the 9-5 working hours are overtly limiting the inclusivity of their teams. A successful scale-up needs diversity; we must rethink tradition and bring in new ways of working.
- Yes - I’m still rocking the same emoji 🚀
