Humans of Fintech

FinMkt’s Luan Cox is Building for Where the Market is Going

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

FinMkt’s President and CEO, Luan Cox, anticipated the needs of modern financial services years before the market recognized them. Scaling multiple tech companies to successful exits, Luan Cox’s work has been recognized and awarded many times over, most recently at The Femmy’s as Innovator of the Year.

Cox sits down with Nicole Casperson to talk early career lessons, building for where the market is going – not where it’s been – and her work with Springboard Enterprises, including a new female fintech founder cohort designed to accelerate the next generation of category-defining leaders.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

Stripe’s Sophie Sakellariadis is Teaching us About Stablecoins

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Stripe leader Sophie Sakellariadis has had a unique front row seat in modern fintech for over a decade.

From Stripe’s global expansion to building money movement systems behind how businesses store value, move funds, and operate across borders, Sakellariadis sits down with Nicole Casperson to talk about the First-Wave of Fintech, the Next Era, and even teach us about stablecoins.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

SPONSORED BY FINTECH MEETUP: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

AND for the first time ever, Humans of Fintech is hosting the premier podcast booth at Fintech Meetup—where the fintech industry actually does business.

Fintech Meetup brings together leaders from banks, fintechs, credit unions, and investing firms for 50,000+ one-to-one meetings designed to drive real partnerships and real ROI.

And this year, we’re spotlighting the humans behind the headlines.

🎧 Nominate Someone to Be Featured on Humans of Fintech

In partnership with Fintech Meetup, we’re launching a special nomination contest for the Fintech Is Femme community.

Here’s how it works:

Nominate yourself or a colleague to be featured in a live recording of Humans of Fintech on the Fintech Meetup show floor
All nominees receive discounted Fintech Meetup tickets
Two winners — the nominator and the nominee — receive FREE VIP tickets
The selected nominee records a live podcast episode with Nicole Casperson, with their story and insights distributed across the Humans of Fintech network of 100,000+ fintech leaders

🎯 Ready to step into the spotlight?

👉 Nominate now and lock in your spot: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

Because fintech is built by humans — and their stories deserve the mic.

Ready to join Fintech Meetup now? Secure your registration here:

*https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1tipmzl935flc?actioncode=000187WUF*

SoFi’s Kelli Keough is Helping us Spend, Invest, Protect, and Save.

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:40:00 -0400

.Today, SoFi serves more than 12 million members, operates as a full-scale digital financial services platform, is the NBA's official bank, and is the namesake of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

And their EVP, group business unit leader for Spend, Invest, Protect, and Save, Kelli Keough, sits down with Nicole to discuss how consumer behavior is changing under economic pressure, what it takes to build a winning consumer fintech brand at scale, and how the next era of fintech will belong to companies that understand people as deeply as they understand systems.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

SPONSORED BY FINTECH MEETUP: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

AND for the first time ever, Humans of Fintech is hosting the premier podcast booth at Fintech Meetup—where the fintech industry actually does business.

Fintech Meetup brings together leaders from banks, fintechs, credit unions, and investing firms for 50,000+ one-to-one meetings designed to drive real partnerships and real ROI.

And this year, we’re spotlighting the humans behind the headlines.

🎧 Nominate Someone to Be Featured on Humans of Fintech

In partnership with Fintech Meetup, we’re launching a special nomination contest for the Fintech Is Femme community.

Here’s how it works:

Nominate yourself or a colleague to be featured in a live recording of Humans of Fintech on the Fintech Meetup show floor
All nominees receive discounted Fintech Meetup tickets
Two winners — the nominator and the nominee — receive FREE VIP tickets
The selected nominee records a live podcast episode with Nicole Casperson, with their story and insights distributed across the Humans of Fintech network of 100,000+ fintech leaders

🎯 Ready to step into the spotlight?

👉 Nominate now and lock in your spot: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

Because fintech is built by humans — and their stories deserve the mic.

Ready to join Fintech Meetup now? Secure your registration here:

*https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1tipmzl935flc?actioncode=000187WUF*

Engineer to Storyteller: Sanjib Kalita, Chairman of Fintech Meetup on Building Relationships, Startups, and the Future of Fintech

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Recorded in the heart of Manhattan, we’re kicking off a very special Season 10: The Winner’s Circle with Fintech Meetup’s Sanjib Kalita. Host Nicole Casperson and Kalita sit down to discuss his start as an engineer building the early stages of big tech to his current role as Chairman of Fintech Meetup, the importance of relationships and storytelling in fintech, and lessons learned from his time at both large institutions and scrappy startups.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

SPONSORED BY FINTECH MEETUP: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

AND for the first time ever, Humans of Fintech is hosting the premier podcast booth at Fintech Meetup—where the fintech industry actually does business.

Fintech Meetup brings together leaders from banks, fintechs, credit unions, and investing firms for 50,000+ one-to-one meetings designed to drive real partnerships and real ROI.

And this year, we’re spotlighting the humans behind the headlines.

🎧 Nominate Someone to Be Featured on Humans of Fintech

In partnership with Fintech Meetup, we’re launching a special nomination contest for the Fintech Is Femme community.

Here’s how it works:

Nominate yourself or a colleague to be featured in a live recording of Humans of Fintech on the Fintech Meetup show floor
All nominees receive discounted Fintech Meetup tickets
Two winners — the nominator and the nominee — receive FREE VIP tickets
The selected nominee records a live podcast episode with Nicole Casperson, with their story and insights distributed across the Humans of Fintech network of 100,000+ fintech leaders

🎯 Ready to step into the spotlight?

👉 Nominate now and lock in your spot: https://hubs.la/Q040Bpk50

Because fintech is built by humans — and their stories deserve the mic.

Ready to join Fintech Meetup now? Secure your registration here:

*https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1tipmzl935flc?actioncode=000187WUF*

The Fairness Playbook: How Consumer Reports Is Redefining Digital Finance

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Recorded live from the Money20/20 show floor in Las Vegas, this special Humans of Fintech episode explores what it really takes to design a fair digital economy in a moment when financial systems are shifting faster than ever. Host Nicole Casperson sits down with Consumer Reports leaders Delicia Hand, Johnny Mathias, and Evan Feeney to break down the six principles of the Fair Digital Finance framework that help fintechs embed transparency, inclusion, and user protection from day one.

Across the episode, one truth becomes clear. Fair design isn’t just good for consumers — it’s good for business. The companies that measure fairness, communicate clearly, and give users real control are the ones that earn trust, loyalty, and long-term growth.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

Inside Growing Global: Lessons From the Builders Scaling Fintech Worldwide

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Recorded live from the Fintech Penthouse at Money 2020 in Las Vegas, this two-part 'Humans of Fintech' special explores what it really takes to grow globally in a moment when financial systems are being rewritten in real-time. Host Nicole Casperson gathers leaders shaping the future of cross-border fintech to share the mindsets, tactics, and human stories behind global expansion.

Part 1 features Mary Murcko, Head of Growth at Fintech Meetup, who has scaled some of the world’s most iconic media brands and is now leading Fintech Meetup’s international expansion. Mary breaks down how to know when a company is ready to go global, the signals that pointed her team to Lisbon, and why clarity, culture, and storytelling matter more than ever when entering new regions. She shares tactical lessons from decades of building brands across borders and explains how connection and trust outweigh everything else when it comes to global scale.

Part 2 brings forward Jessica Johnson, CEO of Rosy Finch Method and Co., and Remy Sirls, Executive Director of the Joblio Foundation. Together, they unpack the human, operational, and strategic layers of expanding across markets. Jessica reveals her framework for localizing messaging, understanding cultural nuance, and knowing whether a product is truly ready for another region. Remy offers a rare glimpse into the global labor migration ecosystem and shares how Joblio is utilizing technology to create ethical pathways for talent worldwide.

Across both conversations, the morning centers on a powerful truth. Growing Global is not just about moving money. It is about moving people, ideas, and opportunity with intention and responsibility.

These live sessions capture the clarity, grit, and global perspective needed to build the next era of fintech.

🎧 Hit play to learn how today’s leaders are scaling across borders and shaping a more connected financial future.

A Toast to Women in Fintech – Fintech for Good

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Recorded live from the Fintech Penthouse at Money 2020 in Las Vegas, this special edition of Humans of Fintech honors the past, confronts the present, and reimagines the future of financial systems. Host Nicole Casperson opens the night by grounding the room in a powerful truth. Women have been shaping fintech long before fintech had a name, from Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper to Maggie Lena Walker. And today’s builders are continuing that legacy with intention, grit, and a vision for real financial inclusion.

Nicole is joined by industry leaders moving the world forward in meaningful ways:

• Alexander Matjanec, Founder and CEO, Wysh

• Edwin Endlich, President and Chair of the Board, NAFLI

• Kseniya Zaslavskaya, Business Development Operations, Wysh

• Erica Woods, Head of US State and Local Public Policy, Stripe

• Shanthi Shanmugam, Co-founder and CEO, Casap

• Shilpi Nayak, Co-founder and CTO, Goodfin

Together, they deliver a candid, energetic, and deeply insightful conversation about what it means to build in this historic in-between era: a moment when the old financial systems are breaking and the new ones are being written in real time.

These live sessions capture the urgency, hope, and fire of a community committed to designing a financial system that works for all of us. It is fintech for good in action.

🎧 Hit play to hear the leaders rewriting the rules and building what comes next.

Connecting the Dots: Building Businesses That Last

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Live from a buzzing room in NYC, this special Humans of Fintech episode brings two dynamic leaders to the stage: Nicole Mitchell, Partner at Aprio, and Tiffany Haynes, investor, advisor, and former COO of Fingercheck.

Nicole shares how she’s spent nearly 30 years as a connector, guiding founders to see the bigger picture and helping businesses grow beyond the numbers. From her bold beginnings to becoming a trusted advisor across industries, she unpacks the value of foresight and why she calls herself a “travel guide” for entrepreneurs.

Tiffany reflects on her move from corporate to fintech, where she scaled a bootstrapped company to a $150M exit. She discusses the strategies that kept her teams engaged, why timing matters more than speed, and how to make growth sustainable.

Together, they unpack how to “connect the dots” in leadership, scale, culture, and why the future of fintech belongs to leaders who see people first.

🎧 Hit play to hear Nicole and Tiffany’s playbooks for building businesses that last.

Leadership, Ambition & Humanity in Finance: A Live Conversation

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:57:00 -0400

Live from a packed room in NYC, this special Humans of Fintech episode brings two powerhouse voices to the stage: Nina Chmura, Partner at Withum and creator of its Outsourced Accounting Systems & Solutions practice (OASyS), and Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Board Member at the National Alliance for Financial Literacy and Inclusion and long-time champion of innovation, access, and equity in finance.

Nina shares the bold pivot that took her from the partner track to building a “scrappy startup” inside a 2,500-person firm and why she believes relationships, not revenue targets, are the real foundation for growth. Amanda reflects on her career inflection points, from traditional banking to fintech strategy, and the leadership lessons she’s carried into her work in financial inclusion.

Together, they unpack what it means to lead with ambition and humanity, the challenges of building resilient teams in an AI-driven world, and why “there’s no such thing as a simple business” when people are at the center.

Plus: their hardest leadership lessons, the future of innovation in finance, and the one takeaway they hope will stick with you long after the conversation ends.

🎧 Hit play to hear how Nina and Amanda are rewriting the rules of leadership, one bold move at a time.

Fighting FinCrime Smarter: Trisha Kothari on Building Unit21 and Outpacing Fraudsters

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Trisha Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Unit21, for a deep dive into one of fintech’s most urgent (and misunderstood) frontiers: fraud and compliance.

From uncovering flaws in legacy systems to building a platform trusted by top fintechs, Trisha has made it her mission to stop financial crime—without making it harder for teams to do their jobs.

She shares what the early fintech boom got wrong about compliance, how AI is changing the FinCrime landscape, and why collaboration—not isolation—is the secret weapon against fraud.

Plus, hear the wildest fraud case Unit21 has ever seen, what’s keeping Trisha up at night, and how the “Fraud Fighters” network is turning industry knowledge into community-powered defense.

If you care about infrastructure, inclusion, or the humans behind fraud prevention—this one’s for you.

🎧 Hit play to hear how Trisha is building smarter tools, stronger teams, and a safer financial future.

Leading the Climate Fintech Movement with Bhuva Shakti

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Bhuva Shakti, founder of Bhuva’s Impact Global and Chief Sustainable Innovation Officer at Wallet Max™, for a conversation about the intersection of fintech, climate, and innovation.

With more than 30 years of experience in digital finance, Bhuva has helped companies navigate complex financial landscapes—while pushing for solutions that put both people and the planet first. Now, she’s at the forefront of the Climate Fintech movement, using AI-powered tools to build a more inclusive and sustainable financial system.

Bhuva shares how her work is challenging legacy mindsets, how fintech can help solve the world’s most urgent environmental problems, and why intentional collaboration—like the upcoming Emerald Summit she’s co-hosting with Nicole—is the future of meaningful progress.

If you're curious about where climate, finance, and innovation collide, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Breaking Barriers in Credit with Angel Rich, CEO of CreditRich

Thu, 08 May 2025 11:59:00 -0400

In this special episode of Humans of Fintech, recorded live at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Angel Rich, Founder and CEO of CreditRich, for a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, strategic disruption, and building a billion-dollar impact in fintech.

Dubbed “the next Steve Jobs” by Forbes and honored with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Angel is behind the first Black woman-owned neobank and has led CreditRich to groundbreaking partnerships with Experian, Visa, and Equifax. But her path hasn’t been easy. From raising just $200K while competitors raised millions to leveraging what she calls the “Trojan Horse Strategy,” Angel shares how being underestimated became her greatest advantage.

In this fireside chat, Angel opens up about leaving corporate America, designing tools for financial inclusion, and leading CreditRich during a time of deep economic inequality. She also dives into what it means to build a legacy as an underestimated founder and what’s next in her mission to shift power in finance.

If you’re building with purpose, navigating resistance, or looking for real talk on disrupting from the inside out, this episode is for you.

Redefining Wealth-Building in Latin America with Carlos Díaz of RUUT

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:48:00 -0400

In this in-person episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Carlos Díaz, Co-Founder of RUUT, Mexico’s largest Registered Investment Advisor, for a candid conversation about access, inclusion, and reimagining investing for a new generation.

RUUT serves many first-time investors, with an average user age of just 24. The platform already manages $4 million in assets and has helped clients earn more than $100,000 in returns. With Carlos recently crowned the winner of the Nasdaq Trailblazer Contest, RUUT’s mission is catching the attention of global fintech leaders.

Carlos shares the frustrations that sparked RUUT’s launch, what it means to design for “non-investors,” and why community has been key to building trust in a market with historically low financial literacy. He also unpacks the UX decisions that make RUUT stand out and what’s next for the future of fintech in Latin America.

If you care about inclusive finance, next-gen innovation, or what it takes to build a high-impact fintech in a challenging market, this episode is a must-listen.

Closing the Financial Gender Gap with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Co-Founder of Female Invest, for an inspiring conversation about financial empowerment, global community-building, and what it takes to challenge a male-dominated industry from the ground up.

What began as a frustration with the lack of women in finance events has since become a movement. Since 2019, Female Invest has reached more than 90,000 members in over 120 countries—offering tools, education, and support to help women invest with confidence. With endorsements from icons like Emma Watson and Hillary Clinton, the platform is making massive waves in the financial education space.

Anna shares the story behind launching Female Invest, the early challenges of convincing others that women do want to talk about money, and the moments that proved the mission was working. She also opens up about how intentional community-building became their superpower.

If you care about inclusion, financial literacy, or what it looks like to build a mission-first company that lasts, this episode is a must-listen.

Financial Literacy for the 99%: Empowering Communities with Ashley Fox

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Ashley Fox, Founder and CEO of Empify, for a powerful conversation on financial literacy, community empowerment, and what it means to challenge Wall Street’s status quo.

Ashley shares how her experiences as a former Wall Street analyst led her to launch Empify—a platform committed to delivering financial education and resources to underserved communities. With a mission to reach the 99% that traditional finance has long ignored, Ashley is reshaping how everyday people access, understand, and build wealth.

This episode unpacks her entrepreneurial journey, the real-life impact of financial education, and the power of meeting people where they are when it comes to money. Ashley's story is a must-hear for anyone passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable financial future.

You can hear even more of Ashley’s story at the upcoming Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit, where she’ll be joining as a featured speaker.

🔗 Learn more & secure your spot: https://www.fintechisfemme.co/leadershipsummit2025

Building Fintech Together: Storytelling, Partnerships & Innovation

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:32:00 -0400

Live from Fintech Meetup, this episode of Humans of Fintech explores the power of storytelling, community-building, and the dynamics of working alongside a partner in the fintech space. Host Nicole Casper is joined by her life and business partner, Anton Briones (Co-Founder and CEO & Creative Director), along with Dan and Sarah Roselli from Rev Tech Labs, a couple who have built a thriving fintech accelerator together.

The conversation dives into the unique challenges and advantages of working with a partner, the balance between personal and professional life, and how strong relationships drive innovation and success. They also discuss their journey from launching a startup hub in Charlotte to growing a global fintech accelerator, the significance of New York Fintech Week, and why founders’ personal stories matter more than ever to investors.

Tune in to hear their experiences, lessons learned, and advice for those navigating similar paths in the industry.

Get ready for the fintech events that will define 2025. Don’t miss out-tune in now!

🔗 Learn more & secure your spot at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit: https://www.fintechisfemme.co/leadershipsummit2025

NY Fintech Week & The Future of Fintech with Jon Zanoff

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 06:51:00 -0400

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Jon Zanoff, the Founder of Empire Startups—better known as the "Mayor of Fintech" in NYC. For over 15 years, Jon has been at the forefront of the fintech community, bringing together founders, investors, and banking leaders through the country’s largest fintech meetup and the highly anticipated New York Fintech Week.

But this year, there’s something even bigger on the horizon. Nicole’s Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit is back, and it’s redefining fintech as we know it. Following the success of last year’s groundbreaking event, the summit is set to deliver even more high-impact conversations, featuring powerhouse speakers like Angel Rich (CreditRich), Drew Glover (Fiat Ventures), Rochelle Gorey (SpringFour), and more. Expect expert-led panels, fireside chats, and unmatched networking opportunities with fintech’s most influential leaders.

Jon and Nicole break down why these events are must-attend moments for anyone in fintech—whether you’re a founder, investor, or rising leader looking to make an impact. Plus, they share exclusive insights on what’s in store for NY Fintech Week, how fintech is stepping up to tackle major economic challenges, and why inclusive leadership is the future of the industry.

Get ready for the fintech events that will define 2025. Don’t miss out—tune in now!

🔗 Learn more & secure your spot at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit: https://www.fintechisfemme.co/leadershipsummit2025

The Crossroads of Identity and Innovation: Solving Fraud in the Digital Age with Frances Zelazny

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we sit down with Frances Zelazny, a trailblazer in the biometrics and fraud prevention space. Frances shares insights into her unique journey, shaped by her mixed cultural background, and how it led her to create innovative solutions for one of the world’s biggest challenges: fraud. From her early career in foreign policy to discovering the potential of biometrics, Frances talks about how her experiences shaped her mission to protect personal data in an increasingly digital world. Join us as we explore the intersection of identity, technology, and fraud prevention, and how we can build a safer, more secure future.

Flipping the Script: A Live Celebration of Fintech Feminists with Amy Nauiokas.

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In this very special episode of Humans of Fintech, we’re taking you live to an unforgettable evening: the book launch party for FinTech Feminist in New York City. With 100 of the most dynamic leaders in fintech gathered to celebrate, the energy was electric. But here’s the twist—this time, the mic wasn’t in my hands.

Our guest interviewer? The one and only Amy Nauiokas, Founder & CEO of Anthemis and a visionary force in fintech investing. Known for her fearless commitment to inclusive innovation, Amy turns the tables and dives into the stories behind the book, explores the future of fintech, and uncovers what it really takes to thrive in this ever-evolving industry.

Get ready for a candid, inspiring conversation full of community spirit, personal reflections, and bold ideas. Let’s dive in!

Tori Dunlap: Financial Literacy, Female Leadership, and the Fight for Financial Equity.

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we're bringing the heat with Tori Dunlap, powerhouse founder of Her First $100K and advocate for women's financial independence. Tori’s on a mission to smash the glass ceiling of money myths and help women claim their financial power. She gets real about her journey, her upbringing, and her path from breaking into the financial world to empowering women everywhere to take control of their wealth.

Expect insights on breaking down barriers, owning your financial story, and why Tori believes financial freedom is the greatest form of protest. Get ready for some serious inspiration—let’s dive in!

Note: This interview was recorded in January 2024.

Sallie Krawcheck: Money Moves, Power Plays, & Redefining Entrepreneurship

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we’re bringing some serious fire with none other than Sallie Krawcheck—the OG queen of fintech and Founder & CEO of Ellevest. She’s out here breaking down barriers, building empires, and proving that women can—and will—run the financial world. We get real about money, leadership, and what it really takes to flip the script in an industry built by men, for men. Sallie drops gems on leveling up, owning your power, and why the future of finance is female.

Get ready to feel inspired and maybe a little savage. Let’s dive in.

S7 Ep6: How Candidly Delivered Nearly $1 Billion in Student Loan Savings, with Laurel Taylor

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Student loan debt is a major issue in the United States, affecting millions of Americans. Nicole sits down with Laurel Taylor, CEO and Founder of Candidly, to discuss how her company is using technology to empower individuals and help them navigate the complexities of student loan repayment.

Laurel shares her personal journey and the challenges she faced in bringing her idea to life. She explains how Candidly uses AI to go beyond simple debt by helping users achieve financial wellness. On track to deliver nearly a billion dollars in student loan debt savings, Candidly is one of the foremost fintech solutions for absolving a financial crisis so many face.

Plus, Nicole and Laurel also discuss the broader implications of student debt on the economy and how technology is ultimately a force for sustainable, positive change.

00:00:02 - Navigating the World of Human Fintech

00:02:47 - The Growing Crisis of Student Debt in America

00:09:57 - How Candidly Helps Americans Manage Student Debt

00:15:34 - Overcoming Rejection: Turning Laughter into Success

00:22:36 - Human Touch: Managing Student Debt

00:28:05 - Secure Act and Student Loan Payments

00:35:10 - Staying Positive Through Uncertainty and Student Debt

00:40:16 - Enlightened Capitalism: Purpose and Profit in Fintech

Learn More About Candidly:

Website: https://getcandidly.com

Follow Laurel:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltmit/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

S7 Ep5: Nina Mohanty on the Immigrant Experience and Financial Inclusion

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Nina Mohanty, the founder of Bloom Money, a platform that provides financial options for immigrants. Nina shares her personal experience as a first-generation immigrant and discusses the importance of diversity in the fintech industry.

She also chats with Nicole about the need for financial inclusion and explains how Bloom Money is working to serve distinct communities better, reflecting on her own upbringing and how it shaped her mindset towards money.

00:01:24 - A Multicultural Upbringing in Silicon Valley

00:06:06 - The Immigrant Experience: Challenges and Privilege

00:12:24 - The Influence of Parents on Money Mindset

00:21:32 - Building Wealth for Immigrants: Bloom

00:27:34 - Fintech Company Helps Immigrants Financially

00:31:05 - The Unexpected Journey of a Founder Obsessed with Financial Inclusion

00:33:59 - The Importance of Diversity in Fintech

00:38:42 - Enjoying a Meal Together

Follow Nina:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamohanty/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S7 Ep4: Breaking Barriers with Fintech’s Most Powerful Women (Live from Money 20/20)

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Meet fintech’s most influential women in the industry. Sasha Pilch, Principal at Fin Capital, Emma Zhang, Founder and CEO of Pactfi, and Kathryn Petralia, Co-Founder of Keep Financial, join Nicole live from Money 20/20 to discuss the importance of female representation and empowerment in fintech.

With women making up less than 30% of the fintech workforce and only 8% holding leadership roles, something needs to change. These inspiring women share their experiences and insights on how to break through the barriers and create a more inclusive industry.

From the importance of storytelling and confidence to the need for more female VCs and founders, this roundtable discussion covers it all, touching on the power of male allies and sponsors in supporting women in fintech.

Join us for this candid and insightful conversation as we celebrate the achievements of women in fintech and pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future.

00:01:40 - The Importance of Female Leadership in Fintech

00:04:36 - From Investment to Fintech Success

00:08:14 - Increasing Female Representation in Fintech

00:14:21 - Leveraging Storytelling: Strength of Female Fintech Entrepreneur

00:19:27 - The Contrarian Approach to Entrepreneurship

00:22:44 - Strategies for Women in VC Funding

00:23:51 - Overcoming Biases: Women Founders and Funding

00:29:09 - Empowering Women to Build Big Ideas

00:36:01 - Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Sales

00:41:54 - The Power of Male Allies in Creating Change

00:44:29 - Fintech's Potential to Change Lives

Follow Sasha:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-pilch/

Follow Emma:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-zhang-57035a33/

Follow Kathryn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynpetralia/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S7 Ep3: Breaking Fintech Barriers and Trusting the Journey, with Anaid Chacon

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Trust is a crucial element in the fintech industry, and Anaid Chacon, SVP of Product Development at Argyle, knows just how important it is to establish trust with customers.

In this episode, she and Nicole discuss the challenges of building trust in fintech and how incorporating behavioral finance elements into Argyle's product helps to create a more trustworthy experience for its users.

Anaid also shares her personal journey with fintech and the importance of authenticity and diversity in the fintech space. And later, she divulges why women should stop worrying about knowing everything before diving headfirst into the fintech industry.

00:00:49 – Anaid’s Story with the Fintech Industry

00:05:01 - Establishing Trust in Fintech Companies

00:08:21 - Argyle: Bringing Trust to Financial Data Access

00:12:12 - The Importance of Emotion in Fintech

00:15:06 - Incorporating Behavioral Finance into Product

00:24:04 - Navigating the Journey of Leadership

00:31:36 - How Confidence Transforms Personal Presentation

00:32:49 - Authenticity and Diversity in Fintech

00:37:21 - Bringing Transparency and Trust to Fintech

Follow Anaid:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anaid-chacon/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S7 Ep2: Banks, Fintech, and the Latin American Landscape: A Candid Conversation with Cristina Ciaravalli

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0400

In this candid conversation, Nicole takes a beat to talk with Cristina Ciaravalli about her storied career in the fintech industry, from her early beginnings working for Goldman Sachs to meeting and falling in love with tech startup, Plaid.

The two chat about the differences between working for an organization like Goldman versus working for fintech startups and discuss what, exactly, drew Cristina to Plaid. Then, they pivot into dissecting how regulation makes banking as a service fundamentally different from fintech, before diving into the latest trends in fintech in Latin America.

Plus, Cristina divulges why she’s excited to see the changes that come from the collaboration between the Central Bank of Brazil and the Brazilian government and explains what change in fintech she wishes to see the most.

Follow Cristina:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinaciara/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

S7 Ep1: Poker Power Play: Bridging the Gender Gap, with Jenny Just

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Did you know that less than 7% of poker players are women?

Jenny Just, the founder of Poker Power Play App, is on a mission to change that. In this episode, she and Nicole discuss the importance of women's representation in the poker world and how playing poker can develop valuable skills for both personal and professional growth.

Jenny shares her vision of creating a gender-neutral poker app and her goal of having half of all poker players be women. They also explore the role of women in decision-making around money and the need for more financial education programs in schools.

Join Nicole and Jenny as they dive into the world of poker and its potential to empower women in the fintech space.

00:00:26 - The Importance of Curiosity in Money and Investing

00:02:28 - Breaking Barriers: Women in Fintech

00:09:23 - Poker: Empowering Women Personally & Professionally

00:16:04 - Closing the Gender Gap in Finance

00:21:44 - Using Poker to Empower Women in Finance

00:28:38 - Poker Power Play App Empowers Women

00:34:42 - Empowering Women in Financial Decision-Making

00:42:38 - The Journey of Poker Power

Check Out Poker Power:

Website: https://pokerpower.com

Follow Jenny:

Website: https://www.jennyjust.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-just/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep6: Zach Anderson Pettet on the Future of Fintech, Money 2020, & Beyond

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Join Nicole as she chats with fintech aficionado Zach Anderson Pettet. From the importance of diverse experiences to the irony of investment apps, they’re tackling it all so that you don’t have to.

Zach delves into his personal journey with fintech, revealing how his early financial struggles shaped his interest in fintech and beyond.

Then, Nicole and Zach touch upon the Money 20/20 conference, with Zach giving a behind-the-scenes look at content curation.

Plus, why does Zach feel people in fintech need to lighten up, stop taking it quite so seriously, and have a little more fun? Tune in to find out!

Follow Zach:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachpettet/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep5: Overcoming Your Financial Baggage, with Alejandra Rojas

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Nicole chats with Alejandra Rojas, founder of The Money Mindset Hub, about why it’s so critical for women to acknowledge and address all of the emotional baggage and trauma money brings with it.

Alejandra explains why approaching money from a clearer mindset enables women to seize opportunities in an otherwise male-dominated space and to level up in new ways where finances won’t automatically trigger an emotional response. By creating a safe space where people can feel safe to discuss their issues with finances, Alejandra believes women can unlock their true entrepreneurial prowess.

Plus, Nicole and Alejandra also dive into active ways to create a more positive financial mindset and explain why fintech has the capability to impact generational change.

Follow Alejandra:

Website: https://wwthemoneymindsethub.com

Podcast: The Money Mindset Show

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep4: A Global Perspective on Embedded Finance, with Ahon Sarkar

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

What does the future of embedded finance look like in countries experiencing a financial revolution, with cultural norms so different from our own?

General Manager to Helix, Ahon Sarkar, chats with Humans of Fintech host Nicole Casperson about the homogeneity of cultural spending across the world, including the rising appetite for greater access to wealth management in India, South Korea, and India.

Plus, Ahon and Nicole discuss the challenges niche embedded finance companies face in creating a sustainable business model and generate a few potential solutions to solve the drop-off problem.

0:00 Intro

7:10 Nerd Moments in Taiwan

11:10 Cultural Differences

16:20 Niche Play and Adjacencies

22:51 Survival of the Fittest

32:41 International Embedded Finance

40:00 Intraregional Cooperation

44:10 Fintech’s Future

Follow Ahon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahonsarkar/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep3: Feminism, Fintech, and OnlyFans, with CEO of OnlyFans, Keily Blair

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

We get it, we get it. When you hear the word “OnlyFans,” feminism isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind.

Keily Blair, CEO of OnlyFans, is here to explain why it should.

In this live event, she and Nicole discuss the implications of fintech being a predominantly male industry and why the inclusion of women throughout the design process is so important. Then, Keily explains how OnlyFans is ensuring that women have an equal seat at the table, from the C-Suite down and how the $250 billion creator economy is presenting new challenges to the way we think about traditional finance.

Trust us, when we say that this episode is a fascinating ride!

Follow Keily:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilyblair/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep2: The First Wealth Management App for Couples, with Plenty Co-Founder & CEO, Emily Luk

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

How much money do you need to have a child? What, exactly, should your finances look like before you consider buying a house? How much should you save for a wedding?

You shouldn’t have to pay $1000 or more to find out the answers to these questions from a financial planner— and Emily Luk, CEO and Co-Founder of Plenty, has designed the first platform designed with couples' finances in mind.

She and Nicole chat about the current state of wealth management for couples and how, with over 65% of millennial couples partnering up, it’s more relevant than ever before. Emily explains her journey to developing Plenty and what she hopes will be the start of greater access to wealth management planning for demographics of all kinds.

Get Early Access to Plenty:

https://www.withplenty.com

Follow Emily:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylukca/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S6 Ep1: Unpacking the Gender Gaps in Fintech, with Tracey Davies and Scarlett Sieber

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0400

In this live event, Nicole sits down with Tracey Davies (President of Money20/20) and Scarlett Sieber (Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20) to talk about their unique experiences within the fintech industry.

What are the gaps in diversity and inclusion they’ve been witness to, and what are they doing to ensure their platform is used to progress the industry forward?

Nicole also chats with Scarlett and Tracey about why having a psychological safety net at work helps companies to take advantageous risks and why the cult of perfection stops companies from doing more than they’re capable of.

Plus, how is Tracey’s organization, RiseUp, helping women in fintech to develop broader professional networks? You want to miss this empowering chat!

Follow Tracey:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyd/?originalSubdomain=uk

Follow Scarlett:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlettsieber/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S5 Ep6: B2C Fintech’s Greatest Misconceptions, with Katie Perry

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s pod, Nicole and guest speaker, Katie Perry, GM of B2B for the fintech app Public, are breaking down the biggest misconceptions surrounding B2C in fintech.

Is B2C in Fintech still alive and thriving? What are the advantages of having a diversified perspective in the fintech market? And how can we build a better industry by encouraging women to break down barriers and fill leadership positions within the B2C community?

Plus, find out how Public is aiming to make investing more accessible by providing education and context to empower their users to make more informed decisions.

Follow Katie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineperry/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katieeperry?lang=en

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S5 Ep5: Dismantling the Double Standards Women in the Workplace Face, with Author Julia Boorstin

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:00:00 -0400

Did you know that studies show female-founded startups yield higher profits and sell a year earlier than male-founded companies?

In this live event, Nicole speaks with CNBC Senior Correspondent Julia Boorstin about her latest book, “When Women Lead.”

Julia’s book covers groundbreaking and deeply researched studies revealing the common characteristics that help top female leaders thrive in the workplace, and she’s breaking them down live.

Then, stay tuned for a round of audience-fielded questions.

Buy Julia’s Book, “When Women Lead”:

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982168218

Follow Julia:

www.juliaboorstin.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaboorstin/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S5 Ep4: NYT Bestselling Author Daniel Crosby Talks Behavioral Finance

Wed, 24 May 2023 13:00:00 -0400

How can we account for the messiness of human beings when designing fintech apps?

New York Times bestselling author and Chief Behavioral Officer to Orion, Daniel Crosby, stops by the studio to chat with Nicole about behavioral finance and the role it plays in fintech.

As a former Ph.D. psychology grad, Daniel’s knowledge of the role that human behavior plays in financial decisions is second to none. He explains how we can use those behavioral decisions to help people spend money in ways that will incite joy instead of judgment and to destigmatize the financial struggles around money that are so commonplace.

Plus, can you name the top three worries most Americans have in their daily lives? Hint: they all have to do with money.

Follow Daniel:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcrosby/

Buy Daniel’s Books:

The Behavioral Investor

The Laws of Wealth

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Martin Toha, CEO of Array, on Empowering Consumers and Embracing Inclusion in Fintech

Tue, 23 May 2023 10:00:00 -0400

In this special episode sponsored by the embedded fintech products platform, Array, Nicole chats with founder Martin Toha about how Array is building a platform to help both clients and their customers own their financial future.

Plus, Nicole and Martin also dive into an important conversation around why an intentional, early investment in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) can drive impact and value internally and externally.

Want to know how to make DEIB part of your organization’s DNA? Tune in to find out!

Follow Array:

Website: https://array.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArrayPlatform

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arrayplatform/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/array-io/

Follow Martin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martintoha/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

If you want to learn more about bringing value to your business and the fintech Market check out the Report the Array team and I have put together!

S5 Ep3: Rewriting the Asian American Narrative in Fintech, with Liang Zhao

Wed, 10 May 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Did you know that 1 in every 124 Asian women in the workplace is a leader vs. 1 in every 50 white males?

Liang Zhao, CEO of the marketing consulting agency, Vansary, does, and that’s why she’s making it her personal mission to ensure underrepresented groups have an equal seat at the leadership table.

Liang sits down to speak with Nicole about what her experience as an Asian American has been like in the fintech space, including why the culture of internalization has made it difficult for Asian Americans to recognize when they’re being shortlisted and how fintech needs to work harder to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Plus, find out how Vansary is working with female founders, minority-owned businesses, and allies within the financial sector to help underrepresented groups find their leadership voice.

Follow Liang:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liang-zhao-7167851a/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S5 Ep2: Representing the Communities Fintech Serves with Helen Min

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

If you’re creating a fintech product that serves everyone but don’t have people building it who represent the groups you’re trying to help, how do you ever expect it to succeed?

In this live event, Nicole talks with Phenomenal Ventures’ Co-Founder, Helen Min, about her thoughts on fintech’s biggest problems, including the lack of representation for women within the fintech community.

She also shares why you should double down on telling your brand’s story through consistent messaging and explains why verticalized fintech applications are something to get excited about.

Follow Helen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenmin/

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S5 Ep1: How Stash CEO Liza Landsman is Making Economic Stability Accessible to All

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Industry powerhouse and Stash CEO Liza Landsman is in the studio to chat with Nicole about how she’s using FinTech to disrupt the bottleneck between economic sustainability and the average consumer.

Liza unpacks how the average consumer can benefit from Fintech and why, by using less coded, more accessible language, apps like Stash are breaking down barriers and encouraging those in poverty to achieve financial stability.

Plus, Nicole and Liza chat about the importance of representation in the Fintech sector and the psychology behind getting people to save more and buy less.

Follow Liza:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-landsman-83138b

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try:

Chicks of FinTwit

Tech Unlocked

Breaking Banks

Fintech Insider

0:00 Intro

5:20 No Place for Doubt

7:32 Making Consumer Finance Accessible

10:43 Why Investors Care About Profitability

11:41 Does Your Product Make The World a Better Place?

14:58 Why Money Matters

15:59 Is Fintech Oversaturated?

17:18 Taking Baby Steps to Achieve Financial Stability

23:42 Words of Advice

26:39 Empowering Women in FinTech

33:47 Outro

S4 Ep14: Virtual Event: Building The Fintech Community Through Real Talk

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

What happens when two of the most stellar names in fintech host a virtual event? Time to find out.

Nicole Casperson (Fintech is Femme) and Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) throw open the doors for this community-building online event, tackling the real questions around fintech inclusivity, if B2C fintech is dead (or should be), and how Gen Z and missional values must align when it comes to choosing a career path.

Plus you’ll also hear questions from the audience, including the unsexy parts of banking that fintech needs to get into next.

Follow Nicole:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-casperson-0820a5133/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

Follow Alex:

LinkedIn: .linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep13: Commentary - SVB: The Shaky Foundation Built On Under Representation

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

In this commentary episode, Nicole gets straight into talking about the topic of the moment: Silicon Valley Bank.

Digging below the story, Nicole offers searing analysis on the root causes and asks the important questions.

You'll also hear her take on herd mentality and how fintech must do better.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep12: Why A Fintech Company Is Going Back To Basics In The Classroom

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

How come they teach math and sex-ed at school but not money?

CJ MacDonald is CEO and Founder of Step, the next generation financial services company helping teens and young adults achieve financial independence and knowledge at an earlier age.

Nicole and CJ discuss why getting into schools at the earliest age creates the building blocks to financial stability, how savings bonds led to an aha moment, and how it all starts with a bank account.

Follow CJ:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjmacdonald/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJMacDonald

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Teaching Kids Financial Skills

Money management is a vital life skill that every individual should possess, yet many people lack it. Financial literacy should be taught in schools to prepare children for financial independence and empower them to make informed financial decisions. Financial education can equip children with the knowledge and skills necessary to budget, save, invest, and avoid debt. In this blog, we will discuss why it is essential to teach children about money and the benefits of financial education.

Financial Education Creates Responsible Adults
Financial Education Helps Children Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Financial Education Teaches Children About Saving and Investing
Financial Education Helps Children Avoid Debt

In conclusion, financial education is essential for children to become responsible adults who can manage their finances effectively. By teaching children about money management, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to budget, save, invest, and avoid debt. Financial education can help children develop critical thinking skills and make informed financial decisions. It can also teach them about the importance of saving and investing and how to avoid debt. Therefore, it is imperative to introduce financial education into the school curriculum to prepare children for financial independence and empower them to make informed financial decisions.

Fireside Chat: Katie Palencsar - VC Investor At The Anthemis Group

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Katie agrees to step into the spotlight for this quickfire round of questions.

Find out who’s on her fintech soundtrack, the best advice she ever received and so much more in this fireside chat with Nicole

Follow Katie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiepalencsar/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/damekatiep

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep11: What Katie Did Next. The VC Investor Backing Female Fintech Founders

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

How do you smash down common misconceptions around female fintech founders? Katie Palencsar is the startup founder turned investor, determined to bring equity into VC investments.

Katie is an investor at the Female Innovators Lab Fund within the Anthemis Group, the global platform cultivating change in the financial system by investing in, growing, and sustaining businesses committed to resiliency, transparency, access and equity.

Nicole and Katie discuss why she’s hell bent on shattering the misconceptions around female fintech founders, why it’s time to bring men back into the conversation, and how to respond to accusations of sexism.

Plus you’ll hear Katie’s advice for anyone who still feels on the outside of the industry and why investors are looking more and more for sustainability in their fintech investments.

Follow Katie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiepalencsar/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/damekatiep

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Why Women Are Smashing Down Barriers In Fintech

Fintech has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, with a lack of diversity in leadership and representation. However, this trend is changing, and women are increasingly breaking down barriers and entering fintech in larger numbers than ever before. In this blog, we'll explore why women are smashing down barriers into fintech.

Increased Opportunities

The fintech industry is rapidly growing, and with that growth comes increased opportunities for women. As the industry evolves, new job opportunities arise, and women are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities. The increased demand for diverse perspectives and experiences means that women are now more valued than ever in fintech.

Changing Attitudes

Society's attitudes towards women in the workplace are changing, and fintech is no exception. More and more companies are recognizing the importance of diversity in the workplace, and women are increasingly being welcomed and valued for their contributions. This change in attitudes is leading to more women entering the fintech industry and breaking down traditional barriers.

Strong Female Role Models

Women who have already made their mark in fintech are serving as strong role models for the next generation of women entering the industry. These role models are inspiring young women to pursue careers in fintech and showing them that success in this industry is achievable.

Inclusive Work Environments

Fintech companies are becoming more inclusive, with more companies recognizing the importance of creating an inclusive work environment. Inclusive work environments help women feel more valued, leading to increased job satisfaction and career advancement. Inclusive environments are also more attractive to job seekers, making it easier for fintech companies to attract talented women.

Innovative Solutions

Fintech companies are creating innovative solutions that appeal to a broad range of customers. Women have unique financial needs and preferences, and fintech companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion are better positioned to create solutions that meet the needs of women.

In conclusion, women are breaking down barriers in fintech due to increased opportunities, changing attitudes, strong female role models, inclusive work environments, and innovative solutions. The fintech industry is evolving, and women are well-positioned to make significant contributions to its growth and success. As a fintech professional, you can play a role in promoting diversity and inclusion, creating a more welcoming industry for women and other underrepresented groups.

S4 Ep10: Commentary - Why Financial Inclusion IS Fintech

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

How can your fintech product prioritize inclusion, generate profitability, and serve people who need financial tools?

In this quick breakdown Nicole defines what inclusion really means in the space, gives examples from Annie Jean-Baptiste’s best settling book, and how to capture a larger market share by creating more inclusive products for people of color, women and other underrepresented groups.

Plus, you’ll also get Nicole’s insights on how Google are building inclusivity into their products at the design stage.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Fireside Chat: Alison Staloch - CFO at Fundrise

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Join Nicole and Alison in this lightning round of questions, covering everything from music to inspirational advice.

Get to know Nicole's inspirational podcast guest even better in this 5-minute fireside chat.

Follow Alison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonstaloch/

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep9: The Regulator Who Fell Into Fintech To Build A Better System

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

From medicine to regulations and headlong into Fintech, meet the CFO building a better financial system.

Alison Staloch is CFO at Fundrise, America’s largest direct-to-investor alternatives investment platform, since 2012.

Nicole and Alison, dig into why a career in medicine left her cold, how she navigated a course through regulations and policy at the US Securities And Exchange Commission, and why Fundrise’s ethos for empowering its customer is her north star.

Plus, you’ll also hear the best piece of advice Alison was given and why Fintech outsiders should dive into the industry with no fear.

Follow Alison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonstaloch/

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:31 When Medicine Fell Flat

06:34 Monitoring For Opportunities And Challenges

10:06 Bridging The Knowledge Gap

15:14 Building A Better Financial System

19:01 Being Bullish On Tech

21:38 The Importance Of Badass Mentors

24:34 A Dire Need For Diversity

26:36 Living Out The Desire To Make An Impact

32:40 A Message To Outsiders

The Need For Diversity In Fintech

Diversity is a pressing issue in many industries, and fintech is no exception. Despite the industry's potential for innovation and impact, a lack of diversity can result in limited perspectives and missed opportunities for growth. In this blog, we'll explore the dire need for more diversity in fintech and why it's crucial for the industry's success.

Improved Innovation and Problem-Solving
Better Customer Understanding
Enhanced Reputation
Better Employee Retention and Recruitment
Ethical Responsibility

In conclusion, the need for more diversity in fintech is dire. By prioritizing diversity, fintech companies can improve innovation, customer understanding, reputation, employee retention and recruitment, and ethical responsibility. As a fintech professional, investing in diversity and inclusion initiatives can help you build a successful and fulfilling career while also contributing to the industry's success.

Fireside Chat: Vered Frank - Head of Marketing at Seeds Investment

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Vered is under the spotlight in this quickfire round of questions.

Discover her fintech soundtrack, the best advice she ever received and more in this fireside chat with Nicole.

Follow Vered:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veredfrank/

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Thank you so much!

S4 Ep8: How To Align Money With Meaning, Vered Frank, Seeds Investor

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

From traditional finance to fintech and back again, Vered Frank is the CMO helping investors find meaning and connection.

She is Head of Marketing at Seeds Investor, empowering financial advisors to deliver a more meaningful investment experience.

Nicole and Vered talk robo investment advisors, the disconnect between earning and spending, and how Vered found her fintech sweet spot.

Follow Vered:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veredfrank/

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:39 Learning From Tradition

06:34 Leveraging Processes In A Startup

12:58 The Seeds Vision

13:16 The Fintech Disconnect Between Earning And Spending

17:13 Financial Investor Role

19:10 New Ways Of Investing

How To Align Your Values With Your Work

As a fintech professional, it's important to ensure that your work aligns with your values. When you are working in an industry that has the potential to impact people's lives, it's crucial to be intentional about the impact you want to have. In this blog, we'll explore some tips on how to align your values with your work in fintech.

Identify Your Values

The first step in aligning your values with your work is to identify your core values. What is important to you? What motivates you? What do you want to achieve in your career? Identifying your values can help you determine if your work aligns with your personal goals and aspirations.

Choose Your Employer Carefully

Choosing the right employer is crucial to ensuring that your work aligns with your values. Before accepting a job, research the company's mission, values, and culture. Do they align with your own? Are there opportunities for growth and development? Working for a company that shares your values can make a huge difference in your job satisfaction and sense of purpose.

Seek Out Meaningful Projects

As a fintech professional, seek out projects and initiatives that align with your values. For example, if you are passionate about financial literacy, seek out opportunities to develop educational resources or work on initiatives that help people make informed financial decisions. By working on projects that are meaningful to you, you can feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your work.

Take Action

Aligning your values with your work is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. It's important to take action to ensure that your work reflects your values. This can include advocating for ethical practices in your organization, volunteering your time and resources to causes you care about, or speaking up when you see something that doesn't align with your values.

Connect with Like-Minded Professionals

Finally, connecting with like-minded professionals can help you stay motivated and inspired in your work. Joining industry groups, attending conferences, or networking with colleagues can provide opportunities to collaborate with others who share your values and goals.

In conclusion, aligning your values with your work in fintech can help you find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in your career. By identifying your values, choosing the right employer, seeking out meaningful projects, taking action, and connecting with like-minded professionals, you can create a career that aligns with your personal goals and aspirations. As a fintech professional, investing in values alignment can help you build a successful and fulfilling career in the industry.

S4 Ep7: The First-Time Fintech Founders Creating Community On Their Terms

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

What happens when you’re frozen out of financial conversations because of gender and ethnicity? You start your own conversation

Eve Halimi and Anam Lakhani are the first-time founders behind Alinea Invest, the community-driven money app with financial education, news, stock & crypto investing.

Nicole, Eve and Anam explore why so many women aren’t taught how to save and invest, the importance of non-predatory platforms and how Alinea got funded, despite investors not getting the problem or seeing the need for a solution.

Follow Eve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eve-halimi/

Follow Anam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anam-lakhani-443032134/

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

How To Build A Fintech Community

As a professional in the fintech industry, creating a strong community can be a key factor in the success of your business. A fintech community can provide numerous benefits, such as networking opportunities, collaboration, and access to valuable resources. In this blog, we'll explore some tips on how to create a fintech community that fosters growth, innovation, and engagement.

Identify Your Target Audience

The first step in creating a fintech community is to identify your target audience. Are you targeting startups, investors, or established companies? What are the key interests and pain points of your audience? Understanding your target audience will help you create content and events that are relevant and valuable to them.

Create an Online Presence

In today's digital age, creating an online presence is crucial for building a fintech community. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be used to engage with your target audience, share content, and promote events. You can also create a blog or website that provides valuable insights and resources for your community.

Host Events and Meetups

In-person events and meetups can be a powerful way to build a fintech community. These events provide an opportunity for networking, collaboration, and learning. You can host events like conferences, workshops, and hackathons that bring together fintech professionals and enthusiasts.

Provide Value

To create a successful fintech community, you need to provide value to your members. This can be in the form of educational resources, networking opportunities, or access to funding and investment opportunities. By providing value, you can build a loyal community that is engaged and invested in your business.

Encourage Engagement and Collaboration

Engagement and collaboration are key to building a strong fintech community. Encourage your members to share their thoughts and ideas, ask questions, and collaborate with each other. This can be done through online forums, group chats, or in-person events. By fostering a culture of collaboration, you can create a community that is innovative and supportive.

In conclusion, creating a fintech community can be a powerful way to build a successful business in the industry. By identifying your target audience, creating an online presence, hosting events, providing value, and encouraging engagement and collaboration, you can create a community that is engaged, supportive, and innovative. As a financial services professional, investing in a strong fintech community can be a valuable strategy for growth and success.

Fireside Chat: Michelle Tran - Head of Enterprise Sales and SVP at Vestwell

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Hold on tight as Michelle answers a lightning round of questions from Nicole in this fireside chat.

Get personal with 3 minutes, you don’t want to miss!

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Michelle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellektran/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MkateMama

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep6: The Fintech Entrepreneur Empowering Women Against Bro Culture

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Michelle Tran is building a community, meeting fintech bro culture head on. Find out why she will no longer be talked over.

Michelle Tran is the Head of Enterprise Sales and SVP at Vestwell, a platform working to close the savings gap. She’s also the Founder of NYC Fintech Women and Dreamers // Doers, a collaboration and mentorship community.

Nicole and Michelle get into her inspiring family story of immigration in tough circumstances, why she’s determined to keep on giving back, and the aha moment when she found herself talked over at a pitch meeting, triggering her mission to create a supportive community and mentoring other women in fintech.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Michelle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellektran/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MkateMama

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:29 The Quest For A Better Life

07:00 The Art Of Giving Back

11:21 Checking Those Family Boxes

14:02 That Aha Moment

17:29 Power To All The People

20:18 Looking At The End Game

22:28 Finding Your Fintech People

26:18 All About Visibility

36:14 What Is The Change You Want To Be?

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 E5: Commentary - The Female Founder Funding Gap

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

It’s 2023 and still female founders are facing tough challenges getting recognized and funded.

Why? Nicole explores the topic in this 5-minute commentary episode.

Join Nicole as she dives into recent research showing the difficulty female founders have getting funding from male-founded VC firms. She gets into the numbers around this issue and some solutions to changing up the status quo.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Fireside Chat: Drew Glover - Co-founder of Fiat Ventures and Fiat Growth

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Hold on for this lightning round of questions, getting to know Drew a little deeper.

From the best advice to dream collabs - this is 3-minutes you can’t miss!

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Drew:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drewbailerglover

LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/DrewBailer

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep4: Meet The Unconventional Fintech Founder Changing The VC World

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

From struggling to read to becoming a highly successful VC and Founder, this is the unique story of Drew Glover.

Drew is Co-Founder of Fiat Ventures and Fiat Growth, helping fintech startups scale through mentorship and investment. He grew up overcoming learning difficulties, thanks to his own determination and an encouraging mom, and is now a successful investor and mentor.

Nicole and Drew get into how his success as an athlete helped him become the best communicator, why admitting your weaknesses is the key to self-growth, and why he believes fintech investment will unlock opportunities for smaller companies who deserve success.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Drew:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drewbailerglover

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrewBailer

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:22 Outside The Traditional School System

05:52 Making It Out Alive

06:12 Fintech Is Meant To Be Unconventional

10:45 The Aha Moment

14:15 Noticing Your Super Powers

16:30 When Your Mom Knows Too Much

20:50 Change Needs to Happen

21:17 A Different Vantage Point

26:33 Unique From Day One

Fireside Chat: Meg Nakamura - Co-founder and CEO of Apto Payments

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Get to know Meg a little better, as Nicole unleashes this lightning round of questions.

From Fintech songs, to Meg’s biggest supporter - this is 3-minutes you can’t miss!

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Meg:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/megnakamura

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:21 The Japanese Influence On Apto

04:43 Society Working For The Greater Good

06:15 The Skill Of Spotting Opportunity

09:34 Moving The Needle Through Real Change

16:28 Building Trust Through Community

17:55 No Hall Pass For Mistakes

20:04 The Challenge of Recruiting in a Pandemic

22:58 Growth As Key

27:43 Meg’s Three Wishes

S4 Ep3: How Apto Payments is Moving The Needle Through Trust, With Meg Nakamura

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

You don’t get a hall pass for making mistakes with people’s money.

Meg Nakamura is the Co-founder and CEO building trust through fintech. Find out how.

Apto Payments is the next-generation cards and payments platform that helps companies design and launch successful card programs in as fast as a day. Meg and Co-founder Greg Kidd are building a company with community and trust at its core.

Nicole and Meg talk about how Meg’s Japanese upbringing influenced her approach to business, why you only get one chance to handle people’s finances, and what it’s like to keep your company afloat in the face of challenge.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Meg:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/megnakamura

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Fireside Chat: Yoni Assia - Founder Of eToro

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Get to know Yoni a little better with this lightning round of questions..

From Fintech songs, to Yoni’s biggest supporter - this is 3-minutes you can’t miss!

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Yoni

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yoniassia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoniassia

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep2: Yoni Assia: The eToro Founder Disrupting Traditional Finance

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

This is a special one. Yoni Assia is the Founder and CEO of eToro, discover his vision for Fintech and why investment is for everyone.

eToro is the world’s leading social investment platform. Founded in 2007 with a mission to open the world's markets to everyone -everywhere.

Nicole and Yoni sit down to talk about the power of connection, why education is so key to successful investment, and how fintech will flip traditional finance on its head sooner rather than later.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Yoni

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yoniassia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoniassia

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

01:52 The Power of Connection

03:13 Are We Finance Or Tech?

05:31 Programing For The Israel Intelligence Core

06:57 The Passion For Capital Markets

09:45 Connection, Collaboration, Education

13:23 Success Is Never A Straight Line

16:38 Looking With Perspective

20:44 The Buffet Dinner

27:15 Giving Back Through Non Profit

Fireside Chat: Kristy Kim - Founder Of TomoCredit

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Get ready for a lightning round of questions, getting to know Kristy on a more personal level.

From Fintech songs, to biggest supporters - this is 3-minutes you can’t miss!

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Kristy:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristykim7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristykim1015

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S4 Ep1: Meet The Fintech Founder Bringing Equity To Credit Invisible Customers

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the first episode in this brand new season. This is a special one.

Kristy Kim is a South Korean immigrant and the founder of TomoCredit, the fintech company offering the smartest consumer credit card that doesn’t require a credit score for approval.

Nicole and Kristy get into conversation about how Kristy solved her own credit problem, how she went all founding a startup, and how a sense of humor helps in every aspect of life.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Kristy:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristykim7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristykim1015

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

01:43 Always Feeling Like The Outsider

03:55 Taking On The Startup Challenge

07:02 What Ambition Looks Like

11:31 The Rejection Experience

15:29 Big Bank Challenge

16:39 Going All In

19:15 When The Product Clicked

21:34 The Thousand Per Cent Commitment

28:48 Raising Women Up

Humans of Fintech - Season 4 Trailer

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The world of fintech is dominated by the same old voices, drowning out diverse founders and operators. Step forward Humans of Fintech. The podcast elevating the stories of diverse leaders at the forefront of change in our industry.

Hosted by me, Nicole Casperson, journalist and founder of the Fintech Is Femme. This show shines a spotlight on those underrepresented fintech founders, zoning in on how they’re leading their companies and creating change.

You’ll hear how leaders like Kristy Kim of TomoCredit, Founder of eToro Yoni Assia, and women in fintech icon Michelle Tran are bringing equity and an alternative version of finance to the world, powering new ways of bringing equality across the globe.

In every interview, my guest will share how they got into the fintech space, the challenges they’re working to solve and what drives them. You’ll hear how they found connection in the industry, and how they’re moving the dial when it comes to re-shaping fintech for the better.

If you’re desperate to hear fresh perspectives and different voices, Humans of Fintech is the podcast putting humanity back into the industry.

With new episodes dropping every Wednesday. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech, why not try: Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider.

S3 Ep15: The Importance of Leadership In Fintech, With Tracy Schroeder, MainStreet

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Tracy Schroeder is democratizing R&D Tax Credits, and finding her home in Fintech.

As VP of Strategy and Growth at MainStreet, she’s part of the company’s mission taking the guesswork out of tax credits and passing the savings onto small businesses and startups.

Nicole and Tracy talk why Fintech isn’t the cool kids club everyone thinks it is, how surrounding yourself with a diverse network is key to growing as a leader, and why education will always be a core part of the MainStreet mission.

And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Tax Credits. You only need to plug MainStreet into your payroll and let their team of experts do the heavy lifting, scanning hundreds of federal, state and local tax credits on your behalf. It’s going to save you so much time and your company so much money.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Tracy:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracy-schroeder-31757284

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

03:21 From Outsider to Inside

04:45 Not Just For The Big Boys

09:42 The Importance of Education For Customer Success

12:31 Back Yourself

15:21 The Power of Five

18:38 EQ For Career Success

22:50 Personalization, The Trend To Watch

27:57 The Trickle Down Leadership Effect

30:03 Creating Your Own Cool Kids Club

S3 Ep14: How Dani Fava Feels About Embedded Finance And Carving Out Her Own Place in Fintech

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

What does embedded finance mean to Dani Fava? It means providing a more secure future for millions of Americans. Find out how.

Dani is Group Head of Product Innovation at Envestnet, transforming the way financial advice and wellness are delivered. Their mission is to empower advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions and intelligence to make financial wellness a reality for everyone.

Nicole and Dani talk hacking software to buy back 20 minutes of her day, how financial micro moments could change the future, and how Dani carved out her own space in the innovation niche.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Dani:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-fava/

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:44 The Incredible Origin Story

04:31 Being Your Own Biggest Believer

05:55 Failure Is An Option

12:20 Infiltrating The Institutions

15:14 Equity At All Levels

23:44 Proximity: One SIngle Word

25:56 The Embedded Finance App

30:15 Being The Change In Fintech

31:43 Staying Visible

S3 Ep13: Live from Money 20/20: Financial Inclusion Is The Only Thing Keeping Fintech From Failing

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Live from Money 20/20 Nicole is joined on stage by two stellar guests, moving the needle on financial inclusion.

Nicole is in conversation with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President at Women’s World Banking and Shivani Siroya, CEO and Founder at Tala.

The panel gets into 720 billion reasons for financial equity, helping women and marginalized people across the globe get access to financial products, and how to build a business with empathy.

This is a special episode you won’t want to miss.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Mary Ellen:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maryelleniskenderian

Follow Shivani:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shivanisiroya

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S3 Ep12: Xsolla: The Video Game Business Leveling Up Engagement Through Fintech

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Find out how Chris Hewish is bridging the gap between game monetization and customer expectation.

Chris is President of Xsolla, the video game business engine that helps indie and global gaming companies solve the complexities of distribution, marketing, and monetization.

Nicole and Chris dive into the lightbulb moment he realized 40% of the global gaming market couldn’t transact in their favorite games, how helping everyone get a piece of the pie is possible through smart Fintech, and why engaging customers is a win for everyone.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Chris:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrishewish

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chris_hewish

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:03 Passion For Gaming

05:32 The Question of Inequality

10:21 The Revenue Relationship

15:06 Democratizing Gaming

16:57 Creating Community

18:23 Embracing The DTC Ethos

21:49 Fintech's Power To Engage

25:54 My Biggest Takeaway

29:02 Becoming The Change

S3 Ep11: How Lyanne Alfaro is Helping Latino Founders Tell Their Stories

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Growing up surrounded by Latino entrepreneurs, but only seeing white faces in the media, Lyanne knew it was time to tell a different story.

From business journalist to creator of the Moneda Moves Newsletter, and Program Manager at Google, it’s no surprise Lyanne was recently named one of TIME X NextAdvisor’s 25 Most Influential Voices of New Money.

Championing fintech, money and culture, Lyanne is putting Latino founders firmly on the map.

Nicole and Lyanne talk growing up in the US as an immigrant, the underrepresentation of LatAm founders, and why companies should put way more emphasis on telling their story.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Lyanne:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lyannealfaro

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyanneAlfaro

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:26 The Immigrant Small Business Model

05:30 Solving Your Own Problem

09:35 Lack of Diverse Leadership

11:55 The Writing On The Wall

13:15 The Power of Storytelling

17:15 Resilient Latino Founders

27:04 Talking With, Not To, Each Other

29:56 Embodying The Change

33:06 Speak Up

S3 Ep10: Why Only Fans is The Creator Platform You Can’t Ignore

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The creator economy has found a new space and it’s not holding back. It’s time to re-think Only Fans and redefine its place in the creator economy.

Nicole tears up the rule book with a high signal tear through at why fintech needs to be there for creators and small business owners, Amrapali Gan’s leadership at Only Fans, and highlights from Money 2020.

Quick, sharp and straight to the point.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Nicole:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolecasperson

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S3 E9: How Rex Salisbury is Building a Fintech Community With Authenticity

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Only when you’ve done your time in startups can you offer the kind of support Rex has created for other fintech founders. Find out how.

Nicole and Rex dive into why conversation is the key to understanding a founder’s goals, why bringing together is a major high point to his working day, and why writing the second biggest check leads to way more collaboration.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Rex:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisbury

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

03:16 How to Build With Understanding

04:14 Bringing People Together

05:21 The Benefits of Authenticity

07:48 All The Uncontested Opportunities Out There

11:37 Rex’ Unique Position

16:04 Find Your People

18:51 Not Always The Mentor Role

19:22 Leveraging The Community

27:13 Fintech Versus The Big Five

2. Nasdaq Data Link Newsbites: How Storytelling Impacts Equity in Fintech

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Join Nicole as she gets into media representation and its link to diversity and equity.

You’ll hear Nicole’s unique takes on how those stories impact investment and why outdated, prejudice stereotypes are still all too common in Fintech and the media.

WTFintech and Nasdaq Data Link are teaming up to give one lucky fintech company a whole lot of attention. You can enter to win a full Nasdaq VIP guest experience that includes special promotion of your business! Visit nasdaq.com/wtfintech to enter

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S3 Ep8: Suze Orman and Devin Miller - Creating Emergency Safety Nets Through SecureSave

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

What happens when one of the most famous financial experts in the US teams up with a highly successful founder? They change the world.

Suze Orman, host of the Women & Money podcast and bestselling author, joins one of her co-founders Devin Miller, an entrepreneur and former COO of Guidant Financial, to talk SecureSave. This is the work benefit that provides emergency savings solutions to help employees prepare for life’s unexpected moments.

Nicole, Suze and Devin talk about what it feels like living paycheck to paycheck, why secure employees are more productive, and Suze’s mission to financially educate millions.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Devin:

LinkedIn: inkedin.com/in/devinpmiller

Follow Suze:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suzeorman

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

1. Nasdaq Data Link Newsbites: No More Fintech Apps

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Join Nicole as she explores the latest Fintech trends and news in this bitesize episode.

Find out why so many Fintech founders believe education is the tide that lifts everyone and why we’ve had enough of Silicon Valley tactics when it comes to fintech apps.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S3 Ep7: Meet The COO Fighting For Fintech Equity, With Dr Iyandra Smith Bryan

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Dr Iyandra Smith Bryan has enough energy and experience to achieve anything, but it was in fintech she really found her place in the world.

Nicole and Iyandra get into the kind of conversation you’re going to want to grab a pen and paper for. Iyandra is the C-Suite exec who loves problem solving. She also believes in true authenticity and questioning the rules.

In this no-holds barred conversation, she and Nicole tackle everything from wearing heels, to her role as COO at Quantfury, plus how she’s inspiring other women in fintech to step up and take their place at the top table.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Iyandra:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-iyandra-s-6396a3136

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IyandraSmith

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

0:00 intro

04:29 The Constant Questionner

05:24 Gotta Keep Moving

07:26 Searching Out The Pain Points

14:25 How To Be Happy

15:14 On Not Changing Who You Are

21:30 The Two Things You Need to Know

22:56 I Get Bored Easily

25:46 Thank God I Failed

32:25 Fintech For All

S3 Ep6: Why US Latino Fintech Businesses Will Create The Next Big Unicorns

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

When one in four startups are founded by US Latinos, it’s no wonder they’ve attracted the attention of big investment. Laura Moreno Lucas explains why.

Laura is a partner at L’attitude Ventures, an early-stage institutional fund that invests in technology and technology-enabled businesses led and owned by US Latinos.

Nicole and Laura get into the importance of networks, how education is rebuilding trust in financial institutions, and how underrepresented communities are succeeding, despite the challenges.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Laura

LinkedIn:l linkedin.com/in/lauraemoreno

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauraemoreno

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

How to Find a Business Mentor

You don’t need to be a new business owner in order to benefit from the advice of an experienced one. In fact, reaching out to another company operator and asking them to mentor you might seem counterintuitive.

After all, isn’t it their time that they could be spending on their own enterprise? Letting someone use their expertise as your personal advisor may feel like you’re asking for help instead of being independent.

However, working with a business mentor can be one of the most valuable experiences you can have as an entrepreneur, not only because it helps reduce risk and increase chances of success but also because these mentors have already been where you are right now and can save you from repeating their same mistakes.

A business mentor is someone who can give you impartial advice about your business plan or specific aspects of your company. Find out if there are any existing mentoring programs in your area or network with other entrepreneurs online. Here are some tips on how to find a business mentor if none of those options apply to you:

S3 Ep5: Why We Don’t Need More Fintech Apps But We Do Need More Fintech Education

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

You heard it here first. Nicole takes you on a 10-minute tear down on what’s going on in Fintech, and why we’re missing the point about Kim’s crypto Ad fine.

Join Nicole as she digs into the latest Fintech stories and trends and offers her unique take on what we really need to focus on, including no more fintech apps.

Quick, sharp and straight to the point.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Nicole:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolecasperson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolecasperson

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S3 Ep4: How Altro is Helping Build Credit Through Community Driven Solutions

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

When you don’t have a credit history, accessing even the most basic financial services is almost impossible.

Find out how Michael Broughton is providing a unique solution.

Michael grew up in Japan and Korea before returning to the United States, where he founded Altro, the free credit service helping people build credit through recurring payments and subscriptions

Nicole and Michael talk about the innate discrimination of the credit score system, especially for people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll also hear how Altro effectively functions as a not-for-profit to provide solutions for no credit.

Michael shares why building a community of investors who share in the mission is important and why financial education is built into the Altro platform.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Michael:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-j-broughton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjb4u2008

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Nicole is a friend of Workweek, working in partnership to bring you great podcasts on the subjects you love. Find out more at: https://workweek.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:55 Military Kid to Community Builder

07:04 Building Equity Into An Unfair System

11:53 Finding Your Way Through Fear

16:23 More To Overcome

19:00 The Education Formula For Success

22:37 The A-Ha Moment

25:06 Becoming The Change

29:00 Coming Up For Altro

31:08 My One Piece of Advice

S3 E3: How Erin Papworth is Providing Financial Health For All Through Nav.it

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

If financial service providers were honest they’d admit, it’s mostly about selling products. But if you’re unsure how these products work, how do you know you need them?

Erin Papworth already has a lifetime’s experience in fintech and is working to educate and empower a whole generation to make the best financial decisions possible and improve financial health outcomes.

She and Nicole get into conversation about the real truth around financial services, Nav.it’s behavioral science-backed approach, and why getting back to basics is key for future success.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Erin:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erin-papworth-founder-fintech

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

S3 E2: Luxus: How Dana Auslander is Creating Equity In Luxury Assets

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Dana, through her company Luxus, has blown the world of luxury asset investment wide open. And she’s not stopping there. Find out how this fintech founder is smashing down barriers.

Luxus partners with the world’s premium brands, offering fractional ownership of assets including jewelry, rare watches and precious gems.

Nicole and Dana get into conversation about Dana’s experiences opening investment doors for women, why luxury investments should be fun, and why hiring amazing people is at the heart of her long term strategy for success.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Dana:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dana-auslander-218b81180

Twitter: twitter.com/luxusassets

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Nicole is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

S3 E1: How Vrinda Gupta is Building Financial Equity Through Sequin Finance

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

When you’re rejected by the financial product you’re helping to build, you know you need to learn (and change) the system. Find out how Vrinda is doing just that.

Welcome to season 3 of Humans of Fintech, the show that brings you the stories of diverse leaders and how they’re transforming the industry from the inside out.

Nicole and Vrinda get into how it felt watching her mom live in fear of being financially frozen out, what it was like to be denied a credit card from the company she was working for, and how Sequin is bringing financial equity and education to a system very much not designed for minority women.

You’ll also hear Vrinda’s plans for the future of Sequin and how she’s helping minority women obtain the knowledge she wasn’t taught at school.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Vrinda:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vrindag

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Nicole is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Humans of Fintech - Season 3 Trailer

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The world of fintech is dominated by the same old voices, drowning out diverse founders and operators. Step forward Humans of Fintech. The podcast empowering the stories of diverse leaders at the forefront of change in our industry.

Hosted by me, Nicole Casperson, journalist and founder of the WTFintech? newsletter. This season shines a spotlight on those underrepresented fintech founders, zoning in on how they’re leading their companies and creating change.

You’ll hear from leaders like finance icon Suze Orman, Founder of Sequin Vrinda Gupta, and L'Attitude Ventures Partner Laura Lucas who are bringing an alternative version of finance to the world by powering new ways of bringing equity across the globe.

In every interview, my guest will share how they got into the fintech space, the challenges they’re working to solve, and what drives them. You’ll hear how they found connection in the industry, and how they’re moving the dial when it comes to re-shaping fintech for the better.

If you’re desperate to hear fresh perspectives and different voices, Humans of Fintech is the podcast putting humanity back into the industry.

Season 3 drops soon with new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech, why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E15: How to Crack Business Growth With a Social Conscience, With Lara Hodgson, Now.

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0400

How do you crack business growth and become an advocate for under-represented groups? Lara has the secret sauce that sets her apart as an entrepreneur and activist.

Lara and her Co-Founder Stacey Abrams are behind Now, an invoice payment solution that redefines when businesses get paid.

Nicole and Lara get into conversation about how they started Now to solve their own problem, why it takes intention to be an advocate for people whose voices are often left out, and the story of their entrepreneurial journey.

You’ll also hear why Lara and Stacey’s differences are their superpowers, why you don’t need a finance background to be successful in fintech, and more about their new book Level Up, a guide for entrepreneurs.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Lara:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/larahodgson

Twitter: twitter.com/NourishWater

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E14: How Sofiat Abdulrazaaq is Empowering Women in Fintech to Take Their Opportunities

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0400

How do women in fintech, particularly women of color, make change happen? Goodfynd Co-Founder Sofiat, believes in leading by example. Here’s how she’s shaking up the industry.

Sofiat is the Co-Founder of Goodfynd, the platform helping mobile businesses grow and customers quickly find their favorite food outlets. In 2007 she was a student at Virginia Tech, scene of a horrific school shooting.

Nicole and Sofiat dive into conversation about why being vulnerable and honest is where change happens, how keeping trauma inside only means you’ll pass it on through your leadership, and the importance of reflecting on your past.

You’ll also hear Sofiat’s hot takes on how badass women can take every opportunity that comes their way, and how a female mentor encouraged her to give back to others.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Sofiat:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sofieabdul

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E13: Why Embedded Finance Is Becoming Personal, With Ahon Sarkar, Helix

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400

How do you bring embedded finance products to millions of people who’ve fallen between the financial cracks? Find out how Ahon Sarkar is building infrastructure through empathy.

With almost 20% of the US population still underbanked, basic banking is as far as it goes. Even with the crazy advancements made in fintech, too many are still struggling to access the financial services they need.

Join Nicole as she gets into conversation with Ahon, who’s on a mission to bring humanity to finance with Helix, helping fintech brands build personal banking experiences.

You’ll hear Ahon’s views on why the industry lacks empathy, the economics behind financial inclusion and who’s truly incentivized by it, plus why the fintech industry should be held accountable for reaching underbanked people.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Ahon

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ahonsarkar

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E12: Edison Partners: How Jennifer Lee Became A Successful Fintech Investor And Found Her Place in The World

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400

In an industry where so few AAPI women make it into the private equity world, what’s the secret to Jennifer Lee’s success? She shares her story.

Nicole and Jennifer get into why Jennifer wanted to change the world right from early childhood, what it feels like to be awarded a bunch of industry accolades, and how she’s working to lift other women, especially from under-represented groups.

You’ll also hear how self-reflection has led to her colossal success and why it’s important to bring all your human and vulnerable elements into business

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Jennifer

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lee-2a5b9716

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E11: Aura: Where Health And Financial Stability Meet, With Kelsey Willock

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400

How do you stay financially stable without sacrificing your mental or physical health? Through a platform that looks after your whole life, not just your money.

Kelsey Willock is a first-time founder, crushing entrepreneurship with her platform, Aura. From her own experiences of feeling financially vulnerable, she’s building a platform to help others reach their goals.

Nicole and Kelsey get into why she’s helping users gain wealth wellness, what it felt like to leave education in heavy debt, and the truth about rising together as women in leadership.

You’ll also hear Kelsey’s hot takes on why women should move away from a scarcity mindset and start working together to build communities and empower each other.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Kelsey:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelsey-willock-59662a36

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E10: How The Pinwheel API is Building a Fairer Financial System

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400

For most Americans, the financial system is broken. But Kurtis Lin is working to fix it. Find out how his company, Pinwheel, is creating financial equity.

Nicole and Kurtis get into the weeds of how feeling like an outsider inspired him to find belonging through fintech. You’ll hear Kurtis’ uncomfortable truth about Asian Excellence and how it’s shaped him as a leader, plus why Kurtis wants companies who aren’t moving the dial on financial equity to step back and give him room.

You’ll also discover how Pinwheel is building a fairer financial system via payroll APIs and Kurtis’ experiences growing up the son of immigrants.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Kurtis:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kurtislin

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E9: How NatureTrak is Turning Cannabis Compliant Through Fintech

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Cannabis banking is still a baby, but Jontae James is on a mission to help banks stay compliant and safe through NatureTrak’s state-of-the-art platform.

He’s proud to be disrupting the industry and ready or not, he’s here to shake up fintech and cannabis.

A proud child of the 80s, Jontae had already grown and sold his first company at the age of 28. An entrepreneur from the start, he went from working in venture capital to creating ‘bank-to-seed’ cannabis compliance fintech for banks.

Nicole and Jontae get straight into it. You’ll hear how the incarceration of Jontae’s father for possession of weed influenced his early career choices, why stigmas around cannabis and financial services still exist, and how NatureTrak is fighting back with transparency and technology.

You’ll also hear how Jontae’s growing his company while remaining his authentic self, and the good (and bad) of entrepreneurship.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Jontae:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jontae

Twitter: twitter.com/jontaej_

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fannie and Freddie Mac making reforms to address inequity in homeownership

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- Fannie and Freddie Mac making reforms to address inequity in homeownership

- Apple is set to introduce its own integrated Buy Now Pay Later

- Staff cuts in fintech

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S2 E8: Why Diana Cabrices is Not a Girl Boss

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

But she is the Vice President of Enterprise Development at Snappy Kraken and believes sales in fintech needs more female voices. Find out how she’s making a difference.

Diana Cabrices is in the business of helping financial advisors with automated growth programs and client engagement through the award-winning Snappy Kraken platform.

Nicole and Diana dive straight into conversation talking about Diana’s background as a first generation immigrant and the early experiences that shaped her perspectives around female empowerment. You’ll also hear why fintech needs to lose the ‘girl boss’ epithet, how women leaders can pay it forward, and why sales is the perfect place for more femme energy.

Diana shares her love of Cuban dancing and her background in Business Economics in this conversation covering all things martech and fintech.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Diana:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dianacabrices

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E7: Why Trevor Marshall Gave Up Percussion to Change Lives Through Fintech

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Trevor Marshall is CTO at Current, the challenger bank giving companies like Stripe and Chime a run for their money.

Trevor was always going to be a classical percussionist, it’s what he worked so hard for and why he moved to NYC to study. But after an economics lesson, became a math class, which became a computer science course, he knew things had changed.

Nicole and Trevor dig into how he has helped Current become one of the most influential platforms in the industry, how music relates to coding and technology, and why being a creative is a huge advantage in his role.

You’ll also hear how Trevor leverages his creativity to make himself a great communicator with employees and users, and how Current is helping millions of Americans change their lives by creating better financial outcomes.

And if you’re looking for the next investment, why not explore alternative assets? Our episode sponsor Yieldstreet helps you create wealth beyond the stock market. Build a diversified portfolio with a minimum investment commitment of $500. Visit Yieldstreet.com for more information.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Trevor:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trevor-kurth-marshall

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/milindmehere

Twitter: twitter.com/MilindMehere

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Web3 wallets - Are they the new star child of fintech?

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- Web3 wallets: Are they the new star child of fintech?

- BNPL giant Klarna cuts its workforce by 10%.

- Neobank Varo could be set to run out of money by the end of the year!

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S2 E6: How an Alternative Investment Founder is Helping Others Find Financial Freedom, With Milind Mehere of Yieldstreet

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

How it started: With Milind receiving poor financial advice as a newly arrived student.

How it’s going: $2 billion worth of deals closed through his company, YieldStreet.

Nicole and Milind get into conversation about what it feels like to be on the outside of the industry as a young, ambitious entrepreneur, how the worst financial advice started a spark, and why you should always be grateful for the person who first believed in you.

You’ll also hear how Milind and YieldStreet are crushing product content and brand awareness, and why alternative assets are bringing equality to investment.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

Follow Milind:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/milindmehere

Twitter: twitter.com/MilindMehere

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E5: How a Navy Vet is Driving Innovation at Nasdaq, With Brandis DeSimone, Head of Data Sales

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On 9/11 2001 Brandis DeSimone was attending the US Naval Academy, decades later she’s using everything she learnt during this horrific time to transform financial services for good.

Militaristic terms get thrown around on Wall Street way too easily. The need to destroy the competition, getting bombed with orders or the battle to survive. But Brandis knows first hand how different it really is from active service and is using her influence to cut through the aggression and the egos.

Nicole and Brandis get into what it’s like watching the evolution of a fintech company from startup to IPO, her experience as an outsider in a largely male-dominated environment, and how her military experience translates to her Nasdaq role now.

You’ll also hear about the unique ways Nasdaq is working with fintech companies to drive the future of innovation in financial services.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

Follow Brandis:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandis-desimone-1a19a83

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and the TerraUSD Stablecoin collapse

Thu, 26 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- The TerraUSD Stablecoin collapse

- A new fintech company fractionalizing investing in rare diamonds

- Meta’s second attempt to launch a digital currency

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S2 E4: The Tech Nerd Changing Banking, With Anabel Pérez of NovoPayment

Wed, 25 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Anabel Pérez is a CEO obsessed with bringing financial services to new people and new places. Find out how she’s solving the complex problem of financial inclusion with NovoPayment.

Trained as a lawyer and with a full career in banking, Anabel is leveraging Banking as a Service (BaaS) to solve issues around inclusion. With her company NovoPayment she has expanded into 12 countries, has more than 72 deployments and touches more than 12,000 platform users across the Americas.

Nicole and Anabel get into why learning is a process Anabel will never tire of, being recognized with the Paybefore Industry Achievement Award, and transitioning from Venezuela to Miami.

You’ll also hear Anabel’s spicy takes on entrepreneurship, her secret sauce to success as a top Latina fintech founder, and the challenging climate for women founders.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

Follow Anabel:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/perezanabel

Twitter: twitter.com/APFintech

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E3: Why Penelope is Building Bright Financial Futures with Jean Smart.

Wed, 18 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Growing up in LA, Jean watched her immigrant parents work tirelessly to provide for their family and employees. But when it came to retirement they left themselves vulnerable.

Despite owning a grocery store and restaurant, like many small business owners, they failed to invest in their own retirement. This left a huge impression on Jean whose mission, through Penelope, is to make sure every SMB owner has a bright financial future.

Nicole and Jean get into why SMBs are the backbone of the US economy, why they remain an untapped source in the Fintech industry, and why, after a career on Wall Street, she’s laser focused on helping people like her parents.

You’ll also hear how Penelope is removing the hassle, jargon and hidden fees that make 401(k) plans prohibitive to most SMB owners.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

Follow Jean

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeankimnewyork

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and the impact of Crypto Bahamas on the digital asset space

Thu, 12 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- Crypto Bahamas! And its impact on the digital asset space

- Why Gisele Bündchen (boon chen) partnered with FTX

- The evolution of NFTs

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S2 E2: Henry Yoshida, CEO at Rocket Dollar | Fintech Founder | Retirement

Wed, 11 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Growing up, Henry believed successful people won because they knew the rules. Now he’s rewriting those rules, making sure more people win when it comes to retirement investment.

Retirement is a hot topic and how we invest and prepare for it is crucial. Through his company, Rocket Dollar, Henry has created a platform that lets people invest tax-advantaged retirement dollars into private alternative investments, like venture capital and crypto.

Nicole and Henry talk about what it’s like growing up outside the dominant culture, how he felt working in traditional firms like Merrill Lynch, and why sometimes you need to be the change you want to see.

You’ll hear how reflection as a fintech founder is key, why Henry believes you need to confront your own experiences in order to build solutions, and why fintech needs more transparency.

Dive into this fascinating episode and meet a founder determined to rewrite the rules.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

Follow Henry:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/henryyoshida

Twitter: twitter.com/henryyoshida

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S2 E1: Shruti Joshi, COO of Facet Wealth | Fintech | Financial Planning

Wed, 04 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

When fintech is used right, it can bring outsiders in from the cold. Meet Shruti Joshi, bringing humanity to financial planning.

Welcome to season 2 of Humans of Fintech, where Nicole Casperson digs deeper into the humans behind the headlines.

Kicking off episode 1, Nicole and Shruti discuss the importance of empowering people with financial knowledge, how money (wrongly) defines identity, and Shruti’s own feelings of feeling like an outsider. Shruti shares how Facet Wealth is turning traditional financial planning on its head, putting human wellness at the center.

You’ll also hear why she jumped into Facet Wealth as an early investor, how she drives rapid growth in everything she touches, and how to change the narrative around wealth-building models into something affordable, fun and with accessibility at the heart.

Head to MainStreet.com to sign up for their limited time offer.

Follow Shruti:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shruti-joshi-282369a

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E21: Flori Marquez, Co-Founder of BlockFi | Fintech | Crypto

Mon, 02 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

For someone who never felt ready to become a founder, Flori Marquez has nailed that niche. Bringing crypto investing into the real world, find out BlockFi is redefining banking.

When traditional marketing around crypto investing is aimed at one demographic, it’s tough to bring equity into that space. But Flori and Co-Founder Zac Prince are changing the mood by providing credit services to markets with limited access to simple financial products.

Nicole and Flori get into what it’s like to stand out as a woman in the fintech space, how being a generalist was the best preparation for becoming a founder, and why successful career paths are rarely linear.

You’ll hear Flori’s thoughts on how to scale your business without sacrificing culture, why you should stick close to the leaders who inspire you, and why the language we use around crypto and fintech matters, a lot.

Follow Flori

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/founderflori

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and Mastercard filing trademarks for Metaverse commerce

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- Mastercard filing trademarks for Metaverse commerce

- Neobank Winden’s recent fund raise

- Apple launching its “break out” project

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

Humans of Fintech - Season 2 Trailer

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0400

How did you find your way into Fintech? I bet it wasn’t a conventional path. Every single leader I interviewed last season fell into this industry because, one way or another, they didn’t fit traditional finance or tech norms. Every one had a unique story.

I’m Nicole Casperson, and on this season of Humans of Fintech we’re bringing you stories of diverse leaders who were once outsiders, and how they since found belonging in our industry.

If you’ve ever felt on the outside of fintech, you’re no t alone. I want you to hear the human side of fintech: the no-holds-barred truth of what it’s like to find belonging in a space when you don’t feel like you fit in.

The leaders I speak to took the path less traveled, and they embody what fintech is supposed to be: An alternative version of finance, powered by a new model that gives equal access to everyone.

You’ll hear from leaders at companies like Nasdaq, Facet Wealth, and eToro on how they broke down barriers, learn about the people who helped them find belonging, and break down the step s they took to go from outsider to insider.

If you’ve ever felt isolated, or that your perspe ctive just hasn’t been heard before, Humans of Fintech is here to change that.

The journey starts on Wednesday May 4th, with new episodes every Wednesday after that. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

S1 E20: Rishi Khanna, CEO of Stocktwits | Fintech | Trading

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Twitter for investors? Stocktwits is what happens when content meets fintech, helping investors navigate the constant stream of information with its incredible community platform.

Back in 2021 more than 10 million retail investors took to the stock market on the back of the Gamestop stock frenzy. But not all of them had the experience and confidence to cut through all the noise and make great choices.

And that’s when Stocktwits comes in. Built like a social media platform, it allows investors to interact with financial media, investment/trading services, and the kinds of tools that genuinely add value.

Nicole talks to Rishi about building a 5-million strong community and the truth about entrepreneurship in the fintech space.

You’ll also hear how, in the ever evolving fintech landscape, creating content is a huge responsibility, and which Tupac song can help users on their investing journey.

Follow Rishi:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rishikhanna

Twitter: twitter.com/rkhanna

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and Apple’s expansion into Crypto

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

- Apple’s expansion into Crypto

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau taking on late fees

- Real Estate Investment Trusts popularity growth

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E19: Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of FinTech Sandbox | Fintech | Data

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0400

With the right data at your fingertips, you can change the world. Without it, you’ll fail.

When you’re launching a startup, having the right data is the deciding factor. FinTech Sandbox gives founders free access to the data they need, leading to sustainable and inclusive financial systems.

Nicole gets into conversation with Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of the Sandbox and talks through her role leading the organization’s strategy, operations and community. Kelly discusses her experience as Director of the Techstars’ FinTech accelerator program, partnering with major financial services companies, and cultivating Fintech startups.

You’ll also hear how her passion for films led her to the Fintech space, how data access leads to more equitable fintech, and what the “fintech ripple effect” is.

Let’s dive in.

Follow Kelly:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kfryer

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E18: Anders Jones, Co-Founder and CEO at Facet Wealth | Fintech | Wealth Management

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

When your mission becomes your work, businesses like Facet Wealth are born. Anders Jones is democratizing wealth management, one subscription at a time.

Facet Wealth embodies everything fintech should be. This platform provides highly personalized and unbiased financial advice at an affordable subscription price. In a world where financial planning often comes with a hefty price tag, Anders Jones is leveling the playing field.

Nicole and Anders talk about how his mother’s job “helping millions of Americans save for retirement” was a huge influence on his career, why the client/advisor relationship is broken, and Anders’ background as an early stage tech investor.

You’ll also hear how fintech is changing the way financial planning is perceived, and the future growth of Facet Wealth after its $100M raise.

And as founders know, when you’re laser-focused on growing your business it’s great to have the advice of a company like YieldStreet. Helping you make alternative investments in assets like art and real estate, usually only reserved for the very wealthy, building your portfolio and generating long-term wealth. Get started today.

Follow Anders:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anders-jones

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E17: Nora Apsel, Co-Founder of Morty | Fintech and Financial Freedom | Women in Fintech

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Home ownership has the power to make or break financial health. Meet Nora, a fintech trailblazer and founder at the forefront of the mortgage revolution.

Mortgages account for two-thirds of household debt. Owning your own home can go one of two ways: It can set you up for life or start a steep decline into financial problems that quickly spiral. That’s where Nora and Morty come in. When you’re looking to take on the biggest debt of your life, you need to do it the smart way. Morty helps buyers find exactly what they need, all online and with the greatest amount of choice.

Nicole and Nora talk about her background as an engineer, crunch the numbers around women in IT and engineering, and discuss why applying fintech to financial services is a catalyst for positive change.

You’ll hear Nora’s thoughts on why mortgages and homebuying have fallen behind other financial services like credit cards, why the complexities of homebuying hold up innovation, and how she has grown more comfortable in her role as a first time CEO and founder.

All fintech founders accept that with growth comes risk, but Sift offers end-to-end protection against fraud risks that can slow your business down. You can find out more here: www.sift.com

Follow Nora:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noraapsel

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E16: Adriana Saman, Principal at Clocktower Technology Ventures | Fintech | Women in Fintech

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

When Adriana Saman invests, she’s looking for more than just market size. Find out how this VC big hitter is shaping financial inclusion in her day-to-day.

Just 1% of the $70 trillion wealth management industry is controlled by women or minority fund managers. The impact? Female and underrepresented founders receive far less investment.

But one woman making waves in the venture capital space is Adriana, with a resume that includes positions at Chase’s Digital Payments team and time spent as an Investment Banking Analysist at J.P. Morgan.

Nicole and Adriana discuss how Clocktower is investing in fintech companies from pre-seed to series B, in Europe and Latin America, including Alloy, Chime and MoneyLion. Adriana shares how her past experience as an international student from Ecuador has shaped the way she approaches VC, and the power of female leadership in this space.

You’ll also learn why Clocktower prioritizes funding founders with a passion and focus on financial inclusion, and not just market size potential.

And like many founders, focused on growth it’s vital to stay ahead of fraud risks that can slow your fintech business. That’s where Sift steps in. With end-to-end protection and forensic approach to security, you can find out more here: www.sift.com

Follow Adriana:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adriana-saman-302ab95a

Twitter: twitter.com/adrisaman

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and Real Estate Investment Trust

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’re celebrating woman's history month going over:

- The important work of Fintech Tala in the space

- The new opportunities Fintech DASH is creating in Africa

- The robust growth of Real Estate Investment trsut

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E15: Katherine Anthony, CEO of Euphoria | Fintech and Equity | Transgender

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Kate Anthony isn’t just leveling the playing field, she’s building a whole new one with her company Euphoria, bringing out the best in Fintech and changing lives..

Between 2-6 million people in the United States identify as transgender and 34% of those go without official identity that matches their gender. This gap makes it hard to access banking products. That’s where Euphoria steps in with a suite of technologies offering information, support and, crucially, a banking app that helps transgender people achieve their transition-related goals.

Nicole and Kate discuss how the app, Bliss, allows people to plan and save. They talk about some of the key financial struggles the trans community face, and how fintech is helping ease some of those burdens and financial stress points.

Kate talks about her own struggles on the path to becoming her true, authentic self and how her relationship with technology has played such a major role in her own transition.

You’ll also learn more about Euphoria’s services supporting and advising transgendered people and why 80,000 platform users is just the start.

Kate is determined to grow her platform and as founders know, aggressive growth comes with increased risk. That’s when you need Sift, supporting you every step of the way preventing fraud and improving growth with dynamic friction. More information here: www.sift.com

Follow Kate:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robbikatherineanthony

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E14: Jackie Shoback, Co-Founder 1414 Ventures | Web3 And Digital Identity | Fintech

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Web3 is more than just NFTs and DAOs, it can help unlock financial inclusion. Find out how Jackie Shoback’s 1414 Ventures is banking on it.

Jackie and her team are pouring the dollars into early stage startups, but not just any startups. Through 1414 Ventures she’s helping build the next generation of digital identity technology. Why? Because when Web3 meets fintech it can level the financial playing field.

Staples.Yes, the office supplies chain. Jackie pioneered the launch of this household name back in 1998. She grew the business hard, hitting t$1Billion in revenue over 3 years. Not bad considering it was a time before Cloud computing, WiFi and advanced AI.

Nicole talks to Jackie about what defines digital identity and its impact on the fintech space, She unpacks how it intersects with payment, cybersecurity, eCommerce and marketing.

You’ll also hear how all the challenges of scaling a business during the Web1 era have prepared her to innovate and disrupt during Web3. And how she’s working on securely connecting the real world to the metaverse.

Diversity and identity are values shared by episode sponsor Yieldstreet. Helping you make alternative investments in assets like art and real estate, usually only reserved for the very wealthy, building your portfolio and generating long-term wealth.

Follow Jackie:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jackie-shoback-9ab5579

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech and Diversification

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’re going over:

Music as the next wave for securitizing bonds
Coinbase’s new cash-out option for remittances sent to Mexico
Fine wine as a popular investment

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E13: Amy Kadomatsu, CEO ComplySci | Making Compliance Fun | Fintech

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400

What do you think about compliance fintech? Stuffy? Serious? You haven’t met Amy Kadomatsu, CEO of ComplySci. You’re never going to see compliance in the same light again.

We get it. Compliance isn’t sexy fintech. It’s not something you want to spend a whole lot of time thinking about, but get on the wrong side of it and it can spell disaster for your company. That’s why you need Amy, whose contagiously positive energy is shining a light on an area of fintech that deserves way more attention.

Amy tells Nicole why she’s obsessed with innovation, dedicated to entrepreneurship and loves encouraging diversity. Inspired by her Japanese heritage, she brings her culture and experience into her leadership and is a firm believer in being her authentic self with her team.

She shares how crucial it is to build a culture of compliance within all your teams and set the example as a leader by investing and engaging in compliance tech.

You’ll hear how Amy has created an open and honest working culture at ComplySci since taking over the role of CEO in October 2020. And how she’s (genuinely) making compliance fun.

And as Amy knows, when you’re laser-focused on growing your business, it’s easy to overlook those crucial details like compliance and protecting yourself against fraud. Taking a different view is something Amy has in common with this episode’s sponsor YieldStreet. Helping you make alternative investments in assets like art and real estate, usually only reserved for the very wealthy, building your portfolio and generating long-term wealth. Get started today

Follow Amy:

Twitter: twitter.com/amyk1313

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amykado

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

International Women's Day 2022 Special

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Celebrating women and the pursuit of equity on this International Women’s Day, meet some of the most inspiring women in Fintech, with WTFintech? host, Nicole Casperson.

Hear from highly successful and influential operators in the Fintech space, each striving towards greater representation and working at the highest level.

Nicole brings a selection of highlights from the show’s first season, from women motivated by success, mentoring those on the journey and working out what legacy to leave the next generation of women in Fintech,

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed WTFintech? Why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

S1 E12: Kristen Anderson, Co-Founder and CEO, Catch, Fintech Benefits

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Kristen Anderson brings her all to Catch, the benefits platform designed for independent workers. Find out how her values and grit are shaping this Fintech space.

When you’ve opted out of the 9 to 5 and work for yourself, it’s too easy to miss out on all the benefits and retirement packages you’re entitled to.That’s where Catch steps in. With no middle man or frigid terms the platform allows users to customize their own plans based on need, tracking income, taxes and health insurance.

This value-driven fintech startup taps into the changing state of play in the world of work. And it’s born from Kristen’s real-life values and experiences.

Nicole talks with Kristen about her background in math and economics, her less than privileged upbringing and how to scale a fintech like Catch while keeping your company values intact.

You’ll learn about Kristen’s experience of going viral in 2021 when a photo of her pregnant and pitching over the phone with VCs lit up Twitter and how she dealt with the reactions, good and bad.

Kristen discusses how she encourages other fintech founders to create mission-driven products that create a fairer society and how all these experiences have shaped her into the leader she is today.

Follow Kristen:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatchKristen

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/catchkristen/

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Digital Assets and Fraud in Fintech

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’re going over:

Grayscale launching its ETF
What “Project Hamilton” is and why it matters
And a crowd favorite: Fraud in Fintech - including an example from PayPal’s recent woes

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E11: Dasarte Yarnway, Head of Community at Altruist, Financial Fintech

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Without social equity there’s no financial equity. Discover how Dasarte Yarnway, Head of Community at fintech Altruist is paving the way for black leaders to build equity in business.

Dasarte Yarnway is driven. At Altruist he’s on a mission to make independent financial advice better and more affordable, and as Founder of Berknell Financial Group he puts those beliefs into action providing educational and transparent wealth management.

Discover what drives Dasarte as he talks to Nicole about sharing different journeys and experiences with Black professionals in financial services and the importance of representation and equity.

He unpacks tangible action points to create an inclusive business, how to deal with inequity when starting out in the fintech space, and how he’s spreading the word through The Young Money podcast and Altruist’s Advisor of Tomorrow podcast.

Follow Dasarte:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DasarteYarnway

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasarte-yarnway-b3b39443/

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

S1 E10: Jacqueline Schadeck, Certified Financial Planner, Fintech Finance

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Jacqueline Schadeck has seen financial hardship up close and personal. Now she is leveraging digital tools to make sure others don’t slip through the cracks.

Jacqueline has witnessed first hand the effects bad financial advice had on her family, who wound up losing everything. With only 4% of financial planning professionals from Black and Latinx heritage, and women accounting for just 15-20%, profound gender and racial gaps make it hard to find tailor-made advice.

Jacqueline is pioneering change with her Digital Advisor Success Accelerator. This mentoring program empowers women and people of color to thrive in the financial planning space, using social media and digital tools to grow her financial planning business in the fintech space.

She shares how her experiences define her goals and values, and what it’s like helping clients achieve financial success.

To sign up for Digital Advisor Success Accelerator click here.

Follow Jacqueline:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-schadeck-cfp®-awma®-7151a8b7

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Fintech disputes, partnerships, and M&A

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

In this episode we’re going over:

The Amazon vs. Visa dispute
Plaid’s acquisition of Cognito
And Coinbase’s partnership with Mastercard to simplify NFT purchases

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E9: Clayton Gardner, CO-Founder and CEO Titan, Fintech Investment

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0400

What happened when Clay Gardner decided it was time to democratize Wall Street? He changed the game and Titan was born.

Now the company he co-founded with Joe Percoco and Max Bernardy has been named one of the next billion-dollar startups by Forbes, and Clay is only just getting started.

Titan is the mobile app making investment accessible to anyone with a mobile phone. Bringing on board the next generation of investors, the app is breaking down the barriers of elitism surrounding Wall Street and heading into the next wave of growth with crypto offerings and alternative investments.

And this fintech startup’s wild success and culture of inclusion made sure they got recognized by Crunchbase as one of the Top 30 Companies Founded by Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs That Raised The Most Funding in 2021.

Clay shares his experiences as a hedge fund investor, his ambitious plans for the future and what it’s like breaking barriers in the fintech investment space.

Follow Clay :

Twitter: https://twitter.com/virtualclay

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/claytongardner

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

S1 E8: Donna DeBerry, Vice President Global Inclusion, Seismic Software, Fintech

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Donna DeBerry is a pioneer for all things fintech, inclusion and diversity. As a VP at Seismic Software, she leads global inclusion strategies that position her company on the world stage. And she’ll be sharing how she’s transformed the global branding for other brands, like Nike, JPMorgan and Indeed.

Alongside her work as CEO of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, Donna’s an in-demand speaker and winner of numerous awards and recognitions. She’s worked on the Oprah Winfrey Show and attributes her incredible drive to her time with the National Football League and United States Olympic Committee.

Donna shares why leaders should be chasing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to grow their bottom line, why the difference between equity and equality means everything, and how DEI strategies are crucial for fintech to really make a difference in the world.

Follow Donna on:

Twitter: @Donna_DeBerry

LinkedIn: donnadeberry

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

News Bites w/Yieldstreet: Tackling the next wave of innovation

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

On today’s special episode of WTFintech? we’re collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to bring you News Bites, a segment where I go over the top trends in fintech via quick bite episodes.

Today, we’re covering:

The rise of the ‘Gen I’ investor and WTF it means
BNPL and why the CFPB is asking questions
Metaverse as a trillion dollar marketplace

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E7: Anthony Zhang, Co-founder and CEO, Vinovest

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Today I’m interviewing Anthony Zhang, founder and CEO of Vinovest, a fintech for fine wine investing.

With Vinovest, retail investors can build, track, and analyze their own fully-insured wine portfolios — an asset class that's traditionally only been available to less than 1% of all investors (and one that's appreciated nearly 130% over the last decade).

As for Anthony, he founded three companies by age 25, sold one to a Walmart subsidiary and has been funded by Mark Cuban and Peter Thiel. Tune in to hear me ask Anthony about ditching class, raising $100,000 in college, and the future of alternative investing.

Keep up with Vinovest:@Vinovest1

and Anthony: @anthony_j_zhang

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

News Drop: Stash introduces Crypto via Grayscale

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 11:30:00 -0400

Today I’m coming at you with some fresh news as fintech Stash announced that Smart Portfolio, its fully managed account, will introduce Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure via handpicked trusts managed by Grayscale.

With us to discuss the news is Elizabeth Marchetti, Director of Investment Strategy at Stash. Tune in to get the full details on the announcement.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this content should be construed as Investment, Tax or Legal advice.

S1 E6: Steve Larsen, Co-Founder of PlannerDAO

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I’m interviewing Steve Larsen, a certified financial planner, adviser and Co-Founder of PlannerDAO, a decentralized community of financial professionals promoting economic freedom, universal fiduciary standards, and access to financial services for all.

Steve and I dive into all things decentralization – from NFTs to the metaverse. Tune in to understand everything that comprises the new decentralized internet, or Web3.

You can follow PlannerDAO on Twitter @PlannerDAO

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

This episode of WTFintech is brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet.

News Bites: a Yieldstreet x WTFintech? collab

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode hits a little different. I’m doing something totally new because I’m not trying to leave any gaps in your fintech knowledge. That’s why twice a month, I’ll be collaborating with our friends at Yieldstreet to host episodes where I go over the latest news, insights, and trends in fintech via shorter, newsier, quick bite episodes.

Today’s episode covers:

What could come of the power struggle between the CFPB and FDIC
Future of crypto regulation
How UK challenger bank Monzo made a comeback
Integrated payment options
How real estate meets fintech
Fintech for SMBs

Brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet (@Yieldstreet on Twitter)

S1 E5: Grace Mellis, Chief Financial Officer, Altruist

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I'm interviewing Grace Mellis, the first ever CFO of Altruist, a Los Angeles-based fintech and the first fully-integrated digital brokerage platform for financial advisors.

Grace is bringing the heat to the fintech and wealthtech space as she’s made it her mission as CFO to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity continue to be woven into every facet of the company. In our conversation we get candid about Grace’s story as a fintech leader, the future of wealth tech, and what’s up next for Altruist.

You can follow Altruist on Twitter @altruist

Check out Grace’s finlit book for kids: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/koa-the-crocodile-grace-mellis/1140522117

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

This episode of WTFintech is brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet.

S1 E4: Amy Nauiokas, Co-Founder & Co-CIO, Anthemis

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I'm interviewing Amy Nauiokas, the co-founder and co-CIO of Anthemis. She’s also the founder and CEO of award-winning production company Archer Gray, which promotes and amplifies a wide array of underrepresented voices and stories.

Amy is committed to investing in diverse founders - especially women and women of color. In fact, she’s also the CEO and Chair of Anthemis Digital Acquistions, a 100% female-led and ESG-focused special purpose acquisition company.

You can follow Anthemis on Twitter @anthemis

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

This episode of WTFintech is brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet.

S1 E3: Miguel Fernandez, Co-founder & CEO, Capchase

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I'm interviewing Miguel Fernandez, co-founder, and CEO of Capchase, a fintech for recurring-revenue companies to secure non-dilutive capital.

In short, Capchase is for industry by industry as a software as a service company for fintech companies. In this episode, we dive deeper into what that means while covering Miguel’s values and how Capchase is breaking the creative bankruptcy that has existed far too long in the world of B2B.

You can follow Capchase on Twitter @GetCapchase

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

S1 E2: Sarah Kirshbaum Levy, CEO, Betterment

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I'm interviewing Sarah Kirshbaum Levy, CEO of Betterment, the nation’s largest independent digital investment advisor.

Under Sarah’s leadership, Betterment’s growth has gone through the roof with $33 billion in AUM and more than 700,000 clients. Sarah’s street cred is unmatched as former COO of Nickelodeon and Viacom Media Networks’ where she oversaw iconic brands we all know and love -- including MTV, Comedy Central, and BET.

In this episode, Sarah dives deep into her story and the future of Betterment while we celebrate her one year anniversary as CEO!

You can follow Betterment on Twitter @Betterment

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

This episode of WTFintech is brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet.

S1 E1: Lule Demmissie, CEO, eToro U.S.

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 14:45:00 -0400

Today on WTFintech? I'm interviewing Lule Demmissie, CEO of eToro U.S.

Lule Demmissie is the CEO of eToro U.S., a digital currency trading platform that connects more than 20 million users worldwide. eToro is also slated to go public via SPAC, valuing the company at over $10 billion. Lule once was wealth-management director at TD Ameritrade and, more recently, president at Ally Invest. She’s also a fierce inspiration for representation in fintech.

You can follow her on Twitter @luledemmissie

You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

This episode of WTFintech is brought to you by our friends at Yieldstreet.

Welcome to the WTFintech Podcast

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0400

WTFintech? is a podcast for fintech professionals who want to shape the future of the industry with innovation and inclusion. Hosted by Nicole Casperson, fintech reporter-turned-creator, WTFintech? gives fintech professionals the news and analysis they need to get ahead in their careers — and hosts interviews with founders and investors you won’t hear anywhere else.