Lissele Pratt: Capitalixe Co-founder, helping businesses navigate payment and banking solutions, honored by Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2021.
I felt outnumbered, overwhelmed, and patronized when I joined the fintech industry, but there are ways women can break that stubborn glass ceiling.
I landed my first job in finance when I was just 18 years old, with no prior experience in the professional world, let alone in a big city like London. From my first day in the office, it became very clear to me that I was one of the only female employees on the team, a fact that my male colleagues seemed to appreciate.
“You are not cut out for the financial sector.”
“You won’t be able to handle the workload here.”
“You won’t last a month.”
These are all comments I received when starting out in finance. Despite the external and internal challenges I faced daily, I was determined to succeed for one simple reason: I loved my job.
After a few years of hard work in the face of adversity, I was promoted to a higher position within the company. Fast forward to the present day, and I run my own fintech consultancy, employing a range of people from all backgrounds.
While I’m proud of my journey, I want to make sure that tackling the glass ceiling is easier for the next generation of female fintech professionals. The data shows that only about 12% of fintech founders There are women all over the world – and that needs to change.
Here are my top five tips for breaking the fintech glass ceiling:
1. Always know your worth.
Knowing your value is essential in the business world. Push for the promotion you know you deserve. Speak up for yourself when you know you are being treated unfairly. Stand up for your own skills and be confident in what you bring to the table. It’s not only important, but it’s nothing less than what you deserve.
The more you defend your interests, the more likely you are to receive the recognition you deserve from those around you. The more you do this, the more you will notice opportunities opening up around you.
2. Know the value of those around you.
It’s a two-way street. While advocating for yourself, you must also support the people around you when they deserve your support. Vouching for each other’s skills can be a great way to elevate both of you in a mutually beneficial way.
You should also speak up if you see another woman being mistreated in the workplace. It can often be scary to stand up for yourself, so knowing that other people have your back is an invaluable show of support. If you notice that certain demographics are not well represented on your team, you should also talk to HR about diversification.
3. Celebrate your milestones and achievements.
Celebrate your own achievements! Don’t wait for others to do it for you.
We work our entire lives to advance in our chosen career path, so not celebrating these milestones seems like a waste. Unfortunately, this is a problem that women often face. Instead of downplaying your accomplishments, celebrate them. Instead of rejecting compliments, accept them. Instead of keeping exciting news inside, share it. It’s a healthy habit to get into.
Over the years, I have chosen two main ways to celebrate myself in my career. Number one: I post on social media to announce the news and share my accomplishments with those around me. Not only is this a good feeling for me, but it can also serve as an inspiration to other women in the industry. Number two: I treat myself to a nice dinner, a gift or even a vacation.
4. Networking is essential.
Fintech is like any other industry: the more people you know, the easier things become. Mentors, sponsors and your colleagues are all valuable points of contact in the world of work. Supporting and collaborating with people who are in the same boat as you is a great way to stay grounded and focused. Mentors can provide you with additional valuable advice and experience, while sponsors can help you advance your career.
In my personal experience, I have found conferences and social media to be useful tools for building a contact list.
I always found networking a very intimidating idea during my early years in the industry, but things only get easier once you’ve established that list of reliable contacts. I attended as many conferences and meetups as I could during those early years, which is how I discovered so many incredible opportunities that led me to where I am today.
If you see a woman in fintech that you admire on social media, don’t hesitate to reach out and introduce yourself. Worst case scenario, they don’t respond because they’re too busy. The best case scenario is that you have a mentor who has walked the path you are currently on. I’ve connected with so many amazing women this way.
5. Invest in your present and your future.
Progressing in the vast world of professional work means above all not standing still. In order to continue to progress in your career, you must always be looking for new skills and acquiring new knowledge. Investing time today will result in financial and personal gain tomorrow.
But what are the best ways to invest in yourself?
Take an online course. Learn a new skill by investing time in an online course whenever you have a spare moment.
Attend an event. Make new contacts and gain new knowledge by attending a conference/networking event.
Read, read, read. There is an endless amount of written content specifically designed to broaden your horizons. Books, magazines, newspapers and online articles are all great ways to gain new knowledge about the industry.
Breaking the glass ceiling may seem intimidating, but it’s not impossible. By uniting and supporting each other, we can break down these barriers and create a more inclusive and equal future for women in fintech.
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