Ahead of International Women’s Day this weekend, senior reporter Silvia Iacovcich speaks to a group of women leading the way in financial technology. They shared the hurdles they have faced, their career highlights, and how the FinTech landscape is evolving to become more inclusive and diverse.

Andreea Daly, founder at MoneySquirrel
Her Motto: collaboration over competition

Andreea Daly entered the tech industry by accident. After training as a paralegal in commercial property, running her own residential property services business, and transitioning into recruitment, she qualified as a project manager.

“My first project management role happened to be for a software company, and I took to it like a duck to water (even though I’ve never written a line of code in my life),” she recalls.

Fast forward 10 years, and today, she is founder of Money Squirrel, a FinTech platform seeking to help businesses manage their finances and cash through automated savings.

“I solved my own problem with the product we’ve built and launched, after running a software consultancy for several years,” she says.

When discussing gender equality in FinTech, she expresses mixed feelings, particularly about employment retention. “We seem to be doing great things to encourage more women into tech, but they leave again within a few years,” she explains. “We need to do better on retention, otherwise we’re just scooping water with a leaky bucket.”

Daly believes success for women in FinTech comes from refining personal traits and embracing strengths.

“What I mean by that is -– if you’re an extrovert or ambivert, network and put yourself out there to make new connections, both within and outside of the workplace,” she says. “You can’t start this early enough, honestly, and it doesn’t have to be transactional -– I’ve met some of my best friends in the past two years through work networking.”

She also emphasises that women don’t need to be engineers or developers to thrive in tech, proclaiming herself ‘a living reminder’ of the thesis.

“I’m not, and I’ve been in the field for a decade,” she says. “There are so many other skillsets and routes in - product management, quality assurance, design, research and so much more.”

She emphasises the crucial power of networking for women seeking to pursue new careers.
“Join a few, select groups or communities,” explains Daly. “And engage! Whether that’s in writing, in person, virtually, look for opportunities to input or help others. It will come full circle, once you find (or create!) the right communities for yourself.

“You’ll know it’s the right place when the vibes feel right –- that’s our instinct telling us, yeah, this is great. This should work.”

Helping each other out is one of Daly’s mantras to having a successful career. “If you know someone who’s looking for a role or a gig, and you see one, share the link with them, tag them in it, it takes seconds,” she notes. “I’m now surrounded by people who take the same approach, and they’re the ones who will continue to effect positive change.”

She also notes that hiring managers are increasingly recognising the positive impact of diversity and inclusion, though progress is slow. “It’s so much slower than we’d like and has been knocked backwards by recent announcements from the US, but it’s an inevitable change,” concludes Daly.

Emily Neish, vice president of professional services at AutoRek
Her Motto: If you can take the first step, you're halfway there

Emily Neish said she chose her motto to encourage women not to struggle with perfectionism and take action instead.

“Overcoming the fear of not being perfect and just starting is often the hardest part,” she explains. “Just take it, and you will be well on your way to completing the task or goal.”
With a background in trading, Neish transitioned into FinTech by leveraging her industry expertise.

“I started my career in the energy industry, and when I realised that being a trader wasn't really fitting with my personality, that's when I got head hunted in software, and I've been in FinTech ever since,” she tells FStech.

She currently serves as vice president of professional services at AutoRek, which provides financial and operational reconciliation technology, following leadership roles at 1Spatial, FIS, and SunGard.

Throughout her career, Neish has often been the only woman in male-dominated teams, facing implicit bias, slower promotions, and disparities in recognition.

“When I started in my first role, I was the only woman in the entire UK team,” she recalls. “This meant I was often the only woman traveling and socialising with the team, which I found quite isolating.”

She also had to navigate cultural challenges when traveling to client sites, encountering misogyny from colleagues. But luckily, the industry has changed now, she notes.

“There is now more advocacy for women in technology and support when issues arise,” adds Neish. “As a result, today women feel more empowered to speak up if they encounter problems in their careers.”

Especially with the advent of Covid-19, she explains that work has moved away from physical travel to become more home-based, encouraging more women to enter the industry and opening up positions for women who previously could not travel due to childcare responsibilities.

“It has also allowed women who were already in the career to continue, as they don't have to travel as much anymore,” she adds.

She advises women to not let a lack of technical expertise hold them back from applying for tech roles. “Don't let the technical aspects of the job scare you, even if you don't consider yourself particularly technologically minded,” she says.

She also strongly encourages women to look at job descriptions and apply, even if they don't meet 100 per cent of the listed requirements. “Women tend to avoid applying for jobs unless they feel they have all the required skills, whereas men are more likely to apply even if they only meet some of the criteria,” she explains.

Neish also emphasises the importance of mentorship and networking, recommending women-focused groups and events like "Women in Tech" and "Women in Leadership." “These groups can provide mentorship, allyship, and help women who may feel isolated as the only female in their immediate team or role,” she continues.

When asked about policies that could help, Neish highlights the need for inclusive job descriptions. “Our company's HR team went through a process to review and make the job ads more inclusive, avoiding aggressive language,” she explains.

“My view is that women shouldn't have to worry about these family-related issues impacting their careers, and policies should be in place to support them.”

However, she says she has also seen policies go “the wrong way”, using the example of a client in South Africa that had very strict policies around gender, race, and other factors, which made it difficult for them to hire.

“We need to be careful that we don't end up alienating the rest of the organisation and making it harder to hire,” she adds.

Mara Pometti, director AI and data strategy, Mastercard
Her motto : Bet on yourself - even harder

Mara Pometti’s career has revolved around integrating AI into human experiences. The AI specialist has been working with many clients in the financial services industry at IBM or at McKinley where she designed and built AI solutions. Currently she leads the AI and data strategy at Mastercard.

“For me, FinTech is one of the most tangible areas in which to realise my vision of the AI experience, because it is a space where AI impacts everyone's life,” she says. “Payments, financial decisions and transactions are universal experiences, so I saw an opportunity to reshape the role of payment into something that affects everyone, every day.”

To break into the AI arena, she advises women to focus on what they can bring to the table.
“Whether it’s technical expertise, strategic thinking, or human-centred design, your unique skills matter,” she says, adding that FinTech is about creating experiences for human beings, building trust, and solving real-world problems. 

“Second, find allies and mentors,” she adds. “People who recognise your potential and advocate for you will be game-changers in your career. “And when you reach a leadership position, pay it forward by mentoring the next generation.”

According to Pometti, the key is to stay adaptable. “You may not land your dream job immediately, but by embracing unexpected opportunities, you’ll build the skills and credibility to shape your own path,” she continues. “Trust your own big plans, not the ones others have for you.”

Since she began her career, she has noticed progress, with more conversations, more women in leadership and a greater focus on inclusion and representation. However, one of the biggest challenges that remains is the lack of female role models in technical fields.

“I’ve often heard even accomplished women in executive roles say, ‘I didn’t consider myself technical enough for this job’,” explains Pometti. “This mindset isn’t based on ability—it’s a reflection of how women are socialised from an early age.”

Additionally, she believes many girls aren’t exposed to the full spectrum of career opportunities in financial services or technology and are rarely introduced to paths in AI or engineering, although awareness in the field is rising.

Technology can be a double edge sword in the development of gender equality.
“AI can either break down barriers or reinforce existing biases, depending on how it’s built,” she explains. “If we use AI to drive better access to STEM education, provide mentorship at scale, and challenge outdated hiring patterns, it can help create real change. “

But ultimately, education is the key.

“Encouraging women to explore STEM fields from an early age and showing them the vast opportunities available in tech is what will change the landscape for the future,” she concludes.

Alice Short, director at Protiviti
Her motto: Lead in your own way, and bring others along with you

Alice Short’s motto is all about sharing success.: “For me, success is not just about achieving my goals but helping others see their potential and feel empowered to reach theirs,” she tells FStech. “It’s about creating a legacy where the women following behind can see what’s possible and know they belong.”

The FinTech expert was drawn to the industry thanks to its dynamic nature and the opportunity to solve complex problems at the intersection of finance and technology. And luckily, the sector has been developing positively for women, she explains.

“I’ve seen more awareness around the barriers women face,” she says. “There’s also a growing recognition of the value of diverse leadership styles, including those that emphasise relationship building and collaboration.

“Looking ahead, I’d like to see a stronger focus in our industry for creating tangible pathways for women to continue to thrive in their careers.”

Short underlines that the sector is particularly harsh on women.
“Women in this field face unique challenges, such as being underestimated or feeling invisible in environments that don’t value the soft skills critical to leadership,” she says.
Because of that, her advice to women is to not to let the fear of being disliked stop them from being assertive and ambitious.

“Confidence comes in different forms, and you don’t have to conform to anyone else’s version of it,” adds the director. 2Trust your skills, use your voice, and remember: you can lead in your own unique way.

“Also, actively seek opportunities for growth, and never stop advocating for yourself and others.”

To increase representation in the industry, Short believes changes are needed “at the grassroots level”, encouraging young girls to pursue STEM careers, creating sponsorship programmes, and building workplace cultures where women feel valued and supported.

When commenting on technology as a tool for inclusivity and gender equality, Short believes AI can be a great equaliser if it’s designed thoughtfully.

“For instance, AI could be instrumental in helping to eliminate unconscious bias in recruitment or promotions – but we also need diverse voices shaping AI systems to ensure they reflect inclusivity,” she concludes.

Lauren Cave, associate director at Protiviti
Her motto: Lead with human instinct: approach technology with empathy

With a background in retail banking, managing large teams and understanding the daily access requirements for employees, Cave found she had skills that were highly translatable in the consultancy world.

Initially, she was pulled into supporting identity projects, which then evolved into leading, managing, and more recently directing projects and programmes within the identity access management space.

“I view this area as very human, focusing on the needs of individuals and roles regarding access management,” she explains. “This perspective allows me to balance the risk aspects of access with the user experience, ensuring a considered approach to identity access management.”

While Cave has witnessed notable progress with more women entering and leading in the identify access management (IAM) sector, she notes that challenges such as underrepresentation in technical roles and a persistent gender pay gap remain significant hurdles globally.

“Since I began my career, I've observed a positive shift in gender equality within the industry,” she says. “The number of women in the field is visibly increasing, and many are stepping into leadership and project management roles.”

She advises women to invest in skills development as early as possible, embracing AI rather than fearing it as a threat.
“The earlier you build your expertise, the more opportunities you'll have to grow and succeed,” she adds.

“Also, always be true to yourself.
“It's perfectly okay to have female reactions and manage teams in a way that feels natural to you. Authenticity is a strength, and leading with your unique perspective can be incredibly powerful.”

To increase the representation of women in FinTech, she advocates to implement several strategies including mentorship and sponsorship programmes, educational opportunities, inclusive recruitment practices and creating more supportive work environments.

“This includes offering flexible working conditions and ensuring that women's voices are heard and respected in decision-making processes,” she concludes.

International Women’s Day, which takes place on 8th March every year, celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

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