A few years ago, at a popular ‘FinTech innovation demo show’ in London, a Russian payments company brought out the scantily clad ‘Miss Russia’ to demonstrate how the audience could use their payments app to purchase her clothing line on the internet. Many people – men and women – in the audience were shocked. My... Continue Reading →
Give women a platform: meet the tech workers challenging the all-male panel – The Guardian UK
A group of campaigners believe the shortage of women at tech industry events has just one cause - they are being actively excluded.
Calling Time on Inequality – Divercity Podcast
I was honored to be invited to sit down with the awesome Julia Streets for her Divercity podcast a few weeks ago. She let me rabbit on and on (which you all know is my favourite thing). "Nine white guys at an event talking about blockchain does not make the industry any better." Please all... Continue Reading →
All my Generals are women
My dad was a history teacher. He retired a few years ago, but for almost 40 years my dad taught middle school history and social studies in the public school system in the neighboring town where I grew up in the US. He used to run 'The Civil War Club' at the school. Not sure... Continue Reading →
Seeing the sunrise over Mt. Kilimanjaro
I have had a difficult few weeks. Basically wondering what has been the point of my 24 year career strolling and mirandering through the twisted highways of global FinTech. I started paying more attention to those who bring toxicity into your life. The people who call you and get you to drag yourself onto a... Continue Reading →
‘Well, actually…” Now ‘on Demand’!
Thank you all for taking the time to listen to our webcast yesterday 'Well, actually...Navigating the future of our industry in the age of #MeToo' We share some stories, we had some laughs, we defined 'manbassador' and we 'a-hem' shamed some trolls. 😉 Listen again here!
Mirror, Mirror – What do I have to be complicit with today?
Oh, if DMs could talk! Well they do, our private and direct messages on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack etc...are anything but private. This age of social media depends on giving us a facade of privacy. The only thing keeping me from making public screen shots of direct messages from colleagues, allies, friends and frenemies is... Continue Reading →
‘Well, actually…’ – Navigating the future of our industry in the age of #MeToo
A few weeks ago the Financial Times exposed the story regarding the treatment of women at a charitable fundraiser held at the tony Dorchester Hotel in London. The women at the party told tales of being groped, plied with alcohol and being propositioned for sex. Having spent over 20 years working in banking and technology,... Continue Reading →
History will side with the ‘disrupters’
In my time, I have curated and organised my fair share of events. Events with exhibition halls, conferences in foreign countries, small roundtables and webcasts. I know what it is like to piece together a wish list of favoured speakers and have to balance that with the spokespeople from sponsors that bought their way onto... Continue Reading →
The three phrases I hear too often. Part 1 ‘I prefer working with men’
Last was a big week for women in FinTech. Hotwire ran its first 'F in FinTech' event celebrating women in this industry and Innovate Finance released its annual Women in FinTech Power List. During last week I heard three phrases that I hear all the time - from men and women - and I wanted... Continue Reading →