Facing a redundancy has become a regular and expected feature in the modern workplace. In fintech, hearing the word ‘redundancy’ is part of the new reality. For many, job loss is often accompanied by a sense of inadequacy and emotional baggage. Unemployment puts people under various mental health strains. It comes hand in hand with “layoff anxiety” and “living in fear” of “not being good enough.” The tech giants have issued statements saying they will continue to remove “layers” of talent. With this in mind, can workers embrace it rather than see it as a setback and find ways to use it to their advantage?
I explored this emotive topic during a live podcast episode of my series, Fintech’s DEI Discussions, powered by my employer Harrington Starr. I recorded the episode at a London-based EWPN annual conference meetup in front of a live audience. The European Women Payment Network is a non-profit community of which I am an executive board member. We titled the episode “Bounce-Back Careers, Bumps, Jumps and Squiggly Lines.” In this conversation, I interviewed three inspiring women. They are helping the fintech community turn a redundancy into an opportunity to build new career pathways. Their insights show how to navigate this evolving landscape.
Accept ‘Squiggly’ Careers
With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Megan Dunford describes herself as a “pathfinder.” She says she thrives on tackling complex and ambiguous scenarios to uncover the best way forward. Megan spent 18 years at Western Union, starting in an entry-level position and later becoming a global leader in strategic planning. She then served as COO of a well-known fintech until she was made redundant in 2024. Since then, Megan has used her time to focus on side projects and reflect on her career journey. “How often do you get the chance to step back and think about your path?” she asks. “What do you truly want to do next? What have you learned, and who did you learn it from? What would you do differently—and how can you carry that experience into your next role?”
Megan believes that “squiggly careers,” nonlinear and ever-evolving paths, are the future of work. She stresses the importance of blending internal skills with external connections. “It’s crucial to build networks, relationships, and an awareness of the external environment,” she notes. She highlights that the future of work will be shaped by constant change. She says that technological advancements will create and eliminate roles at an accelerating pace. This shift will place a premium on adaptability as ‘upskilling’ and ‘reskilling’ become essential. “I think this is actually quite exciting,” Megan says. “It gives you more control over your career and allows you to align it with the life you want to live.”
Build Support Networks
Divya Eapen credits the various shifts and challenges in her career for giving her the confidence to take bold risks. “Accepting that change is inevitable has allowed me to take these leaps and build two businesses,” she explains. One focuses on helping companies grow and scale sustainably by addressing credit risk, early problem recognition, and building effective cultures. The other is in the wine industry. Divya has worked as a Credit and Risk specialist for over 20 years, holding various Chief Risk Officer roles in fintechs and corporate risk and sales roles in banking.
Divya recalls her first experience working at a company that failed. “I gave everything to it, and when it failed, I was completely broken. I had no energy left.” While she had the internal resilience to rebuild herself, she highlights the significance of support systems in that process. “I needed the communities and networks around me” and “my personal support systems.”
When talking about getting your next role, she said, “You need cheerleaders.” These people lift you up and put you forward for new opportunities. She said, “It’s so much easier to walk into a meeting and pitch for work when someone has already said, ‘You should meet Divya.’” External validation is helpful in building and maintaining internal confidence, especially when exploring new opportunities.
Understand Value Exchanges
Nicola describes her experiences with redundancy as moments of unexpected opportunity. “I’ve been very fortunate,” she says, “These times have allowed me to understand what value means to me.” Nicola advises others to take the time to reflect on their needs and aspirations before any job search. She suggests asking yourself key questions. “What does each role or opportunity offer?” “Will I be successful when I achieve this role’s goals?” “What are my non-negotiables in my next role?” “How does this role help me grow or support the life I want to live?”
Nicola highlights her own “core competencies” that she refuses to compromise on, with freedom being central. For her, freedom goes beyond flexibility in hours and location. It’s about having the freedom to explore, contribute meaningfully to the company, and work in a way that aligns with both efficacy and integrity. In startups, she notes, “There’s no job too small or too large for anyone because we all have to ensure the company doesn’t fail.” She also talks about having the right job title. She points out that titles must reflect the job and give credibility to perform well internally and externally.
Across all environments, whether startup or corporate, Nicola prioritizes accountability and value. “Do I add value? Am I valued? And do I value the opportunity I have here?” This ‘value exchange’ is what allows you to make the right choices and move forward. Nicola advises people in their careers to “Keep going. You can keep moving forward or even sideways. Just keep travelling.”
Redundancies are not the end, however final they feel. They are the start of the next career chapter. In the future of work, redundancies may become commonplace, requiring people to adopt new ways of working. This will mean building stronger networks. The winners will embrace agility and adaptability. They will focus on ‘value exchanges’ at every opportunity and use setbacks as cornerstones for their success.
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