Lissele Pratt: Capitalixe Cofounder, helping businesses navigate payments & banking solutions, honored by Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2021.
I felt outnumbered, outgunned and patronized when I first joined the fintech industry, but there are ways in which women can break through that stubborn glass ceiling.
I landed my first job in finance when I was just 18 years old, without any prior experience in the professional working world, let alone in a big city like London. On my first day in the office, it became abundantly clear to me that I was one of the only female employees in the team—a fact my male colleagues seemed to delight in.
“You’re not cut out for the finance industry.”
“You won’t be able to handle the workload here.”
“You won’t last a month.”
These are all comments I received during my early days 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 couple of years of hard work in the face of adversity, I was promoted to a more senior position within the company. Fast forward to the present day, and I run my very own successful fintech consultancy, employing a range of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
While I am proud of my journey, I want to make sure that the fight through the glass ceiling is easier for the next generation of female fintech professionals. Data shows that only approximately 12% of fintech founders worldwide are female—and that has to change.
Here are my top five pieces of advice for breaking the fintech glass ceiling:
1. Always know your worth.
Knowing your worth is key in the world of business. Pushing for the promotion you know you deserve. Speaking up for yourself when you know you are being treated unjustly. Advocating for your own skills and being confident in what you bring to the table. This is not only important, but it’s also nothing less than you deserve.
The more you advocate for yourself, 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 that opportunities open up around you.
2. Know the worth of those around you.
It’s a two-way street. While advocating for yourself, you should also support people around you—when they are deserving of your support. Vouching for each other’s skills can be a great way to lift up 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 other people have your back is an invaluable show of support. If you notice that certain demographics are not well-represented in your team, you should also talk to HR about diversification.
3. Celebrate your milestones and achievements.
Celebrate your own accomplishments! Don’t wait for other people to do it for you.
We work all our lives to progress through our chosen career path, so to not celebrate those important milestones seems like a waste. Unfortunately, it is something women often struggle with. Instead of downplaying your achievements, celebrate them. Instead of brushing off compliments, embrace them. Instead of keeping exciting news inside, share it. It’s a healthy habit to get into.
Over the years, I have settled on two main ways to celebrate myself in my career. Number one: I post on social media to announce the news and share my achievements with those around me. Not only is this a nice feeling for me, but it can also serve as inspiration for other women in the industry. Number two: I treat myself to a nice dinner, a gift or even a holiday.
4. Networking is key.
Fintech is just like any other industry—the more people you know, the easier things become. Mentors, sponsors and your fellow employees are all valuable points of contact in the working world. Supporting and collaborating with people who are in the same boat as you is a great way to keep yourself grounded and focused. Mentors can provide you with that extra bit of valuable guidance and experience, while sponsors can help to advance your career.
In my personal experience, I found that conferences and social media were worthwhile tools in pursuit of building a contact list.
I always found networking a very daunting idea during my early years in the industry, but things only get easier once you build that list of reliable contacts. I attended as many conferences and meet-ups as possible during those earlier years, which is how I learned about so many amazing opportunities that have led me to where I am today.
If you see a woman in fintech who you admire on social media, don’t be afraid to reach out and introduce yourself. The worst-case scenario is they don’t reply because they are too busy. The best-case scenario is you get a mentor who has walked the journey you are currently walking. I connected with so many incredible women this way.
5. Invest in your present and your future.
Progressing through the wide world of professional work is all about not standing still. In order to keep advancing your career, you should always be on the lookout to learn new skills and acquire 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 some time into an online course as and when you have a spare moment.
Attend an event. Make new contacts and acquire new knowledge by attending a conference/networking event.
Read, read, read. There is an endless amount of written content out there specifically designed to expand your horizons. Books, magazines, papers and online articles are all great ways to gain new insight into the industry.
Breaking through the glass ceiling can feel daunting, but it’s not impossible. As we unite and support each other, we can dismantle these obstacles and create a more inclusive and equal future for women in fintech.
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