By Anna Chandler, Director of Marketing UK, Adyen
There are a lot of misconceptions about the payments sector. That it’s a stuffy, male-dominated industry. That it’s not very interesting. That it’s not very innovative. The truth is that some of the misconceptions weren’t unfounded. At least in the early days. But today, there are loads of interesting fintech companies that are disrupting the space and throwing out the old rule books.
Not only are these companies creating a new sector – where coding and programming skills are as highly desired as other traditional finance skills – they are breathing in new life and perspectives and encouraging greater diversity. It’s an innovative industry that’s looking to challenge the status quo and find better ways of doing things, across the board.
Businesses such as Adyen were built on the premise of starting over and creating a better system from scratch (Adyen literally means ‘start over again’ in Surinamese). As a result, these organisations are natural leaders when it comes to challenging ways of working. And with a start-up mentality they can move quickly when they see ways to improve. This has positive implications for diversity and inclusion.
The 10 years I’ve been working in the payments sector have been really exciting. The thing about payments is that it has a really broad service offering and touches just about every sector and is increasingly seen as a powerful growth-driver. So I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the success of many business types, from retail to gaming, to hotels and restaurants, digital subscription services and everything in between.
And I’ve met some truly inspiring women business leaders along the way. Two which I’ve had the pleasure of working with are Daye.com and Birdsong. Both of these innovative businesses put sustainability and equality at their core. Both are brilliant in their own right. Which is why we decided to feature them in our celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day. You can see their full, inspiring stories here.
So, this is a call to all women seeking a diverse and fulfilling career to consider the payments industry. With such a broad range of roles available, there’s opportunities for a variety of skillsets and interests. And, since many of these businesses are striving to challenge old-fashioned ways of working, you’ll likely find yourself in an environment that’s working hard to champion diversity and strive to create an amazing place to work, regardless of gender, age, life-stage or background.
To foster support and collaboration we launched the Women’s Leadership Network which hosts events for people committed to championing work environments where both men and women can thrive. It’s about extending networks and sharing experiences – enabling everyone to be leaders in their own right. You can learn more about it here.
Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.