In this episode of Girls in Finance, we sit down with Ann Olinger, a fintech leader who transitioned from product operations and marketing to finance, scaling a SaaS product from $500K to over $110M ARR. Ann shares insights on breaking into fintech, navigating leadership as a woman in finance, and the evolving landscape of embedded finance and AI-driven innovation. Tune in for valuable lessons on scaling products, driving financial innovation, and seizing opportunities in fintech. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us for more inspiring conversations!

In this episode of Girls in Finance, we are joined by Lilian Ejila, Finance Manager at Brails, who shares her journey and invaluable insights into thriving in the financial industry. Lilian discusses the tools and resources that help her stay ahead in a fast-paced industry, including podcasts, newsletters, LinkedIn communities, and internal team collaboration. She emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive environments for women in finance and offers advice for leaders looking to mentor the next generation of professionals. With reflections on overcoming obstacles, evolving definitions of success, and leading through challenges, Lilian’s story is both inspiring and empowering for anyone aspiring to make an impact in finance.

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Lily Miao, a Partner in the Corporate Finance department of Appleby's Hong Kong office. With years of experience in advising international financial institutions and corporations, she brings a wealth of knowledge from across the legal and financial sectors. She takes us through her journey from her educational background to the unique experiences that inspired her to enter the legal field and ultimately specialize in finance law. Her story is one of resilience and adaptability, navigating a complex landscape of financial regulations and industry shifts that demand both legal acumen and a deep understanding of global finance.

As a partner at her firm, Lily shares invaluable insights into managing a large client portfolio while fostering long-term relationships with international clients who rely on her expertise. Listeners will hear firsthand about the challenges she faces in balancing legal practice with leadership responsibilities, as well as her strategies for maintaining composure and clarity amidst the daily unpredictabilities of her role. Beyond her professional achievements, she discusses the realities of being a woman in a predominantly male industry, offering candid reflections on handling micro-aggressions and imbalances and providing guidance for young women aspiring to enter the legal field. This episode offers a unique perspective into the life of a top finance lawyer and the evolving opportunities and challenges within Hong Kong’s finance and corporate services sector.

In this episode, we talk with Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA, a seasoned CFO with extensive experience in corporate finance and FP&A. We explore what inspired her to pursue a career in finance and why she chose to work at a not-for-profit like Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) to support entrepreneurial growth. Wassia opens up about how she’s tackled challenges throughout her leadership journey and shares valuable advice for young women aspiring to leadership roles in finance.

We also discuss the key strategies she recommends for building resilience and thriving during times of change, drawing from her session "Navigating Change and Uncertainty with Confidence" at Wharton Online. Wassia provides practical tips for students interested in starting a career in corporate finance and talks about the values that guide her approach to leadership and decision-making. She shares candid insights about her experiences as a woman in finance, including lessons learned and challenges faced along the way.

Tune in for actionable insights on corporate finance, resilient leadership, and inspiration from Wassia’s experiences and professional journey.

In this episode of Girls in Finance, we talk with Stacey Katakura, CEO of Accumulus. Stacey shares her personal journey, discussing how her background and education shaped her career and what inspired her to transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. She provides insight into Accumulus’s mission and her leadership role within the company, reflecting on the challenges and strategies that contributed to her early success.

Stacey also offers valuable advice for high school and college students aspiring to enter the accounting and finance industries, emphasizing the importance of developing soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. She opens up about her experiences as a woman in accounting, areas where the field still needs improvement, and how inclusivity in the accounting industry has evolved.

In this episode of Girls in Finance, we had the opportunity to converse with Imade Iyamu, who shared her journey from law to business, now working at Goldman Sachs’ Private Family Office Imade shared how her role integrates both fields, offering comprehensive wealth management, tax planning, and generational wealth strategies for high-net-worth clients. She also gave us an inside look at her day-to-day responsibilities and highlighted emerging opportunities in finance that extend beyond traditional investment banking and consulting.

Imade emphasized the key skills essential for success in wealth management, particularly the importance of building strong client relationships and mastering technical expertise. Reflecting on her journey as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she spoke about the challenges she faced and how mentorship and confidence have been pivotal in navigating her career.

Tune in to hear valuable insights from her inspiring and multifaceted career!

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with Renuka, a Small Business Advisor at Scotiabank, about her diverse career journey from RBC's contact center to her current role. We’ll explore the rewards of being a Small Business Advisor, the motivation behind her career transitions, and how each role has prepared her for the next step. Renuka will share insights on building strong client relationships, her passion for mentorship and women in leadership, and offer advice for aspiring young women in finance. She’ll discuss the challenges she’s faced in the banking industry, especially as a South Asian woman, and share insights regarding the differences between retail and corporate banking.

In this episode of Girls in Finance, we interview Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures, a company that connects founders with funders to drive innovation in the banking industry, to uncover how taking risks and pursuing diverse career paths can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities in FinTech.

Theo shares how she navigated the transition across industries, the personal challenges she faced, and how she discovered her passion for reshaping finance. We also dive into the accessibility of FinTech for women, with Theo offering candid insights on the barriers and the exciting opportunities within this rapidly evolving field. We explore how Theo’s global perspective, shaped by her experiences in markets from Hong Kong and Japan to the U.S., provides her with unique insights into the slow pace of change in the American finance industry.

Whether you’re looking to carve your own path in a male-dominated field, explore unconventional career routes, or get ahead of the curve in the future of FinTech, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration just for you!