Kristy Duncan
Founder & CEO,
Women in Payments
Featuring Closing Keynote by Tech Titan Michele Romanow of Dragons’ Den
Have you registered for the Women in Payments Canada Symposium yet? There’s still time to book your spot at our Canadian symposium held this year on September 19, 2019, in Toronto.
As an attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your skills in the rapidly changing field of payments, plus learn career development and leadership skills, all while networking with some of the best and brightest in the industry, including our closing keynote speaker, serial entrepreneur Michele Romanow of Dragons’ Den fame.
Women in Payments asked Romanow, co-founder of Clearbanc, why she is speaking at the Women in Payments symposium, and how we can encourage more women leaders in the payments industry today.
Women in Payments: How can we encourage more women into leadership roles in fintech and payments?
Michele Romanow: Having organizations like Women in Payments is a great start. To encourage women to take on leadership roles, they need to see other women in leadership roles. Women in Payments, and other organizations like it, provide the networking opportunities that can foster peer-to-peer support and growth. They also showcase and celebrate women’s achievements — seeing these successes can be the encouragement needed to help other women have the courage to take risks that will lead to more challenging but fulfilling roles.
It’s up to the women currently sitting in leadership roles to be role models for younger women, plus fight for the changes necessary in creating a more inclusive environment. At Clearbanc, we have funded eight times more companies founded by female entrepreneurs than the average 2.2% of US venture capital that funds women. Clearbanc’s model removes bias by using data to assess the financial performance of a company and make automated investing decisions, ignoring gender, race, and location.
Why did you want to speak at the Women in Payments Canadian Symposium this year?
It’s so important for women, especially in leadership roles and positions of power, to provide mentorship to fellow women. We need to share our stories — the good, but especially the bad and the ugly. Our failures can help others succeed, whether by giving them the confidence to move forward, letting them know they aren’t alone in their struggles and successes, or helping to streamline their journey. Especially in fields traditionally dominated by men, we need to support and learn from each other, or we’ll all keep facing the same frustrations and hurdles again and again, and that’s just a waste of time. Speaking at events like the Women in Payments Canada Symposium, where I get to share everything I’ve learned up to this point in front of an audience of incredible women, are the most rewarding experiences for me.
