WORKWEEK

By Nicole Casperson

From medicine to regulations and headlong into Fintech, meet the CFO building a better financial system.

Alison Staloch is CFO at Fundrise, America’s largest direct-to-investor real estate investment platform, since 2012.

Nicole and Alison, dig into why a career in medicine left her cold, how she navigated a course through regulations and policy at the US Securities And Exchange Commission, and why Fundrise’s ethos for empowering its customer is her north star.

Plus, you’ll also hear the best piece of advice Alison was given and why Fintech outsiders should dive into the industry with no fear.

Follow Alison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonstaloch/

And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintech

Thank you so much!

You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/

And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech Insider

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:31 When Medicine Fell Flat

06:34 Monitoring For Opportunities And Challenges

10:06 Bridging The Knowledge Gap

15:14 Building A Better Financial System

19:01 Being Bullish On Tech

21:38 The Importance Of Badass Mentors

24:34 A Dire Need For Diversity

26:36 Living Out The Desire To Make An Impact

32:40 A Message To Outsiders

The Need For Diversity In Fintech

Diversity is a pressing issue in many industries, and fintech is no exception. Despite the industry’s potential for innovation and impact, a lack of diversity can result in limited perspectives and missed opportunities for growth. In this blog, we’ll explore the dire need for more diversity in fintech and why it’s crucial for the industry’s success.

Improved Innovation and Problem-Solving

Fintech is a rapidly growing industry with significant potential for innovation. However, innovation requires diverse perspectives and experiences to identify and solve problems. A lack of diversity can result in limited problem-solving, innovation, and growth opportunities. By increasing diversity, fintech companies can tap into a broader range of perspectives, ideas, and solutions, leading to improved innovation and problem-solving.

Better Customer Understanding

Fintech is all about providing solutions that meet customers’ needs. A lack of diversity can result in limited customer understanding and potentially missed opportunities to serve customers effectively. By increasing diversity, fintech companies can gain a deeper understanding of their customers’ needs and tailor their solutions to better meet those needs.

Enhanced Reputation

Fintech companies that value diversity and inclusion are likely to have a better reputation and attract more customers. Customers are becoming increasingly conscious of the companies they support and want to see diversity and inclusion initiatives. By prioritizing diversity, fintech companies can build a strong reputation and attract more customers who value diversity and inclusion.

Better Employee Retention and Recruitment

Diversity and inclusion initiatives can help attract and retain talented employees. Employees want to work for companies that prioritize diversity and inclusivity and provide opportunities for growth and development. By creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, fintech companies can attract and retain the best talent in the industry.

Ethical Responsibility

Fintech has the potential to impact people’s lives significantly. With that comes an ethical responsibility to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, have access to financial solutions. By increasing diversity, fintech companies can ensure that their solutions are accessible and beneficial to all individuals, regardless of their background.

In conclusion, the need for more diversity in fintech is dire. By prioritizing diversity, fintech companies can improve innovation, customer understanding, reputation, employee retention and recruitment, and ethical responsibility. As a fintech professional, investing in diversity and inclusion initiatives can help you build a successful and fulfilling career while also contributing to the industry’s success.