The Heard is a collective of fintech experts sharing their key focuses, and the sort of spokesperson opportunities they’re open to, all in one place.
Too often women are under-represented when it comes to industry panels, events, and podcasts, so we’re bringing together all the fintech players you should have heard of, but maybe haven’t just yet.
Our mission is to help more women in fintech get into public facing opportunities.
Whether it's events, podcasts, panels, or articles, we're bringing together brilliant women in fintech who can be called on to contribute their thoughts and expertise.
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Gemma Livermore is the founder of Women of FinTech, an award-winning community promoting gender equality and inclusion in financial technology.
With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Gemma is a passionate marketer and community builder known for driving rapid growth and achieving outstanding results.
She hosts a podcast, speaks on DEI in finance, and has a strong background in B2B product and FS marketing. Currently, she leads international FS marketing at Seismic, focusing on thought leadership and community building.
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Passionate for driving change, Jen is a respected Business Leader with 22 years’ experience working with a range of clients, from start-ups to global FTSE 100 accounts and SI partners, to drive innovation and business transformation. Focussed on building exceptional trusted relationships, and leading global teams, Jen has enjoyed building strategic partnerships with businesses in all sectors with lasting personal connections.
Currently working at Microsoft, heading up the strategic partnership between Microsoft and Vodafone globally, leading and orchestrating a skilled team across the globe and bringing together the full capability and power of ‘One Microsoft’ to deliver value and innovation to Vodafone. Taking particular accountability for driving the Africa partnership on M-Pesa and Vodapay as a key pillar of the recently announced 10 year market making agreement.
Prior to that at Rackspace Technology for 18 years driving business development, leading sales teams and working with Global SI partners such as Deloitte, Accenture, CapGemini and IBM.
An alumnus of Oxford University, her personal interests include social mobility, music, public speaking, charity work, travel and embracing geographical and cultural differences. She has four sons and lives in Beaconsfield, UK.
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Megan is Founder and CEO of Caywood, a new WealthTech startup based in London. She moved to the UK from San Francisco in 2016 when she was awarded an Exceptional Talent Visa for her work in fintech to move to the UK to help start Starling Bank as Chief Platform Officer, where she was subsequently awarded Forbes 30 under 30 in recognition of her work.
She was subsequently headhunted to Barclays to serve as Head of Digital Strategy, and then was promoted to Chief Product Officer for Barclays UK. She also served as chairman of the Digital, Tech, and Cyber Board at UK Finance, before now starting her newest venture.
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Michelle He is the Co-Founder and COO of Fintern. Before co-founding Fintern, she was a Director at EY in London. During her tenure at EY, Michelle specialised in lending, credit analytics, and driving complex banking transformations for banks and financial institutions.
Her motivation to start Fintern stemmed from her personal experience after moving from Singapore to the UK 14 years ago. Despite having a stable job and decent pay at EY, and a PhD in AI, she struggled to secure a £5000 loan due to a lack of credit history.
This inspired her to co-found Abound (the B2C arm) and Render (the B2B arm) to de-risk lending for financial institutions and provide access to finance for individuals like recent graduates and immigrants who have no credit histories.
She holds a Ph.D. in machine learning from the National University of Singapore and is a trusted advisor to rapidly growing global fintech firms.
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Emma Hagan is currently the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at ClearBank overseeing all risk and compliance-related activities. Emma has been appointed to the newly-created role of Chief Executive Officer of ClearBank UK and will take up the role following regulatory approval.
Emma has over 15 years of experience in commercial and corporate banking in both first and second lines of defence. Prior to joining ClearBank in 2020, Emma worked for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), where she was Chief Risk Officer for EMEA, serving as part of the EMEA leadership and global risk leadership teams. Prior to SVB, she worked at Lloyds / HBOS in a variety of roles.
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Valerie Kontor is a dynamic professional with a passion for driving innovation and fostering DEI within the fintech industry. During her tenure at Funding Circle, a London-based fintech pioneering commercial lending solutions, Valerie has traversed diverse roles, ultimately finding her passion in product management.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Valerie is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment both within Funding Circle and across the wider fintech landscape. She’s a co-founder of Black in Fintech, a podcast set to focus on the innovation, challenges, and successes within the fintech space, all from the perspective of Black leaders and entrepreneurs.
She is also listed on the Women in Fintech Powerlist for 2022 and 2023.
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Akila is currently reporting on all things retail banking and fintech for The Financial Times, with a specific focus on the major challengers as well as neobanks in the sector.
Akila started at the publication on the Paul McClean graduate scheme, covering a range of beats from asset management to property to breaking news. She also has direct experience working in operations for one of the UK’s most high profile neobanks.
Akila has an MA in International Journalism from City University, as well as a keen passion for diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. She is particularly interested in financial inclusion for underserved customers.
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Alessandra Guion is the co-founder and General Manager of ‘FinTech Belgium‘, the non-profit organisation federating and promoting fintechs active in Belgium, and supporting the biggest community dedicated to digital finance in Belgium.
With nearly 25 years experience in management, innovation and communication, as well as a passion for sustainability and empowering women, she continues to reinvent ‘FinTech Belgium’, representing the ecosystem on many international stages and growing a very dynamic ecosystem.
With FIRe innovation hub, the organisation aims to facilitate the development of Digital Finance in Belgium through collaborations and open innovation.
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Alessandra Guion is the co-founder and General Manager of ‘FinTech Belgium‘, the non-profit organisation federating and promoting fintechs active in Belgium, and supporting the biggest community dedicated to digital finance in Belgium.
With nearly 25 years experience in management, innovation and communication, as well as a passion for sustainability and empowering women, she continues to reinvent ‘FinTech Belgium’, representing the ecosystem on many international stages and growing a very dynamic ecosystem.
With FIRe innovation hub, the organisation aims to facilitate the development of Digital Finance in Belgium through collaborations and open innovation.
Key topics:
For moderating opportunities:
Availability:
Alessandra Guion is the co-founder and General Manager of ‘FinTech Belgium‘, the non-profit organisation federating and promoting fintechs active in Belgium, and supporting the biggest community dedicated to digital finance in Belgium.
With nearly 25 years experience in management, innovation and communication, as well as a passion for sustainability and empowering women, she continues to reinvent ‘FinTech Belgium’, representing the ecosystem on many international stages and growing a very dynamic ecosystem.
With FIRe innovation hub, the organisation aims to facilitate the development of Digital Finance in Belgium through collaborations and open innovation.
Key topics:
For moderating opportunities:
Availability:
Alessandra Guion is the co-founder and General Manager of ‘FinTech Belgium‘, the non-profit organisation federating and promoting fintechs active in Belgium, and supporting the biggest community dedicated to digital finance in Belgium.
With nearly 25 years experience in management, innovation and communication, as well as a passion for sustainability and empowering women, she continues to reinvent ‘FinTech Belgium’, representing the ecosystem on many international stages and growing a very dynamic ecosystem.
With FIRe innovation hub, the organisation aims to facilitate the development of Digital Finance in Belgium through collaborations and open innovation.
Key topics:
For moderating opportunities:
Availability: