Fintech Is Femme

Earlier this week, a friend reached out with a question that hit me deeply: “Based on what I see on LinkedIn you’re killing it, but… are you really doing okay?” That check-in meant the world to me. And it reminded me of the layers behind any success story. Here’s the honest truth: Yes, this year has been the most successful of my career. ✨ I regained full creative and operational control of Fintech Is Femme, a brand I built from the ground up, despite the limitations others tried to place on me. ✨ I transformed Fintech Is Femme into my dream business—a media company that elevates powerful women in fintech, making their stories front-page news. ✨ Produced 12 events, including 4 summits—selling 2,000 tickets. ✨ Written 104 newsletters (a staggering 214,500 words!) with 4 million impressions. ✨ Reached 275k community members across NYC, SF, LA, London, and DFW. ✨ Published a 360-page book, Fintech Feminists, with Wiley and produced a book tour where audiences lined up for signed copies (a surreal experience). ✨ Became a 4x award-winning media founder including the Elevate Creatives Fund from Wave HQ, Top 50 Women in Media by Women We Admire, and Inspiring Female in Fintech by NYC Fintech Women. ✨ Achieved 1M LinkedIn impressions and (almost) 12k followers. ✨ Launched my first membership community, The Academy of Fintech, securing 50 founding members. ✨ Entered profitability building our startup, Fintech Is Femme, with Anton Briones But—and here’s the part that doesn’t often make it to LinkedIn—this year has also been gut-wrenching. The discomfort, stress, and uncertainty that come with building a vision from scratch have pushed me in ways I never imagined. Entrepreneurship is an intense mirror. Year 1 as an entrepreneur and author feels like a crash course in discovering who you are and the life you want to create. The obstacles were plenty, but on the other side was growth I could never have reached without them. Entrepreneurship means being the hero of your own story. But becoming that hero requires a willingness to stretch, to push, and to endure the messy, uncomfortable middle chapters. So, here’s to anyone out there in the trenches of their journey: Success isn’t just about the highlight reel. It’s about the resilience, grit, and growth behind the scenes. Keep going. Life is interesting this way. 🌟

What an incredible night—honored to receive the Innovator of the Year award. 🙏 Huge thanks to the amazing Nicole Casperson for leading such a powerful community where women and allies can connect, learn, and lead. Fintech Is Femme creates space to amplify the voices of dynamic women and underrepresented leaders. It’s reshaping how we think about equity in finance and building systems that prioritize both people and profits. It’s changing the game, and I’m here for it!

Over 200,000 words written for Fintech Is Femme newsletter readers, reaching a total of 4 MILLION (!!) impressions. Big thanks to beehiiv for doing the math for me. And that doesn’t even include the 90,000 words in the 360-page book I wrote this year for Wiley —on top of a 2x weekly newsletter. Want more of the words I write? Grab your copy of my book, Fintech Feminists (or gift one to a friend this holiday season): https://lnkd.in/eijanBVu Plus, my audiobook is now available, so you can listen to me narrate all 90,000 words. It's always wild to see your year in review by the numbers. Also wild to think all my 50,000 newsletter subscribers could populate a city in California.

This week, I was named one of Financial Planning’s “20 People Who Will Shape Wealth Management in 2025.” My journey started in journalism—where I spent years covering the stories of others—before I turned that passion for storytelling into entrepreneurship. Now, through Fintech Is Femme, I leverage my years of experience in B2B journalism to build and scale a platform to create real change in the fintech space, ensuring that technology and innovation drive equitable financial systems, especially for women building careers and companies in #fintech. This is how we create new systems and patterns. This year has been a whirlwind: - I published my book, Fintech Feminists, a tribute and guide for women driving change in fintech. - Launched The Academy of Fintech, a membership community for leaders redefining fintech. And next year? We’re dreaming bigger—with content, education, resources, and events to drive systemic change in fintech, wealth management and beyond. If you want to keep up with what’s next, subscribe to my newsletter—I’ll share everything we’re building: https://lnkd.in/eak6GRn2 P.S. The best gift? Knowledge. Order a copy of Fintech Feminists (hardcover or audiobook, narrated by me!)—link in the comments. Thank you, Financial Planning, for including me! Full list here: https://lnkd.in/gKMVfdYE

Here’s the secret to working with trailblazers: Meet them early. Nasdaq executive Brandis DeSimone met me during my first year building Fintech Is Femme. I had a few thousand subscribers and was just getting started. But she saw the trailblazer in me—and bet on me. It’s the same secret sauce I see in Nasdaq as a partner to #fintech companies. They spot trailblazers early and work with them to help them reach their growth goals. Nasdaq has always been ahead of the curve. Established in 1971 as the world’s first electronic stock market, it combined speed and transparency with financial tradition. Today, it powers some of the most innovative fintech platforms—like Public, eToro and DASTrader.com—by fueling them with precise, real-time market data. But Nasdaq’s influence isn’t just about technology. It’s about people. Relationships. And values. In 2021, Nasdaq led the U.S. market with 52 IPOs by female CEOs—more than any other exchange. From Whitney Wolfe Herd ringing the opening bell with her son on her hip to Jennifer Hyman’s Rent the Runway IPO, Nasdaq isn’t just breaking records—it’s rewriting the playbook for economic inclusion. And now, Nasdaq is on the lookout for the next fintech disruptor. The 2024 Fintech Trailblazer Contest is calling all visionaries ready to shape the future. The winner will: 🏢 See their logo light up the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square 🎙️ Be featured on a #TradeTalks interview 🏦 Attend a live bell ceremony at MarketSite 🤝 Meet Nasdaq executives for tailored guidance 🎤 Join me on the Humans of Fintech podcast If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make history, apply here: https://lnkd.in/e9eip83C Because the bold belongs at center stage. And there’s no stage brighter than Times Square. #NasdaqPartner

One of the best things I do every year—for myself and my business as an entrepreneur—is refresh my personal brand. New headshots. Creative vibes. A whole new energy. It’s not just about the photos—it’s a reminder of how much growth has happened for me and Fintech Is Femme over the past year. Plus, it’s always fun to have fresh content for my brand. I want to bring this magic to the Fintech Is Femme community. That’s why I’m so excited for The Femmy Awards—our final event of the year for the founding members of The Academy of Fintech by Fintech Is Femme. We’re bringing in the best in the business, Noa Griffel and Luke Walter, to capture stunning headshots (like what you see here) and photos for all our founding members and attendees. Can’t wait to see you on Monday 💜⭐️✨🏆 Event here: https://lu.ma/Femmys

Trust is everything in fintech. Imagine: you open your favorite investing app, ready to make a trade, and the stock prices don’t match what you saw on Yahoo Finance. That tiny inconsistency? It’s all it takes for trust to fly out the window—and trust is the one thing no fintech platform can afford to lose. In this industry, even the smallest hiccup can make users question everything. No trust means no users, no platform, no future. That’s where Nasdaq comes in. Their data isn’t just a tool; it’s the secret sauce behind fintech powerhouses like Public and eToro. Accurate, real-time, and reliable, Nasdaq’s data ensures every price, every trade, every user experience builds trust instead of breaking it. For the past three years, I’ve teamed up with Nasdaq through Fintech Is Femme to bring this same trust, transparency, and precision to fintech founders who are rewriting the rules of finance. And now, the Fintech Trailblazer Contest is back for 2024—the perfect stage for innovation to meet opportunity. Here’s how Nasdaq helps fintech founders make their mark: Public: Levels the playing field with Nasdaq’s data, making investing accessible—even if you don’t speak “finance.” eToro: Uses Nasdaq’s real-time data to power its social trading platform, proving that trust is the most valuable trade anyone can make. DASTrader.com: Founded by Karen Gentile this platform leverages Nasdaq’s tools to bring Wall Street-level insights to everyday traders. And the prize? 🏆 Your company lighting up Times Square on Nasdaq’s tower. Add in a viewing of a Nasdaq bell ceremony, an interview on Trade Talks, and a guest spot on Humans of Fintech. It’s not just exposure—it’s a launchpad for greatness. If you’re ready to lead with trust, transparency, and a big idea, this is your moment. Apply for the 2024 Fintech Trailblazer Contest here: https://lnkd.in/e9eip83C #NasdaqPartner Ft. Anton Briones 💜

Your network truly is your net worth. And nothing makes me prouder than building a network that’s redefining the game for women in fintech. I’m beyond excited to share that The Academy of Fintech by Fintech Is Femme—our first official membership community—is already 40 founding members strong. 💪🏽 Together, we’re rewriting the rules and creating a blueprint where women and allies in fintech uplift each other daily. From fundraising to entrepreneurship, investor connections to landing dream roles, we’re proving what’s possible when we’ve got each other’s backs. When the first Academy Awards took place in 1929, it wasn’t a glitzy global event— it was a gathering of just a handful of founding members who came together to set the standard for what would become Hollywood’s highest honor. They created a blueprint for excellence, recognizing trailblazers who redefined their craft and set the bar for generations to come. We’re taking a page from that history and setting the bar just as high with the FEMMY Awards—our own celebration of excellence in #fintech. Because when people think of the best of #fintech, they will think of us. 👑 On December 9, we’ll gather an exclusive group and honor leaders who are rewriting the future with a blueprint I hope we all can follow. While introducing the founding members of the community. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store: 📸 Professional headshots: Walk out with a killer LinkedIn profile pic. 👩🏽🏫 Meet your coaches: Featuring Fintech Is Femme community coaches on executive coaching, personal branding, content strategy, finances, and style ft. Anton Briones, Jessica L. Bost, CFP®, RICP®, AIF®, Stephane Duret, Keltoum Mazid 🏆 Keynotes + awards: Honoring trailblazers like Lule D. and Sheila Lirio Marcelo. Networking, food, and 🎵 Want in? RSVP: https://lu.ma/Femmys *** It’s not every day you get to stand at the NYSE recognized as a network builder in fintech. Moments like these remind me how much of this journey is about the people who’ve supported and inspired me. Thank you to NYC Fintech Women and everyone championing Fintech Is Femme. And to trailblazers like Michelle Tran and Sasha Pilch—thank you for lighting the way. Here’s to building the future, together. 💜

Thrilled to share I’ve been named to the NYC Fintech Women Inspiring FinTech Females 2024 list! This recognition feels especially meaningful because it marks my second time on the list— first in 2022 as a founder, and now in 2024 as a founder focused on building networks and connections (the same year I took full operational and creative control of Fintech Is Femme). It’s a reminder of how much can evolve over a few years and how rewarding it is to contribute to this incredible industry in new ways. #IFF2024 shines a spotlight on women who are not only transforming FinTech but also paving the way for greater representation. I’m truly honored to be in the company of so many phenomenal leaders driving change. Take a look at this year’s inspiring honorees here: https://lnkd.in/eAWueG_V Thank you Michelle Tran Sasha Pilch and team! On my way to celebrate. 💜

“That’ll never work.” When I first shared my vision of covering fintech news through a feminist lens, I was met with many raised eyebrows and skeptical chuckles. “Fintech? Feminism? Who’s the audience for that?” “Is there even enough to write about?” “Don’t you think you’re narrowing your reach?” But I knew better. I have a much bigger vision for the #fintech industry than we typically see. Because beyond the headlines and product launches, fintech is about inclusion, access, and economic equity. Women’s voices have long shaped these conversations, but traditional systems have buried their perspectives. So, I ignored the doubts, leaned into my purpose, and wrote my first book, Fintech Feminists, with my publisher, Wiley. Since then, Fintech Is Femme has grown into something I’m immensely proud of—a vibrant community, a platform for change, and now… 🎧 An AUDIOBOOK. 🎧 I’m thrilled to announce that Fintech Feminists: The Audiobook is officially live! Preview a video of me in the studio recording the audiobook a few months back. (Download link in comments). It’s packed with stories, insights, and data proving that everyone wins when women lead and innovate. But I’m not stopping there. On December 9th, I’m hosting The first-ever Femmys—an event to celebrate the trailblazers reshaping fintech from the ground up. Think of it as the Oscars but for those breaking barriers and building bridges in financial technology. Since it’s our first gathering—and the launchpad for our membership community, The Academy of Fintech by Fintech Is Femme—we’re keeping this gathering intimate and intentional for #fintech leaders serious about their future growth. And for our community's first cohort of founding members (yes, history books will be written). Lule D. and Sheila Lirio Marcelo (both women featured in my book) will be there, gracing the stage and sharing their leadership insights. 👉 Save your spot now: https://lu.ma/Femmys Whether you’re tuning in to the audiobook or joining us for The Femmys, thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re showing that fintech isn’t just about numbers but people, progress, and possibilities. #FintechFeminists #AudiobookLaunch #TheFemmys #WomenInFintech