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Hey, fintech fam! 💜

Running on coffee, one hour of sleep, and a big, big conviction in what we're building with Fintech Is Femme. (My co-founder Anton Briones is running on zero—don't ask me how.)

We're wheels up to San Francisco this week for two major moments:

First, on Oct 1, we're hosting the finale of our four-part live podcast series with Rho, celebrating powerhouse women in accounting. We're closing out with Sara Conde after spotlighting Nina Chmura, Nicole Mitchell, and Taylor Van Slyck over the last few months.

These live episodes have been something special—and we're celebrating 100,000 downloads and 125 episodes of Humans of Fintech!

Then comes the big one: the second annual Fintech Is Femme Summit—AI edition—on October 8.

I'll be honest. I wasn't sure I'd host an AI-themed summit this year. There's been so much noise. But I also know how critical this moment is—especially for women in fintech.

AI is already reshaping our industry. The question is: who's shaping AI? And who gets left behind if we're not in the room?

That's why we're bringing together leaders from Stripe, Middesk, Brex, Kroolo, Goodfin, J.P. Morgan, AScaleX, Rosy Finch Method & Co., and Fiat Growth to show what it looks like to build AI that actually matters.

Today's column features 10 of these incredible leaders and the playbook they're writing in real time.

Let's dive in.

INNOVATION

Building the Future of Fintech AI: The Leadership Playbook

While everyone else is just discovering AI, the fintech community has been quietly using it for years. 

But here's what most people miss: AI isn't just a shiny new tool for us—it's the engine that powers financial inclusion itself.

The purpose of fintech has always been to leverage technology to include more people in our economy. And the technology that makes that possible? 

Artificial intelligence.

Think about it. Banks traditionally ignore low-income borrowers because serving them isn't profitable enough.

The math doesn't work with human underwriters and outdated models.

But AI changes that equation entirely. AI enables banks to deploy capital to more people efficiently—which turns into more businesses, more opportunity, more economic participation.

I've lived this firsthand. Stripe offered Fintech Is Femme a business loan before any traditional bank would touch us—because we're not even two years old yet. But with AI analyzing alternative data points, we proved creditworthy.

That's the power of this technology.

Then there's personalized financial services. Our entire educational system has failed to teach financial literacy—but AI can automate that education at scale, providing next-best actions and personalized guidance exactly when people need it.

And on the B2B side? There are more entrepreneurs and small businesses than ever before, all of whom could benefit from AI-powered fraud detection and compliance solutions that let them focus on growth instead of paperwork.

Here's what I want all the women in fintech to understand: We are leaders in AI.

Not because we're using it to show off or build gimmicky chatbots, but because we actually care about the future of our economy and who it impacts the most.

That's real leadership.

So why does the Fintech Is Femme AI Summit exist?

The answer is simple: women are the key to a better financial future for the world.

Women aren't a niche market. We're 50% of the population. We own more homes than men. We're more educated. We're more resilient entrepreneurs. Women bring in higher returns on investments than men—that's right, we're also more profitable.

And yet every single year, we leave $700 billion on the table because financial services don't cater to women at the same rate they do to men.

In AI? Women hold only a third of leadership positions, with representation dropping to just 10% of CEOs in top tech roles. Our leadership isn't stagnating—it's decreasing.

The opposite of a room full of men isn't a room full of women. It's a room full of diverse leaders working together.

That's why the Fintech Is Femme AI Summit exists. To showcase the women who are building the future of AI in fintech right now—not tomorrow, not someday—today.

Allow me to briefly introduce you to some of those leaders who will be in the room on October 8 in San Francisco during our Summit. 

#1 Asya Bradley: VC Partnerships Lead, Stripe—Strategic Vision Meets Execution

With two decades in fintech and multiple successful exits under her belt, Asya Bradley now leads VC partnerships at Stripe, one of the most influential fintech platforms in the world. 

Her superpower? Connecting the dots between emerging technology and real-world impact.

The How: Asya teaches us that AI adoption isn't about chasing trends—it's about strategic implementation that serves your customers' actual needs. 

At Stripe, she's helping the next generation of fintech founders leverage AI to scale faster and serve more people. 

Her advice? Build authentic partnerships with companies and investors who share your vision, then use AI to amplify that impact exponentially.

#2 Anna Joo Fee: Founder & CEO, Goodfin—Democratizing Wealth Through AI

Anna Joo Fee knows that the wealth gap isn't just a social issue—it's a business opportunity. At Goodfin, she's using AI to give everyday investors access to institutional-quality assets like private equity and pre-IPO startups, investments traditionally reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

The How: Anna's approach proves that AI can level the playing field in wealth-building. 

By using machine learning to personalize investment education and recommendations, Goodfin meets people where they are financially and teaches them what traditional institutions never would. 

Her message is clear: wealth is about owning, and AI makes it possible for everyone to own a piece of the future.

#3 Luan Cox: President & CEO, FinMkt—Building Infrastructure for Tomorrow

As President and CEO of FinMkt, Luan Cox is building the critical infrastructure that connects financial institutions with the technology they need to serve more customers. She understands that AI isn't just about consumer-facing apps—it's about the pipes and platforms that make innovation possible at scale.

The How: Luan shows us that real transformation happens at the infrastructure level. AI-powered platforms can match financial institutions with the right technology partners, streamlining processes that used to take months into days.

Focus on building the foundation that enables others to innovate, and you'll create lasting change across the entire industry.

#4 Laurel Taylor: Founder & CEO, Candidly—AI-Powered Financial Wellness

Laurel Taylor, whom I featured in my book Fintech Feminists and wrote about recently, created Candidly to tackle one of the biggest financial burdens facing Americans: student debt. But she didn't stop there—she's using AI to provide personalized financial guidance that adapts to each person's unique situation.

The How: Laurel proves that AI can automate financial education at scale without losing the personal touch. By analyzing individual circumstances and providing next-best actions, Candidly delivers the financial literacy our schools failed to teach us. The lesson? Use AI to meet people where they are, then guide them to where they want to be—one personalized recommendation at a time.

#5 Jackie Wylie: Head of Marketing & Sales Development, Middesk—Making Compliance Scalable

Jackie Wylie leads marketing and sales development at Middesk, where AI is transforming one of the most painful parts of running a business: compliance and verification (KYB).

Instead of drowning in paperwork, businesses can now verify identities and maintain compliance automatically.

The How: Jackie teaches us that AI isn't just for sexy consumer products—it's revolutionizing the back-office operations that make or break businesses. By automating compliance and fraud detection, companies can redirect their energy toward growth and innovation.

Her advice? Don't overlook the importance of B2B relationships—solving them with AI to enable more human connection creates massive value.

#6 Rina Jariwala: Chief Operating Officer, Fundbox—Scaling Capital Access

As COO of Fundbox, Rina Jariwala oversees operations at a company that uses AI to provide small businesses with fast, fair access to capital.

Traditional banks take weeks to make lending decisions—Fundbox does it in minutes, using AI to analyze cash flow and creditworthiness in real time.

The How: Rina demonstrates that AI can make capital deployment both faster and fairer. By analyzing alternative data points beyond traditional credit scores, AI opens doors for businesses that would otherwise be invisible to banks.

The playbook? Use technology to see what others miss, then deploy capital where it creates the most impact.

#7 Jennifer Tan: SVP, Managing Director, Head of Marketing, Bank of Hope—Bridging Traditional Banking and AI

As SVP and Head of Marketing at Bank of Hope (a top 100 bank you may haven't heard of yet), Jennifer Tan sits at the intersection of traditional banking and community-led growth. She's proving that established financial institutions can adopt, or at least begin to learn from, AI to serve better their communities—especially those that are underserved.

The How: Jennifer shows us that AI adoption isn't just for startups. Traditional banks can leverage AI to personalize customer experiences, streamline operations, and expand access to communities they've historically overlooked. The key is meeting customers where they are and using AI to provide the guidance and services they actually need.

How can she ensure her customers have access to the best tech while also serving them given that they expect their bank to know their name when they pick up the phone?

#8 Sibongile Ngako: Chief Compliance Officer, Brex—Making Compliance Intelligent

As Chief Compliance Officer at Brex, Sibongile Ngako is using AI to transform compliance from a checkbox exercise into a strategic advantage. In an industry drowning in regulations, AI-powered compliance isn't optional—it's essential.

The How: Sibongile teaches us that AI can turn compliance from a cost center into a competitive edge.

By automating routine compliance tasks and using machine learning to detect anomalies, companies can stay ahead of fraud while focusing resources on growth. Her lesson? Smart compliance is scalable compliance. 

#9 Trisha Kothari: Founder & CEO, Unit21—The Future of Fraud Detection

Trisha Kothari founded Unit21 to solve one of fintech's biggest challenges: fraud detection at scale. Using AI and machine learning, Unit21 helps financial institutions catch bad actors while reducing false positives that frustrate legitimate customers. (Check out my recent podcast with Trisha to hear more about her journey here.)

The How: Trisha proves that AI is the only way to fight modern financial crime. Fraudsters are using AI—so defenders need to be smarter and faster. Unit21's approach shows that AI can protect customers without creating friction, making financial services both safer and more accessible. Her advice? Stay ahead of the curve by building with AI from day one, not bolting it on later.

#10 Brittany Mosley: Co-Founder, Rosy Fintech MC—AI as Your Teammate, Not Your Shortcut

Brittany Mosley co-founded Rosy Fintech MC with a clear mission: help financial services build AI that actually moves the needle. Not lazy AI. Not AI for the sake of checking a box or generating headlines. 

Real AI that works alongside humans as a genuine teammate, amplifying what we do best while handling what machines do better.

The How: Brittany teaches us that the best AI isn't about replacement—it's about partnership. Too many companies slap "AI-powered" on their pitch decks without thinking about whether it actually solves a problem or creates real value. 

Rosy's approach is different: they build AI that integrates seamlessly into workflows, enhancing human decision-making rather than trying to automate it away. 

Her lesson? Don't build AI because it's trendy. Build it because it makes your team stronger, your decisions smarter, and your impact bigger. AI should be your teammate, not your gimmick.

These brilliant women are shaping the future of AI in fintech today. 

They aren’t waiting for permission. 

They use AI with purpose. 

Build solutions that serve everyone, not just the privileged few. 

And remember: the best technology is invisible—it just works.

The Fintech Is Femme AI Summit will bring these leaders together to share their strategies, tactics, and hard-won lessons. This is your chance to learn from the best in the business and understand how AI is reshaping not just fintech, but the entire economy.

So as you tackle the world of fintech and AI, remember this: The best way to build with AI is to build for impact. Innovate with purpose, and the profit will follow.

It's your time—own it.

Let's do this.

Fintech Is Femme AI Summit. Oct 8. San Francisco.

Last year, I built the summit I wish had existed when I first started in fintech.

I asked myself one simple question:

What could one day in the right room do for your next year?

Well, let me tell you.

One attendee from last year’s Fintech Is Femme Summit came hoping to make one solid connection.

She left with a future investor and added $1M to her pre-seed raise.

This isn’t just hype—this is what happens when 200 women in fintech come together with purpose. Clients. Capital. Visibility.

You don’t need more mediocre panels.

You need more power moves—and rooms that multiply your impact.

That’s why Fintech Is Femme is bringing together the most influential women in fintech for a leadership summit unlike anything else. 

Here’s what this room gets you:

Real visibility (not just “representation”)

VC-level connections (without begging for intros)

Clients, collaborators, and champions

A network that moves when you move

Date: October 8

Location: The Green Room, San Francisco 

This is the room where:

You pitch ideas, not just take notes.

You’re not “the only one”—you’re one of many.

You walk out with more leverage than you walked in with.

This isn’t just a summit. It’s a career catalyst.

P.S. The last time we gathered women in fintech like this, it changed careers. Don’t watch from the sidelines this time.

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_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 🎧 Today’s Listen: Throwback to this episode of Humans of Fintech: Live from a buzzing room in NYC, this special episode brings two dynamic leaders to the stage: Nicole Mitchell, Partner at Aprio, and Tiffany Haynes, investor, advisor, and former COO of Fingercheck. Tune in here for the perfect dose of tactical inspiration.

• 🚀 Today’s Watch: On the plane from NYC to SF today, I started watching Materialists (the popular rom-com released earlier this year) and now I understand the buzz. I still need to finish it since I fell asleep mid-flight—turns out one hour of sleep the night before wasn't enough to make it through!

• 🧘‍♀️Today’s Self-Care: Some days I don't get enough sleep as a founder. Others, I'm on the rooftop of Bathhouse Williamsburg in NYC, soaking up a surprisingly 80-degree sunny afternoon. Life is about balance, my friends—even in founder mode.

_FINTUNES

🎶 Gorgeous — Doja Cat

Currently on repeat.

_{LET’S CONNECT}

📣 Don’t miss the AI event of the year. Get your tickets here!

📰 Share this newsletter with a friend and start growing your network.

🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn for daily insights on female leadership.

📚 Increase your expertise by ordering your copy of my book, Fintech Feminists: Increasing Inclusion, Redefining Innovation, and Changing the Future for Women Around the World.

That wraps up today’s edition—thanks as always for reading! Until next time, keep innovating and challenging the status quo. 

See you Thursday!

Love,

Nicole 💜