Hi, fintech fam! 💜

Welcome to our "On Performance" column! 

Every Sunday night, we provide you with techniques, blueprints, and tactics to create captivating performances that will boost your career in the fintech industry - whether on stage delivering your first keynote talk or in meetings pitching your next big idea.

After level-setting the storytelling structure, we will kick off our personal brand focus to have each of you develop your own brand story (Spoiler alert: Your personal brand and executive brand are connected).

And for those of you who are already practiced speakers, I have an exciting opportunity. 

At our upcoming Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit on April 8th, I will open the floor to three founders from our community to share their personal brand stories with the entire room of investors, founders, and executives. 

Interested in submitting yourself or a colleague? Apply here.

What’s a personal brand story, you might ask? 

Think of it as your greatest competitive advantage.

Tonight, I will explain how crafting my personal brand and narrative has led to business opportunities. Then, I’ll show you the first steps to build your own.

Let’s go!

ON PERFORMANCE

Authenticity: The 🔑 to unlocking your personal and business brand  

I have been reflecting on my previous work as I am currently deeply involved in writing my book, Fintech Feminists.

It has been fascinating to see how much progress our industry has made in recent years, but it has also been eye-opening to revisit my past self.

The enthusiastic journalist I once was is very different from my current role as Founder and CEO of my own media company.

However, I truly believe that I would not be where I am today without her.

She experienced highs and lows, encountered mansplaining, shed tears between meetings, and faced some outrageous comments from colleagues, just like many of you have.

Yet, one common mistake I notice when people craft their personal brand story is that they often leave out the hardships, heartaches, and difficult decisions from their narrative.

I understand that nobody wants to hear a sob story.

However, as a society, women are taught to never reveal any weaknesses.

We are taught to always strive for perfection and to be grateful just for being here.

As a result, we often pretend that nothing is wrong in order to fit in and get ahead.

However, this behavior strips us of our individuality and prevents us from sharing the valuable lesson that resilience in the face of adversity is what makes a strong leader.

And as women and diverse individuals, we could teach a masterclass in navigating adversity.

Authenticity is a superpower, and vulnerability is an asset.

Just look at inspiring women like Sallie Krawcheck or Shivani Siroya, who have pushed our industry forward.

These women have openly shared their experiences of building resilience in their professional lives fueled by the experiences of their personal ones.

Presenting an authentic version of your personal brand story can unlock the perfect fit between your values and the market opportunity for your business.

This narrative becomes a winning formula for raising funds, negotiating salaries, and delivering impactful presentations.

In the next section, I will demonstrate how I "flipped the narrative" on my personal story, connected it to my resume, and transformed it into a powerful personal brand story that I share on stages worldwide.

_TACTICS

How to Flip the Narrative & Craft a Compelling Story

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