IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Hey, fintech fam! 💜

Proud to share some fantastic news: we’re now 40 founding members strong! 🎉

The first official Fintech Is Femme membership community, The Academy of Fintech, is here to do what the old guard won’t—rewrite the rules and design a blueprint that puts women and allies in fintech at the center of the story.

Whether cracking the fundraising code, launching a game-changing startup, forging investor connections, or landing that elusive dream role, this community is all about showing up, lifting up, and winning together.

We’re down to our final 10 founding member slots, so if you’ve been on the fence—now’s the time.

And don’t forget to grab your seat for The Femmy Awards, our end-of-year show celebrating fintech trailblazers.

We’ll also have professional headshots (new year, new you?), food, iconic speakers, and a powerhouse network of women leaders you’ll want on speed dial.

Oh, and yes, I’ll introduce The Academy of Fintech and our community of coaches.

Now, on to the good stuff—let’s dive into today’s column.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NASDAQ

Is Your Startup the Next Fintech Trailblazer?

Imagine standing on Nasdaq’s floor, lights flashing, your company’s name lighting up Times Square. Ambitious? Sure. Achievable? Absolutely.

I’ve partnered with Nasdaq for their 2024 Fintech Trailblazer Contest, and it’s not just about recognition—it’s about opportunity. Fintech startups like yours are rewriting the rules of investing, and Nasdaq wants to help you go even further.

The contest winner gets the ultimate package: a Times Square ad, a live viewing of a Nasdaq bell ceremony, an interview on Trade Talks, and even a guest spot on Humans of Fintech. It’s not just exposure; it’s access to a network that can propel your vision to the next level.

If you’ve got the idea, the drive, and the data to back it up, now’s your chance to shine. 

Let Nasdaq help you tell your story, making it impossible for the world to ignore.

INNOVATION

We Know What Is Coming. Let's Be Ready For It. 

Every time the economy collapses, fintech emerges—not as an accidental byproduct but as a direct response to crisis. 

It’s a cycle as predictable as clockwork: markets tank, trust evaporates, and out of the ashes rises innovation. 

But before we talk about what’s next, let’s take a little stroll down memory lane.

On February 15, 1999, Time Magazine ran a cover story on Alan Greenspan, Robert Rubin, and Larry Summers with the blaring headline: The Committee to Save the World. Their mission? Stave off a global financial meltdown.

It worked—until it didn’t. 

Less than a decade later, the 2008 financial crisis blindsided us, triggered by unchecked corporate greed, deregulation, and an unshakable belief in the self-regulation of markets.

That crash didn’t just wreck livelihoods; it reshaped entire industries. 

Since the election, I’ve been thinking about Chapter One of my book, Fintech Feminists, where I detail how the 2008 financial crisis set the stage for women and underrepresented voices to lead the charge in fintech – and our global economy. 

For example, Elizabeth Warren, Sheila Bair, and Mary Schapiro—dubbed “the women cleaning up the mess” by Time in 2010—stepped in with grit and determination when the system failed. 

And they weren’t alone. Women founders, investors, and leaders emerged from the wreckage, reshaping what financial technology could be.

It’s a pattern we’ll see again.

As I detail in my book, Fintech Feminists:

The fintech we know today—those buzzy apps, sleek platforms, and tech-driven disruptors—were born out of this chaos.

It wasn’t Silicon Valley blue-sky dreaming; it was a necessity.

Lehman Brothers collapsed, banks stopped lending, and the old rules no longer applied.

If you wanted to send money, get a loan, or manage your finances, you turned to scrappy upstarts like PayPal and Square, both of which thrived in the rubble of the old system.

Take Margaret Hartigan, Founder & CEO of Marstone. After experiencing the 2008 crisis firsthand as a financial advisor on Wall Street, she saw an opportunity to humanize and modernize wealth management.

As I recount in Fintech Feminists:

Hartigan isn’t alone. Amy Nauiokas, co-founder of Anthemis, recognized the seismic shifts taking place during the crisis and pivoted to lead fintech’s first dedicated venture capital platform. She knew financial services needed an overhaul.

Fast-forward to 2020, and history repeated itself.

The pandemic slammed the global economy into a wall, and once again, fintech adapted.

Contactless payments soared, digital banking transformed from niche to norm, and community lending platforms stepped up where traditional players faltered.

The crisis forced innovation, and innovation changed the game.

As I explain in Fintech Feminists:

Here we are in 2024, with storm clouds gathering on the horizon. President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for a 2025 return to the Oval Office, and if his previous term taught us anything, it’s that crises—economic, political, or otherwise—aren’t just possibilities; they’re inevitabilities. 

TruStage Chief Economist Steve Rick recently provided a bipartisan assessment of the economic landscape, citing five key factors influencing the potential for a recession.

Two stood out:

Rick’s analysis is a sobering reminder of how interconnected global crises are with economic stability. As tensions ripple through global markets, the fintech sector must brace itself for yet another inflection point.

So how do we prepare?

We look to history. The 2008 crisis brought us Hartigan’s Marstone and Nauiokas’s Anthemis.

The 2020 pandemic elevated digital finance from fringe to mainstream. Every downturn plants the seeds of the next fintech evolution.

Here’s the truth: we can’t stop the storm, but we can build better boats.

The next evolution of fintech won’t come from billion-dollar boardrooms or elite summits; it’ll come from communities like ours—people who understand that collaboration beats competition and that lifting others up is the best way to rise.

The key to navigating the next crisis—and thriving—is collaboration. As Hartigan wisely said:

“The path is never straight, but always forward—lean into your community.”

Fintech isn’t just about technology; it’s about people.

Building a better future means investing in each other, championing diverse voices, and working collectively to address the systemic gaps that crises expose.

We’ve got a chance to write a new chapter together.

Whether funding each other’s ventures, championing allies, or simply sharing what we know, this is how we prepare. Crises will come, but so will opportunities.

The only question is: will we seize them together?

Let’s make sure the answer is yes.

_COMMUNITY

Your network is your net worth.

Nothing makes me prouder than building a network redefining the game for women in fintech.

I’m thrilled 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 every single day.

Fundraising? Covered.

Entrepreneurship? Nailed.

Investor connections? On point.

Landing dream roles? We’re making it happen.

And now, we’re taking inspiration from the history books. The first Academy Awards in 1929 weren’t a global phenomenon—they were a gathering of a few trailblazers redefining their craft.

The Femmy Awards, happening December 9, are our version: a celebration of excellence in fintech.

Here’s a sneak peek:

📸 Professional headshots for that killer LinkedIn profile.

👩🏽‍🏫 Meet the coaches redefining leadership, branding, and strategy.

🏆 Keynotes + awards honoring icons like Lule Demmissie and Sheila Lirio Marcelo.

🎵 Great food, networking, and a vibe you don’t want to miss.

Want in? RSVP now.

Because when people think of the best in fintech, they’ll think of us. 👑

_{WTF ELSE?}

• Wealth management startups see funding rise 

• Trump could dismantle newly built guardrails around your wallet, consumer groups warn

• Public raises $135 million series D-2 for AI-driven investment

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 📰 Today’s Read: Technically, it is a listen, but my audiobook is officially available! Download your copy of Fintech Feminists on Audible, narrated by yours truly!

• 🍿 Today’s Watch: A new video from Big Think: How COVID-era monetary policy changed everything (a look into the new economy).

• 🌍 Today’s Listen: Tune in to my latest podcast episode on Humans of Fintech, featuring Amy Nauiokas, Founder & CEO of Anthemis. Recorded LIVE during the Fintech Feminists book launch party in New York City. Prepare to be inspired and equipped with actionable steps for success. Tune in here!

_FINTUNES

🎵 Megan Thee Stallion - Roc Steady (feat. Flo Milli)

Hot girl coach is trending. A track designed to boost your confidence instantly.

_{LET’S CONNECT}

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

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

🤝 Grow your business through content & community by partnering with me.

📣 Promote yourself to 50,000 subscribers by sponsoring this newsletter.

🎤 Host an epic event by booking me as a speaker, moderator, or emcee.

📚 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’s all for now! See you Thursday!

Love,

Nicole 💜