FinTech's DEI Discussions – Powered by Harrington Starr

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia speaks with Katherine, a Tech and AI Strategist, about navigating careers in an AI-driven world. Katherine shares how she helps businesses cut through AI hype to make smarter technology decisions, and why combining your existing expertise with AI is now essential to staying relevant. The conversation also explores the power of networking as a tr...

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia sits down with Sophia Furber, FinTech Research Analyst (EMEA) at S&P Global, to explore the realities of building a career in financial technology, and why the path isn’t always linear. Sophia shares her journey from financial journalism into FinTech research, proving that there is no single route into the industry. From navigating imposter...

What does it really take to navigate today’s FinTech job market, and how can we build more inclusive, high-performing teams along the way? In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia is joined by Ingrid Sierra, Brand & Marketing Director at Zego, to explore how hiring, career growth, and inclusion are evolving across financial technology. With over 20 years of experience across market...

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia Edwards-Dashti speaks with Julie Sutton, Head of Growth, Europe at Paymentology, about how transferable skills can unlock overlooked talent in financial technology. Julie shares her non-linear career journey and explains why hiring based on rigid experience is limiting access to high-potential candidates. From communication and curiosity to owne...

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

What does career security really look like in FinTech today? In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia is joined by Ronel David, Non-Executive Director, Advisory Board Member and FinTech mentor, to challenge the traditional idea of careers in financial services. From building a portfolio career to redefining success beyond job titles, Ronel shares powerful insights on career resilience,...

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia is joined by Derren Powell, Business Development in Payments, to explore what real inclusion looks like in today’s FinTech landscape. From the importance of listening to the role of kindness, culture, and optionality at work, Derren shares honest insights on how leaders can create environments where people feel safe, heard, and able to perform a...

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Krishna Nadella, Head of US Sales, Financial Services at ITRS. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping financial technology, from real-world efficiency gains to the evolving relationship between human capital and intelligent systems. Krishna introduces the concept of agentic capital and explains why the future of f...

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia Edwards-Dashti is joined by Fiona Facey , Technology Business Manager at Scotiabank, for a conversation about leadership, career development, and the evolving culture of financial technology. Fiona shares insights from her journey in technology and financial services, reflecting on how leadership in fintech is changing and why diverse perspectiv...

In this special episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, we bring you the full recording of Harrington Starr’s International Women’s Day 2026 event, Leadership That Opens Doors . Hosted by Nadia Edwards-Dashti and Georgia Richardson, the event brings together leaders from across FinTech, technology, and financial services to share insights on confidence, sponsorship, leadership, and career progr...

In the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia speaks with David Germain, career technologist, industry judge, and now an independent Non-Executive Director working across multiple sectors . From starting as a software developer to leading major technology programmes and now advising organisations at board level, David shares why careers don’t have to be linear, and why real inclus...

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Victoria Vaughan, Founder of B612, for a conversation on visibility, inclusion and what it really takes to scale influence in FinTech and digital assets. Victoria shares her journey from leading CoinTelegraph’s global growth to building her own PR agency without external funding, unpacking the power of positioning, partnerships...

In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia sits down with Grace Chen, CEO of Bitget, to explore leadership, resilience, and what inclusion really looks like in Web3. From discovering Bitcoin at $300 after reading the white paper, to becoming CEO of a global crypto exchange, Gracy shares the journey that shaped her perspective on decentralisation, trust, and gender equity in tech. She spe...

Career break? Imposter syndrome? Non-linear path into FinTech? In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia speaks with Kicki Frisch, Senior Software Engineering Manager at T. Rowe Price, about forced career breaks, transferable skills, and why inclusive hiring in financial technology means looking beyond the “perfect” CV. A powerful conversation on returning to work, leadership in tec...

What does inclusion actually look like inside one of the world’s biggest payments organisations? In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , Nadia sits down with Konstantina Kapetanidi, VP, Global Data Solutions & Head of Data Science, Europe (VCA) at Visa , to unpack what it really means to build belonging at scale. From her journey through financial services to leading data science in pay...

What does inclusive leadership actually look like in practice? In this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions , host Nadia speaks with Neetu Kumar, Head of Graduate Programmes at Centrica , about her 23-year journey through talent, technology, and inclusion, and why her core leadership philosophy is simple: help people win. They explore inclusive hiring beyond policy, the danger of “culture fit”, th...

Leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about access, opportunity, and the doors we choose to open for others. In this International Women’s Day 2026 Special , we’re joined by our event sponsors as we explore this year’s theme, Leadership That Opens Doors . Together, we unpack what inclusive leadership really looks like in practice, why International Women’s Day matters to all genders, and how everyd...

FinTech's DEI Discussions is powered by Harrington Starr, global leaders in Financial Technology Recruitment. For more episodes or recruitment advice, please visit our website www.harringtonstarr.com

Careers in FinTech aren't linear. So why do we still hire like they are? In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Alexandra Sheller, Advisor and Principal Consultant at The Bridgeview Group Ltd, recorded live at FinTech Connect 2025. They explore what inclusion really looks like when markets shift, careers zig-zag, and talent doesn’t fit a traditional CV. From ski...

In this latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Gary O'Brien, Global Head of Banks and Broker Segment Strategy at BNP Paribas, joins Nadia live from FinTech Connect 2025 for a candid conversation on inclusive leadership in financial services. Together, they explore why inclusion isn’t a “nice to have,” but a real competitive advantage for banks and FinTechs, how diverse teams drive...

In this episode, Nadia is joined by Hana Rolles, Chief Commercial Officer at Bank of London, for an honest and insightful conversation on what real inclusion looks like inside modern financial services. From Hana’s journey as an engineer to senior commercial leadership, to building cultures where people feel safe, confident, and able to perform at their best, this episode goes beyond DEI theory an...

In this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, Nadia is joined by Adam Betteridge, FinTech, Partnerships & Open Banking Lead at TSB Bank, recorded live at FinTech Connect 2025. Together, they explore how open banking can reduce bias in financial services, why inclusion is never one-size-fits-all, and what genuine allyship looks like inside banks and FinTechs today.  Adam shares his persona...

On this episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, recorded live at FinTech Connect 2025 ,  Nadia  is joined by Wasim Mushtaq , Founder of 1CG , for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about what real allyship looks like in practice. From sponsorship vs mentorship, to why inclusion happens behind closed doors, not just on panels, Wasim shares lived experiences, hard truths, and practical act...