We are all only as good as the people we work with…

 And yet…

 It may not come as a surprise that within the industry we all love, the number of men far outweighs the number of women.

 A recent survey conducted by our good friends at Innovate Finance reported that “on average that the gender split in UK fintechs to be 72 per cent men and 28 per cent women, suggesting women are not as visible as their male counterparts”.

 And let’s call this out. Try as we might last year, our figures were a true representation of those numbers too because 72% percent of our Campfire speakers were men. So, in the famous words of Carole Dweck: “We are not there yet.” We’ve work to do and intend to have fun along the way doing it with you. 

My grandma was a suffragette. By her yard stick there has been significant, sustained progress and within my own career I’ve seen gender diversity and inclusion improve. How brilliant would it be if we all inspired more female talent to choose fintech because we had demonstrated advancement, made fintech famous for being an environment where females were seen, were heard and where they belonged?

Let’s collectively accelerate the progress of women and diverse teams. Let’s strive for gender parity within the fintech and wider financial services sector.

So what role can Open Banking and Open Finance 

What are we doing?

We’re starting 2023 with a New Year’s Resolution. We ask that you join us and support our ‘Pass the Mic to a Female’ campaign. We’re asking for both men and women to encourage the female talent around them to step forward and for their voices to be heard.

We believe in shining a light on all the achievements globally in Open Banking. From now on, we will make this very public pledge that whilst continuing to do so, we will strive for a 50/50 spilt for all our Campfires. 

Many years ago, Marisa Drew, from Credit Suisse, threw down the challenge which I now share with you:

“If every female in fintech mentored two other women, collectively we’d change the face of our industry.”

This challenge was given to me over a decade ago. Not counting the absolutely amazing females on the OBE Team, it’s been my privilege to quietly mentor some extraordinary females behind the scenes. It’s a hugely rewarding two-way processes. To influence, guide and nurture talent is immensely satisfying and rewarding – and along the way I continue to learn too…

How can you do your bit by getting involved?

We have the drive and the platform. We’re asking for your support and for you to encourage bright, articulate, vibrant female to join our panel of experts and sit around our global Campfire. Please use this link. And share it too!

What’s more, to create campaign momentum after every campfire, roundtable, podcast and blog post we’ll be asking each expert speaker to join our quest to address the industry equality challenge. All we ask is that they simply nominate the wonderful women, they have working alongside them. Doing so speaks volumes.

And when that self-doubt and imposter syndrome begins to creep in – we ask them to please assure them they are enough. And that you’re by their side routing for them, cheering them on. They have limitless potential. 

Why are we doing it?

Open Banking is about driving innovation, creating life enhancing change, democratising data for social and economic good. If we’re not attracting and retaining female talent, it will surely influence the products we design and put into the marketplace. 

Improved representation of female leaders will lead to a more rounded view of customers. This is particularly critical in financial services, given that more than half of women now control their household finances and are responsible for household savings and investing.

So please join our campaign, nominate female speakers, share your ideas for future campaigns with us and above all else remember that when amazing people get together extraordinary things happen…

Thank you.

Wishing you all a very healthy 2023.

Helen Child

Founder, Open Banking Excellence (OBE)