podcast
details
.com
Print
Share
Look for any podcast host, guest or anyone
Search
Showing episodes and shows of
Nicole Casperson
Shows
Fintech Mavericks
Reimagining Generosity: Adam Nash on Building Fintech with Purpose
In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover kick off Season 2 with none other than Adam Nash, Co-Founder and CEO of Daffy—a platform transforming how we think about giving.From leading product at LinkedIn to scaling Wealthfront into a major fintech player, Adam has long been at the intersection of innovation and impact. Now, with Daffy, he’s bringing that expertise to charitable giving—designing a platform that makes generosity easier and habitual.In this conversation, Adam breaks down why donor-advised funds are the future of giving, how behavioral economics shaped Daffy’...
2025-06-25
54 min
Humans of Fintech
Breaking Barriers in Credit with Angel Rich, CEO of CreditRich
In this special episode of Humans of Fintech, recorded live at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Angel Rich, Founder and CEO of CreditRich, for a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, strategic disruption, and building a billion-dollar impact in fintech.Dubbed “the next Steve Jobs” by Forbes and honored with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Angel is behind the first Black woman-owned neobank and has led CreditRich to groundbreaking partnerships with Experian, Visa, and Equifax. But her path hasn’t been easy. From raising just $200K while competitors raised millions to levera...
2025-05-08
29 min
Humans of Fintech
Redefining Wealth-Building in Latin America with Carlos Díaz of RUUT
In this in-person episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Carlos Díaz, Co-Founder of RUUT, Mexico’s largest Registered Investment Advisor, for a candid conversation about access, inclusion, and reimagining investing for a new generation.RUUT serves many first-time investors, with an average user age of just 24. The platform already manages $4 million in assets and has helped clients earn more than $100,000 in returns. With Carlos recently crowned the winner of the Nasdaq Trailblazer Contest, RUUT’s mission is catching the attention of global fintech leaders.Carlos shares the frustrations that spark...
2025-05-01
25 min
Fintech Mavericks
Scaling Inclusion: The Fintech Legacy Elizabeth Gore Is Building
In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Elizabeth Gore, Co-Founder and President of Hello Alice, for a powerful live conversation recorded at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit at The Times Center Mainstage.Elizabeth has helped grow Hello Alice into a $130 million fintech platform serving over 1.5 million small business owners—providing access to capital, education, and community to the entrepreneurs who need it most. Under her leadership, the company has distributed more than $50 million in grants, built partnerships across sectors, and stood firm in its mission, even in the face of...
2025-04-30
30 min
Fintech Mavericks
Leading with Purpose: The Next Chapter of Ellevest with Emily Green
In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Emily Green, Head of Wealth Management at Ellevest, to talk about bold pivots, purpose-driven leadership, and the future of wealth for women.Since joining Ellevest in 2017, when the company had just $40 million AUM, Emily has helped scale the platform to over $2 billion, all while staying rooted in one mission: getting more money in the hands of women.Emily unpacks Ellevest’s recent decision to sunset its robo-advisory product and transition clients to Betterment, allowing the firm to double down on high-impact we...
2025-04-23
45 min
Humans of Fintech
Closing the Financial Gender Gap with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest
In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Co-Founder of Female Invest, for an inspiring conversation about financial empowerment, global community-building, and what it takes to challenge a male-dominated industry from the ground up.What began as a frustration with the lack of women in finance events has since become a movement. Since 2019, Female Invest has reached more than 90,000 members in over 120 countries—offering tools, education, and support to help women invest with confidence. With endorsements from icons like Emma Watson and Hillary Clinton, the platform is making massive waves in...
2025-04-17
32 min
Fintech Mavericks
Building, Breaking, and Rebuilding Fintech with Simon Taylor
📢 What happens when a bank insider becomes one of fintech’s boldest builders and most trusted voices?In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Simon Taylor, Head of Content & Strategy at Sardine, and the mind behind some of fintech’s most influential platforms - from Fintech Insider to Fintech Brainfood.Simon’s journey spans traditional finance, blockchain R&D at Barclays, co-founding the game-changing 11:FS, and now shaping strategy at Sardine. He’s advised regulators, launched top-rated podcasts, and helped define the conversation around what fintech can and should be.
2025-04-16
41 min
Fintech Mavericks
Teaching the Next Generation to Build Wealth - with Tanya Van Court
📱What if the key to closing the wealth gap starts with teaching kids how to save, spend, and invest—before they even hit high school?In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Tanya Van Court, Founder and CEO of Goalsetter, the award-winning fintech platform empowering families to build generational wealth through financial literacy.Tanya’s path to fintech wasn’t typical—she went from leading digital strategy at Nickelodeon to building a banking and education app that puts kids and parents at the center. With innovative features like “Learn Before...
2025-04-09
45 min
Humans of Fintech
Financial Literacy for the 99%: Empowering Communities with Ashley Fox
In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Ashley Fox, Founder and CEO of Empify, for a powerful conversation on financial literacy, community empowerment, and what it means to challenge Wall Street’s status quo.Ashley shares how her experiences as a former Wall Street analyst led her to launch Empify—a platform committed to delivering financial education and resources to underserved communities. With a mission to reach the 99% that traditional finance has long ignored, Ashley is reshaping how everyday people access, understand, and build wealth.This episode unpacks her entr...
2025-04-07
31 min
Fintech Mavericks
Scaling Smart: Sophia Goldberg on Building Ansa & Raising $20M with 95% Female Investors
💳 What if businesses could launch their own digital wallets to keep customers engaged and drive new revenue?In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Sophia Goldberg, Co-Founder & CEO of Ansa, the payments startup redefining how merchants interact with their customers. Since launching in 2022, Ansa has been making waves, earning a spot on The Information’s 50 Most Promising Startups of 2023. Their stored value wallet solution is giving businesses a powerful way to boost retention and increase revenue.Sophia, a self-proclaimed “payments nerd”, is also the author of The Field Guide to...
2025-04-02
46 min
Fintech Mavericks
The Power of Instant Money: Orum’s $82M Journey with CEO Stephany Kirkpatrick
💸 What if getting paid instantly was the norm?In this episode of Fintech Mavericks, Nicole Casperson and Drew Glover sit down with Stephany Kirkpatrick, Founder & CEO of Orum, the company redefining how money moves with instant access to all major payment rails. Since launching in 2019, Orum has raised $82M+ and built an API that enables seamless, real-time payouts for businesses and consumers alike.With a background as a Certified Financial Planner and the daughter of an immigrant, Stephany’s mission is deeply personal: ensuring that financial access is no longer a privilege but a standard. She s...
2025-03-26
34 min
Humans of Fintech
NY Fintech Week & The Future of Fintech with Jon Zanoff
In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Jon Zanoff, the Founder of Empire Startups—better known as the "Mayor of Fintech" in NYC. For over 15 years, Jon has been at the forefront of the fintech community, bringing together founders, investors, and banking leaders through the country’s largest fintech meetup and the highly anticipated New York Fintech Week.But this year, there’s something even bigger on the horizon. Nicole’s Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit is back, and it’s redefining fintech as we know it. Following the success of last year’...
2025-03-20
42 min
Fintech Mavericks
Beyond the Deal: How Super.com is Redefining Travel, Retail & Fintech with Hussein Fazal
🚀 Fintech Mavericks is back with another game-changing conversation!In this episode, Nicole Casperson (Fintech Is Femme) and Drew Glover (Fiat Growth) sit down with Hussein Fazal, Co-founder & CEO of Super.com, the mobile commerce giant that’s reshaping travel, retail, and fintech.What started as a simple hotel deal app has exploded into a savings-driven platform with 30M+ users, $2B+ in sales, and $150M+ in funding. Hussein’s journey is a masterclass in scaling, from bootstrapping his first company (Ad Parlor, which later sold for $100M+) to building Super.com into a fintech powerhouse. Don’t miss th...
2025-03-19
39 min
Fintech Mavericks
Redefining Wealth Tech and Pet Insurance with Alinea Invest & Wagmo
Welcome to the first-ever episode of Fintech Mavericks! 🎙️ Recorded live from Brex HQ in NYC, we’re kicking off Women’s History Month with a powerhouse convo about disruption, innovation, and the future of fintech.Hosted by fintech journalist and Fintech Is Femme founder Nicole Casperson, alongside Drew Glover, co-founder of Fiat Growth, this episode brings together two incredible founders who are flipping their industries on their heads:✨ Eve Halimi, Co-founder & CEO of Alinea Invest—empowering Gen Z women to take control of their wealth, with over 90% female users and explosive growth.✨ Christie Horvath, Founde...
2025-03-12
41 min
Fintech Mavericks
Fintech Mavericks Trailer - Sponsored by Brex
Join fintech journalist Nicole Casperson and prolific investor Drew Glover as they chat with some of the most innovative fintech founders around. Each week, we’re diving into the strategies and insights behind scaling a business while staying true to purpose—and, of course, making a profit. Sponsored by Brex.► Brex has been redefining how financial services and software work together since 2017—built by founders, for founders. They know runway is everything, so they designed a banking experience that helps startups make every dollar count. With no minimums, no transaction fees, and 20x the standard FDIC protection, Brex giv...
2025-03-04
02 min
Humans of Fintech
Fintech Mavericks Mini-Series Trailer - Sponsored by Brex
“Fintech Mavericks” Podcast Mini-Series – Join fintech journalist Nicole Casperson and prolific investor Drew Glover for an exciting 8-part podcast mini-series, Fintech Mavericks. Together, they’ll dive deep into the success strategies and valuable insights from some of the most innovative fintech founders who are going against the grain to create a brighter financial future for all. Sponsored by Brex.► Listen to Fintech Mavericks on Apple Podcast, Spotify & YouTube.► Brex has been redefining how financial services and software work together since 2017—built by founders, for founders. They know runway is everything, so they designed a banking experience tha...
2025-02-28
02 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep6: How Candidly Delivered Nearly $1 Billion in Student Loan Savings, with Laurel Taylor
Student loan debt is a major issue in the United States, affecting millions of Americans. Nicole sits down with Laurel Taylor, CEO and Founder of Candidly, to discuss how her company is using technology to empower individuals and help them navigate the complexities of student loan repayment. Laurel shares her personal journey and the challenges she faced in bringing her idea to life. She explains how Candidly uses AI to go beyond simple debt by helping users achieve financial wellness. On track to deliver nearly a billion dollars in student loan debt savings, Candidly is o...
2023-12-21
41 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep5: Nina Mohanty on the Immigrant Experience and Financial Inclusion
In this episode, Nicole sits down with Nina Mohanty, the founder of Bloom Money, a platform that provides financial options for immigrants. Nina shares her personal experience as a first-generation immigrant and discusses the importance of diversity in the fintech industry. She also chats with Nicole about the need for financial inclusion and explains how Bloom Money is working to serve distinct communities better, reflecting on her own upbringing and how it shaped her mindset towards money. 00:01:24 - A Multicultural Upbringing in Silicon Valley00:06:06 - The Immigrant Experience: Challenges and Privilege...
2023-11-08
36 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep4: Breaking Barriers with Fintech’s Most Powerful Women (Live from Money 20/20)
Meet fintech’s most influential women in the industry. Sasha Pilch, Principal at Fin Capital, Emma Zhang, Founder and CEO of Pactfi, and Kathryn Petralia, Co-Founder of Keep Financial, join Nicole live from Money 20/20 to discuss the importance of female representation and empowerment in fintech.With women making up less than 30% of the fintech workforce and only 8% holding leadership roles, something needs to change. These inspiring women share their experiences and insights on how to break through the barriers and create a more inclusive industry.From the importance of storytelling and confidence to the need fo...
2023-11-01
41 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep3: Breaking Fintech Barriers and Trusting the Journey, with Anaid Chacon
Trust is a crucial element in the fintech industry, and Anaid Chacon, SVP of Product Development at Argyle, knows just how important it is to establish trust with customers. In this episode, she and Nicole discuss the challenges of building trust in fintech and how incorporating behavioral finance elements into Argyle's product helps to create a more trustworthy experience for its users. Anaid also shares her personal journey with fintech and the importance of authenticity and diversity in the fintech space. And later, she divulges why women should stop worrying about knowing everything before diving he...
2023-10-25
36 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep2: Banks, Fintech, and the Latin American Landscape: A Candid Conversation with Cristina Ciaravalli
In this candid conversation, Nicole takes a beat to talk with Cristina Ciaravalli about her storied career in the fintech industry, from her early beginnings working for Goldman Sachs to meeting and falling in love with tech startup, Plaid. The two chat about the differences between working for an organization like Goldman versus working for fintech startups and discuss what, exactly, drew Cristina to Plaid. Then, they pivot into dissecting how regulation makes banking as a service fundamentally different from fintech, before diving into the latest trends in fintech in Latin America. Plus, Cristina divulges why...
2023-10-18
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S7 Ep1: Poker Power Play: Bridging the Gender Gap, with Jenny Just
Did you know that less than 7% of poker players are women? Jenny Just, the founder of Poker Power Play App, is on a mission to change that. In this episode, she and Nicole discuss the importance of women's representation in the poker world and how playing poker can develop valuable skills for both personal and professional growth. Jenny shares her vision of creating a gender-neutral poker app and her goal of having half of all poker players be women. They also explore the role of women in decision-making around money and the need for more fi...
2023-10-11
46 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep6: Zach Anderson Pettet on the Future of Fintech, Money 2020, & Beyond
Join Nicole as she chats with fintech aficionado Zach Anderson Pettet. From the importance of diverse experiences to the irony of investment apps, they’re tackling it all so that you don’t have to. Zach delves into his personal journey with fintech, revealing how his early financial struggles shaped his interest in fintech and beyond. Then, Nicole and Zach touch upon the Money 20/20 conference, with Zach giving a behind-the-scenes look at content curation. Plus, why does Zach feel people in fintech need to lighten up, stop taking it quite so seriously, and have a l...
2023-09-27
43 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep5: Overcoming Your Financial Baggage, with Alejandra Rojas
In this episode, Nicole chats with Alejandra Rojas, founder of The Money Mindset Hub, about why it’s so critical for women to acknowledge and address all of the emotional baggage and trauma money brings with it. Alejandra explains why approaching money from a clearer mindset enables women to seize opportunities in an otherwise male-dominated space and to level up in new ways where finances won’t automatically trigger an emotional response. By creating a safe space where people can feel safe to discuss their issues with finances, Alejandra believes women can unlock their true entrepreneurial prowess....
2023-09-13
44 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep4: A Global Perspective on Embedded Finance, with Ahon Sarkar
What does the future of embedded finance look like in countries experiencing a financial revolution, with cultural norms so different from our own?General Manager to Helix, Ahon Sarkar, chats with Humans of Fintech host Nicole Casperson about the homogeneity of cultural spending across the world, including the rising appetite for greater access to wealth management in India, South Korea, and India. Plus, Ahon and Nicole discuss the challenges niche embedded finance companies face in creating a sustainable business model and generate a few potential solutions to solve the drop-off problem. 0:00 In...
2023-08-30
48 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep3: Feminism, Fintech, and OnlyFans, with CEO of OnlyFans, Keily Blair
We get it, we get it. When you hear the word “OnlyFans,” feminism isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind. Keily Blair, CEO of OnlyFans, is here to explain why it should.In this live event, she and Nicole discuss the implications of fintech being a predominantly male industry and why the inclusion of women throughout the design process is so important. Then, Keily explains how OnlyFans is ensuring that women have an equal seat at the table, from the C-Suite down and how the $250 billion creator economy is presenting new challenges to the...
2023-08-16
21 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep2: The First Wealth Management App for Couples, with Plenty Co-Founder & CEO, Emily Luk
How much money do you need to have a child? What, exactly, should your finances look like before you consider buying a house? How much should you save for a wedding? You shouldn’t have to pay $1000 or more to find out the answers to these questions from a financial planner— and Emily Luk, CEO and Co-Founder of Plenty, has designed the first platform designed with couples' finances in mind.She and Nicole chat about the current state of wealth management for couples and how, with over 65% of millennial couples partnering up, it’s more relevant...
2023-08-02
31 min
Humans of Fintech
S6 Ep1: Unpacking the Gender Gaps in Fintech, with Tracey Davies and Scarlett Sieber
In this live event, Nicole sits down with Tracey Davies (President of Money20/20) and Scarlett Sieber (Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20) to talk about their unique experiences within the fintech industry. What are the gaps in diversity and inclusion they’ve been witness to, and what are they doing to ensure their platform is used to progress the industry forward? Nicole also chats with Scarlett and Tracey about why having a psychological safety net at work helps companies to take advantageous risks and why the cult of perfection stops companies from doing more than...
2023-07-19
39 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep6: B2C Fintech’s Greatest Misconceptions, with Katie Perry
On today’s pod, Nicole and guest speaker, Katie Perry, GM of B2B for the fintech app Public, are breaking down the biggest misconceptions surrounding B2C in fintech.Is B2C in Fintech still alive and thriving? What are the advantages of having a diversified perspective in the fintech market? And how can we build a better industry by encouraging women to break down barriers and fill leadership positions within the B2C community? Plus, find out how Public is aiming to make investing more accessible by providing education and context to empower the...
2023-06-21
37 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep5: Dismantling the Double Standards Women in the Workplace Face, with Author Julia Boorstin
Did you know that studies show female-founded startups yield higher profits and sell a year earlier than male-founded companies? In this live event, Nicole speaks with CNBC Senior Correspondent Julia Boorstin about her latest book, “When Women Lead.” Julia’s book covers groundbreaking and deeply researched studies revealing the common characteristics that help top female leaders thrive in the workplace, and she’s breaking them down live.Then, stay tuned for a round of audience-fielded questions. Buy Julia’s Book, “When Women Lead”:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN...
2023-06-07
41 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep4: NYT Bestselling Author Daniel Crosby Talks Behavioral Finance
How can we account for the messiness of human beings when designing fintech apps? New York Times bestselling author and Chief Behavioral Officer to Orion, Daniel Crosby, stops by the studio to chat with Nicole about behavioral finance and the role it plays in fintech. As a former Ph.D. psychology grad, Daniel’s knowledge of the role that human behavior plays in financial decisions is second to none. He explains how we can use those behavioral decisions to help people spend money in ways that will incite joy instead of judgment and to destigmatize the f...
2023-05-24
41 min
Humans of Fintech
Martin Toha, CEO of Array, on Empowering Consumers and Embracing Inclusion in Fintech
In this special episode sponsored by the embedded fintech products platform, Array, Nicole chats with founder Martin Toha about how Array is building a platform to help both clients and their customers own their financial future.Plus, Nicole and Martin also dive into an important conversation around why an intentional, early investment in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) can drive impact and value internally and externally. Want to know how to make DEIB part of your organization’s DNA? Tune in to find out! Follow Array: Website: https://array.c...
2023-05-23
35 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep3: Rewriting the Asian American Narrative in Fintech, with Liang Zhao
Did you know that 1 in every 124 Asian women in the workplace is a leader vs. 1 in every 50 white males? Liang Zhao, CEO of the marketing consulting agency, Vansary, does, and that’s why she’s making it her personal mission to ensure underrepresented groups have an equal seat at the leadership table. Liang sits down to speak with Nicole about what her experience as an Asian American has been like in the fintech space, including why the culture of internalization has made it difficult for Asian Americans to recognize when they...
2023-05-10
35 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep2: Representing the Communities Fintech Serves with Helen Min
If you’re creating a fintech product that serves everyone but don’t have people building it who represent the groups you’re trying to help, how do you ever expect it to succeed? In this live event, Nicole talks with Phenomenal Ventures’ Co-Founder, Helen Min, about her thoughts on fintech’s biggest problems, including the lack of representation for women within the fintech community. She also shares why you should double down on telling your brand’s story through consistent messaging and explains why verticalized fintech applications are something to get excited ab...
2023-04-26
42 min
Humans of Fintech
S5 Ep1: How Stash CEO Liza Landsman is Making Economic Stability Accessible to All
Industry powerhouse and Stash CEO Liza Landsman is in the studio to chat with Nicole about how she’s using FinTech to disrupt the bottleneck between economic sustainability and the average consumer. Liza unpacks how the average consumer can benefit from Fintech and why, by using less coded, more accessible language, apps like Stash are breaking down barriers and encouraging those in poverty to achieve financial stability. Plus, Nicole and Liza chat about the importance of representation in the Fintech sector and the psychology behind getting people to save more and buy le...
2023-04-12
36 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep14: Virtual Event: Building The Fintech Community Through Real Talk
What happens when two of the most stellar names in fintech host a virtual event? Time to find out.Nicole Casperson (Fintech is Femme) and Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) throw open the doors for this community-building online event, tackling the real questions around fintech inclusivity, if B2C fintech is dead (or should be), and how Gen Z and missional values must align when it comes to choosing a career path.Plus you’ll also hear questions from the audience, including the unsexy parts of banking that fintech needs to get into next.
2023-03-22
53 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep13: Commentary - SVB: The Shaky Foundation Built On Under Representation
In this commentary episode, Nicole gets straight into talking about the topic of the moment: Silicon Valley Bank.Digging below the story, Nicole offers searing analysis on the root causes and asks the important questions.You'll also hear her take on herd mentality and how fintech must do better.And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com...
2023-03-15
11 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep12: Why A Fintech Company Is Going Back To Basics In The Classroom
How come they teach math and sex-ed at school but not money?CJ MacDonald is CEO and Founder of Step, the next generation financial services company helping teens and young adults achieve financial independence and knowledge at an earlier age. Nicole and CJ discuss why getting into schools at the earliest age creates the building blocks to financial stability, how savings bonds led to an aha moment, and how it all starts with a bank account.Follow CJ:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjmacdonald/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJM...
2023-03-08
29 min
Humans of Fintech
Fireside Chat: Katie Palencsar - VC Investor At The Anthemis Group
Katie agrees to step into the spotlight for this quickfire round of questions.Find out who’s on her fintech soundtrack, the best advice she ever received and so much more in this fireside chat with NicoleFollow Katie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiepalencsar/Twitter: https://twitter.com/damekatiepAnd if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!You can keep up-to-date wi...
2023-03-02
03 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep11: What Katie Did Next. The VC Investor Backing Female Fintech Founders
How do you smash down common misconceptions around female fintech founders? Katie Palencsar is the startup founder turned investor, determined to bring equity into VC investments.Katie is an investor at the Female Innovators Lab Fund within the Anthemis Group, the global platform cultivating change in the financial system by investing in, growing, and sustaining businesses committed to resiliency, transparency, access and equity.Nicole and Katie discuss why she’s hell bent on shattering the misconceptions around female fintech founders, why it’s time to bring men back into the conversation, and how to respond to a...
2023-03-01
34 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep10: Commentary - Why Financial Inclusion IS Fintech
How can your fintech product prioritize inclusion, generate profitability, and serve people who need financial tools?In this quick breakdown Nicole defines what inclusion really means in the space, gives examples from Annie Jean-Baptiste’s best settling book, and how to capture a larger market share by creating more inclusive products for people of color, women and other underrepresented groups.Plus, you’ll also get Nicole’s insights on how Google are building inclusivity into their products at the design stage.And if you love listening to Humans...
2023-02-27
12 min
Humans of Fintech
Fireside Chat: Alison Staloch - CFO at Fundrise
Join Nicole and Alison in this lightning round of questions, covering everything from music to inspirational advice.Get to know Nicole's inspirational podcast guest even better in this 5-minute fireside chat.Follow Alison:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonstaloch/And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/
2023-02-23
04 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep9: The Regulator Who Fell Into Fintech To Build A Better System
From medicine to regulations and headlong into Fintech, meet the CFO building a better financial system.Alison Staloch is CFO at Fundrise, America’s largest direct-to-investor alternatives investment platform, since 2012.Nicole and Alison, dig into why a career in medicine left her cold, how she navigated a course through regulations and policy at the US Securities And Exchange Commission, and why Fundrise’s ethos for empowering its customer is her north star.Plus, you’ll also hear the best piece of advice Alison was given and why Fintech outsiders should dive into the indust...
2023-02-22
30 min
Humans of Fintech
Fireside Chat: Vered Frank - Head of Marketing at Seeds Investment
Vered is under the spotlight in this quickfire round of questions.Discover her fintech soundtrack, the best advice she ever received and more in this fireside chat with Nicole.Follow Vered: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veredfrank/You can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/And if you’ve enjoyed Humans of Fintech why not try: Chicks of FinTwit, Tech Unlocked, Breaking Banks or Fintech InsiderThank you so much!
2023-02-16
05 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep8: How To Align Money With Meaning, Vered Frank, Seeds Investor
From traditional finance to fintech and back again, Vered Frank is the CMO helping investors find meaning and connection.She is Head of Marketing at Seeds Investor, empowering financial advisors to deliver a more meaningful investment experience.Nicole and Vered talk robo investment advisors, the disconnect between earning and spending, and how Vered found her fintech sweet spot.Follow Vered:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veredfrank/And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com...
2023-02-15
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep7: The First-Time Fintech Founders Creating Community On Their Terms
What happens when you’re frozen out of financial conversations because of gender and ethnicity? You start your own conversationEve Halimi and Anam Lakhani are the first-time founders behind Alinea Invest, the community-driven money app with financial education, news, stock & crypto investing.Nicole, Eve and Anam explore why so many women aren’t taught how to save and invest, the importance of non-predatory platforms and how Alinea got funded, despite investors not getting the problem or seeing the need for a solution.Follow Eve:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eve...
2023-02-08
37 min
Humans of Fintech
Fireside Chat: Michelle Tran - Head of Enterprise Sales and SVP at Vestwell
Hold on tight as Michelle answers a lightning round of questions from Nicole in this fireside chat.Get personal with 3 minutes, you don’t want to miss!And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!Follow Michelle:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellektran/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MkateMamaYou can keep up-to-date with ev...
2023-02-02
03 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep6: The Fintech Entrepreneur Empowering Women Against Bro Culture
Michelle Tran is building a community, meeting fintech bro culture head on. Find out why she will no longer be talked over.Michelle Tran is the Head of Enterprise Sales and SVP at Vestwell, a platform working to close the savings gap. She’s also the Founder of NYC Fintech Women and Dreamers // Doers, a collaboration and mentorship community.Nicole and Michelle get into her inspiring family story of immigration in tough circumstances, why she’s determined to keep on giving back, and the aha moment when she found herself talked over at a pitch meet...
2023-02-01
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 E5: Commentary - The Female Founder Funding Gap
It’s 2023 and still female founders are facing tough challenges getting recognized and funded. Why? Nicole explores the topic in this 5-minute commentary episode.Join Nicole as she dives into recent research showing the difficulty female founders have getting funding from male-founded VC firms. She gets into the numbers around this issue and some solutions to changing up the status quo.And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!...
2023-01-30
06 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep4: Meet The Unconventional Fintech Founder Changing The VC World
From struggling to read to becoming a highly successful VC and Founder, this is the unique story of Drew Glover.Drew is Co-Founder of Fiat Ventures and Fiat Growth, helping fintech startups scale through mentorship and investment. He grew up overcoming learning difficulties, thanks to his own determination and an encouraging mom, and is now a successful investor and mentor.Nicole and Drew get into how his success as an athlete helped him become the best communicator, why admitting your weaknesses is the key to self-growth, and why he believes fintech investment will unlock opportunities...
2023-01-25
33 min
Humans of Fintech
Fireside Chat: Meg Nakamura - Co-founder and CEO of Apto Payments
Get to know Meg a little better, as Nicole unleashes this lightning round of questions.From Fintech songs, to Meg’s biggest supporter - this is 3-minutes you can’t miss!And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/humansoffintechThank you so much!Follow Meg:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/megnakamuraYou can keep up-to-date with everything Humans of Fintech at https://workweek.com/brand/wtfintech/An...
2023-01-19
02 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep3: How Apto Payments is Moving The Needle Through Trust, With Meg Nakamura
You don’t get a hall pass for making mistakes with people’s money.Meg Nakamura is the Co-founder and CEO building trust through fintech. Find out how.Apto Payments is the next-generation cards and payments platform that helps companies design and launch successful card programs in as fast as a day. Meg and Co-founder Greg Kidd are building a company with community and trust at its core.Nicole and Meg talk about how Meg’s Japanese upbringing influenced her approach to business, why you only get one chance to handle people’s finances...
2023-01-18
30 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep2: Yoni Assia: The eToro Founder Disrupting Traditional Finance
This is a special one. Yoni Assia is the Founder and CEO of eToro, discover his vision for Fintech and why investment is for everyone.eToro is the world’s leading social investment platform. Founded in 2007 with a mission to open the world's markets to everyone -everywhere.Nicole and Yoni sit down to talk about the power of connection, why education is so key to successful investment, and how fintech will flip traditional finance on its head sooner rather than later.And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a...
2023-01-11
34 min
Humans of Fintech
S4 Ep1: Meet The Fintech Founder Bringing Equity To Credit Invisible Customers
Welcome to the first episode in this brand new season. This is a special one.Kristy Kim is a South Korean immigrant and the founder of TomoCredit, the fintech company offering the smartest consumer credit card that doesn’t require a credit score for approval.Nicole and Kristy get into conversation about how Kristy solved her own credit problem, how she went all founding a startup, and how a sense of humor helps in every aspect of life.And if you love listening to Humans of Fintech, please leave me a 5-star review on...
2023-01-04
32 min
Humans of Fintech
Humans of Fintech - Season 4 Trailer
The world of fintech is dominated by the same old voices, drowning out diverse founders and operators. Step forward Humans of Fintech. The podcast elevating the stories of diverse leaders at the forefront of change in our industry.Hosted by me, Nicole Casperson, journalist and founder of the Fintech Is Femme. This show shines a spotlight on those underrepresented fintech founders, zoning in on how they’re leading their companies and creating change.You’ll hear how leaders like Kristy Kim of TomoCredit, Founder of eToro Yoni Assia, and women in fintech icon Michelle Tran are...
2022-12-21
01 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep15: The Importance of Leadership In Fintech, With Tracy Schroeder, MainStreet
Tracy Schroeder is democratizing R&D Tax Credits, and finding her home in Fintech.As VP of Strategy and Growth at MainStreet, she’s part of the company’s mission taking the guesswork out of tax credits and passing the savings onto small businesses and startups.Nicole and Tracy talk why Fintech isn’t the cool kids club everyone thinks it is, how surrounding yourself with a diverse network is key to growing as a leader, and why education will always be a core part of the MainStreet mission.And our sponsor MainStreet is mak...
2022-12-05
30 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep14: How Dani Fava Feels About Embedded Finance And Carving Out Her Own Place in Fintech
What does embedded finance mean to Dani Fava? It means providing a more secure future for millions of Americans. Find out how.Dani is Group Head of Product Innovation at Envestnet, transforming the way financial advice and wellness are delivered. Their mission is to empower advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions and intelligence to make financial wellness a reality for everyone.Nicole and Dani talk hacking software to buy back 20 minutes of her day, how financial micro moments could change the future, and how Dani carved out her own space in the...
2022-11-30
32 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep13: Live from Money 20/20: Financial Inclusion Is The Only Thing Keeping Fintech From Failing
Live from Money 20/20 Nicole is joined on stage by two stellar guests, moving the needle on financial inclusion.Nicole is in conversation with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President at Women’s World Banking and Shivani Siroya, CEO and Founder at Tala.The panel gets into 720 billion reasons for financial equity, helping women and marginalized people across the globe get access to financial products, and how to build a business with empathy. This is a special episode you won’t want to miss.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thous...
2022-11-23
34 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep12: Xsolla: The Video Game Business Leveling Up Engagement Through Fintech
Find out how Chris Hewish is bridging the gap between game monetization and customer expectation.Chris is President of Xsolla, the video game business engine that helps indie and global gaming companies solve the complexities of distribution, marketing, and monetization. Nicole and Chris dive into the lightbulb moment he realized 40% of the global gaming market couldn’t transact in their favorite games, how helping everyone get a piece of the pie is possible through smart Fintech, and why engaging customers is a win for everyone.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to...
2022-11-16
31 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep11: How Lyanne Alfaro is Helping Latino Founders Tell Their Stories
Growing up surrounded by Latino entrepreneurs, but only seeing white faces in the media, Lyanne knew it was time to tell a different story.From business journalist to creator of the Moneda Moves Newsletter, and Program Manager at Google, it’s no surprise Lyanne was recently named one of TIME X NextAdvisor’s 25 Most Influential Voices of New Money.Championing fintech, money and culture, Lyanne is putting Latino founders firmly on the map.Nicole and Lyanne talk growing up in the US as an immigrant, the underrepresentation of LatAm founders, and why companies shou...
2022-11-09
34 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep10: Why Only Fans is The Creator Platform You Can’t Ignore
The creator economy has found a new space and it’s not holding back. It’s time to re-think Only Fans and redefine its place in the creator economy. Nicole tears up the rule book with a high signal tear through at why fintech needs to be there for creators and small business owners, Amrapali Gan’s leadership at Only Fans, and highlights from Money 2020.Quick, sharp and straight to the point.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Tax Credits. You only need to...
2022-11-07
10 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 E9: How Rex Salisbury is Building a Fintech Community With Authenticity
Only when you’ve done your time in startups can you offer the kind of support Rex has created for other fintech founders. Find out how.Nicole and Rex dive into why conversation is the key to understanding a founder’s goals, why bringing together is a major high point to his working day, and why writing the second biggest check leads to way more collaboration.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Tax Credits. You only need to plug MainStreet into your payroll and let...
2022-11-02
28 min
Humans of Fintech
2. Nasdaq Data Link Newsbites: How Storytelling Impacts Equity in Fintech
Join Nicole as she gets into media representation and its link to diversity and equity. You’ll hear Nicole’s unique takes on how those stories impact investment and why outdated, prejudice stereotypes are still all too common in Fintech and the media.WTFintech and Nasdaq Data Link are teaming up to give one lucky fintech company a whole lot of attention. You can enter to win a full Nasdaq VIP guest experience that includes special promotion of your business! Visit nasdaq.com/wtfintech to enterAnd if you love listening to Humans of F...
2022-11-01
09 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep8: Suze Orman and Devin Miller - Creating Emergency Safety Nets Through SecureSave
What happens when one of the most famous financial experts in the US teams up with a highly successful founder? They change the world.Suze Orman, host of the Women & Money podcast and bestselling author, joins one of her co-founders Devin Miller, an entrepreneur and former COO of Guidant Financial, to talk SecureSave. This is the work benefit that provides emergency savings solutions to help employees prepare for life’s unexpected moments.Nicole, Suze and Devin talk about what it feels like living paycheck to paycheck, why secure employees are more productive, and Suze’s miss...
2022-10-26
49 min
Humans of Fintech
1. Nasdaq Data Link Newsbites: No More Fintech Apps
Join Nicole as she explores the latest Fintech trends and news in this bitesize episode.Find out why so many Fintech founders believe education is the tide that lifts everyone and why we’ve had enough of Silicon Valley tactics when it comes to fintech apps.WTFintech and Nasdaq Data Link are teaming up to give one lucky fintech company a whole lot of attention. You can enter to win a full Nasdaq VIP guest experience that includes special promotion of your business! Visit nasdaq.com/wtfintech to enterAnd if you love li...
2022-10-26
10 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep7: Meet The COO Fighting For Fintech Equity, With Dr Iyandra Smith Bryan
Dr Iyandra Smith Bryan has enough energy and experience to achieve anything, but it was in fintech she really found her place in the world. Nicole and Iyandra get into the kind of conversation you’re going to want to grab a pen and paper for. Iyandra is the C-Suite exec who loves problem solving. She also believes in true authenticity and questioning the rules. In this no-holds barred conversation, she and Nicole tackle everything from wearing heels, to her role as COO at Quantfury, plus how she’s inspiring other women in fintech to step u...
2022-10-19
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep6: Why US Latino Fintech Businesses Will Create The Next Big Unicorns
When one in four startups are founded by US Latinos, it’s no wonder they’ve attracted the attention of big investment. Laura Moreno Lucas explains why.Laura is a partner at L’attitude Ventures, an early-stage institutional fund that invests in technology and technology-enabled businesses led and owned by US Latinos.Nicole and Laura get into the importance of networks, how education is rebuilding trust in financial institutions, and how underrepresented communities are succeeding, despite the challenges.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Ta...
2022-10-12
37 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep5: Why We Don’t Need More Fintech Apps But We Do Need More Fintech Education
You heard it here first. Nicole takes you on a 10-minute tear down on what’s going on in Fintech, and why we’re missing the point about Kim’s crypto Ad fine.Join Nicole as she digs into the latest Fintech stories and trends and offers her unique take on what we really need to focus on, including no more fintech apps.Quick, sharp and straight to the point.And our sponsor MainStreet is making it easy to find thousands of dollars worth of R&D Tax Credits. You only need to plug M...
2022-10-10
10 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 Ep4: How Altro is Helping Build Credit Through Community Driven Solutions
When you don’t have a credit history, accessing even the most basic financial services is almost impossible.Find out how Michael Broughton is providing a unique solution.Michael grew up in Japan and Korea before returning to the United States, where he founded Altro, the free credit service helping people build credit through recurring payments and subscriptionsNicole and Michael talk about the innate discrimination of the credit score system, especially for people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll also hear how Altro effectively functions as a not-for-profit to p...
2022-10-05
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 E3: How Erin Papworth is Providing Financial Health For All Through Nav.it
If financial service providers were honest they’d admit, it’s mostly about selling products. But if you’re unsure how these products work, how do you know you need them?Erin Papworth already has a lifetime’s experience in fintech and is working to educate and empower a whole generation to make the best financial decisions possible and improve financial health outcomes.She and Nicole get into conversation about the real truth around financial services, Nav.it’s behavioral science-backed approach, and why getting back to basics is key for future success.And our sp...
2022-09-28
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 E2: Luxus: How Dana Auslander is Creating Equity In Luxury Assets
Dana, through her company Luxus, has blown the world of luxury asset investment wide open. And she’s not stopping there. Find out how this fintech founder is smashing down barriers.Luxus partners with the world’s premium brands, offering fractional ownership of assets including jewelry, rare watches and precious gems.Nicole and Dana get into conversation about Dana’s experiences opening investment doors for women, why luxury investments should be fun, and why hiring amazing people is at the heart of her long term strategy for success.And our sponsor MainStreet is making...
2022-09-21
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S3 E1: How Vrinda Gupta is Building Financial Equity Through Sequin Finance
When you’re rejected by the financial product you’re helping to build, you know you need to learn (and change) the system. Find out how Vrinda is doing just that.Welcome to season 3 of Humans of Fintech, the show that brings you the stories of diverse leaders and how they’re transforming the industry from the inside out.Nicole and Vrinda get into how it felt watching her mom live in fear of being financially frozen out, what it was like to be denied a credit card from the company she was working for, and ho...
2022-09-14
34 min
Humans of Fintech
Humans of Fintech - Season 3 Trailer
The world of fintech is dominated by the same old voices, drowning out diverse founders and operators. Step forward Humans of Fintech. The podcast empowering the stories of diverse leaders at the forefront of change in our industry.Hosted by me, Nicole Casperson, journalist and founder of the WTFintech? newsletter. This season shines a spotlight on those underrepresented fintech founders, zoning in on how they’re leading their companies and creating change.You’ll hear from leaders like finance icon Suze Orman, Founder of Sequin Vrinda Gupta, and L'Attitude Ventures Partner Laura Lucas who are brin...
2022-09-08
01 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E15: How to Crack Business Growth With a Social Conscience, With Lara Hodgson, Now.
How do you crack business growth and become an advocate for under-represented groups? Lara has the secret sauce that sets her apart as an entrepreneur and activist.Lara and her Co-Founder Stacey Abrams are behind Now, an invoice payment solution that redefines when businesses get paid. Nicole and Lara get into conversation about how they started Now to solve their own problem, why it takes intention to be an advocate for people whose voices are often left out, and the story of their entrepreneurial journey.You’ll also hear why Lara and Stacey’s dif...
2022-08-10
39 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E14: How Sofiat Abdulrazaaq is Empowering Women in Fintech to Take Their Opportunities
How do women in fintech, particularly women of color, make change happen? Goodfynd Co-Founder Sofiat, believes in leading by example. Here’s how she’s shaking up the industry.Sofiat is the Co-Founder of Goodfynd, the platform helping mobile businesses grow and customers quickly find their favorite food outlets. In 2007 she was a student at Virginia Tech, scene of a horrific school shooting.Nicole and Sofiat dive into conversation about why being vulnerable and honest is where change happens, how keeping trauma inside only means you’ll pass it on through your leadership, and the import...
2022-08-03
40 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E13: Why Embedded Finance Is Becoming Personal, With Ahon Sarkar, Helix
How do you bring embedded finance products to millions of people who’ve fallen between the financial cracks? Find out how Ahon Sarkar is building infrastructure through empathy.With almost 20% of the US population still underbanked, basic banking is as far as it goes. Even with the crazy advancements made in fintech, too many are still struggling to access the financial services they need.Join Nicole as she gets into conversation with Ahon, who’s on a mission to bring humanity to finance with Helix, helping fintech brands build personal banking experiences.You’ll hea...
2022-07-27
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E12: Edison Partners: How Jennifer Lee Became A Successful Fintech Investor And Found Her Place in The World
In an industry where so few AAPI women make it into the private equity world, what’s the secret to Jennifer Lee’s success? She shares her story.Nicole and Jennifer get into why Jennifer wanted to change the world right from early childhood, what it feels like to be awarded a bunch of industry accolades, and how she’s working to lift other women, especially from under-represented groups.You’ll also hear how self-reflection has led to her colossal success and why it’s important to bring all your human and vulnerable elements into business
2022-07-20
39 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E11: Aura: Where Health And Financial Stability Meet, With Kelsey Willock
How do you stay financially stable without sacrificing your mental or physical health? Through a platform that looks after your whole life, not just your money.Kelsey Willock is a first-time founder, crushing entrepreneurship with her platform, Aura. From her own experiences of feeling financially vulnerable, she’s building a platform to help others reach their goals.Nicole and Kelsey get into why she’s helping users gain wealth wellness, what it felt like to leave education in heavy debt, and the truth about rising together as women in leadership.You’ll also hear K...
2022-07-13
31 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E10: How The Pinwheel API is Building a Fairer Financial System
For most Americans, the financial system is broken. But Kurtis Lin is working to fix it. Find out how his company, Pinwheel, is creating financial equity.Nicole and Kurtis get into the weeds of how feeling like an outsider inspired him to find belonging through fintech. You’ll hear Kurtis’ uncomfortable truth about Asian Excellence and how it’s shaped him as a leader, plus why Kurtis wants companies who aren’t moving the dial on financial equity to step back and give him room.You’ll also discover how Pinwheel is building a fairer financial...
2022-07-06
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E9: How NatureTrak is Turning Cannabis Compliant Through Fintech
Cannabis banking is still a baby, but Jontae James is on a mission to help banks stay compliant and safe through NatureTrak’s state-of-the-art platform. He’s proud to be disrupting the industry and ready or not, he’s here to shake up fintech and cannabis.A proud child of the 80s, Jontae had already grown and sold his first company at the age of 28. An entrepreneur from the start, he went from working in venture capital to creating ‘bank-to-seed’ cannabis compliance fintech for banks. Nicole and Jontae get straight into it. You’ll hear how th...
2022-06-29
36 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E8: Why Diana Cabrices is Not a Girl Boss
But she is the Vice President of Enterprise Development at Snappy Kraken and believes sales in fintech needs more female voices. Find out how she’s making a difference.Diana Cabrices is in the business of helping financial advisors with automated growth programs and client engagement through the award-winning Snappy Kraken platform.Nicole and Diana dive straight into conversation talking about Diana’s background as a first generation immigrant and the early experiences that shaped her perspectives around female empowerment. You’ll also hear why fintech needs to lose the ‘girl boss’ epithet, how women leaders ca...
2022-06-22
43 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E7: Why Trevor Marshall Gave Up Percussion to Change Lives Through Fintech
Trevor Marshall is CTO at Current, the challenger bank giving companies like Stripe and Chime a run for their money.Trevor was always going to be a classical percussionist, it’s what he worked so hard for and why he moved to NYC to study. But after an economics lesson, became a math class, which became a computer science course, he knew things had changed.Nicole and Trevor dig into how he has helped Current become one of the most influential platforms in the industry, how music relates to coding and technology, and why being a...
2022-06-15
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E6: How an Alternative Investment Founder is Helping Others Find Financial Freedom, With Milind Mehere of Yieldstreet
How it started: With Milind receiving poor financial advice as a newly arrived student.How it’s going: $2 billion worth of deals closed through his company, YieldStreet. Nicole and Milind get into conversation about what it feels like to be on the outside of the industry as a young, ambitious entrepreneur, how the worst financial advice started a spark, and why you should always be grateful for the person who first believed in you.You’ll also hear how Milind and YieldStreet are crushing product content and brand awareness, and why alternative assets are b...
2022-06-08
36 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E5: How a Navy Vet is Driving Innovation at Nasdaq, With Brandis DeSimone, Head of Data Sales
On 9/11 2001 Brandis DeSimone was attending the US Naval Academy, decades later she’s using everything she learnt during this horrific time to transform financial services for good.Militaristic terms get thrown around on Wall Street way too easily. The need to destroy the competition, getting bombed with orders or the battle to survive. But Brandis knows first hand how different it really is from active service and is using her influence to cut through the aggression and the egos.Nicole and Brandis get into what it’s like watching the evolution of a fintech company from...
2022-06-01
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E4: The Tech Nerd Changing Banking, With Anabel Pérez of NovoPayment
Anabel Pérez is a CEO obsessed with bringing financial services to new people and new places. Find out how she’s solving the complex problem of financial inclusion with NovoPayment.Trained as a lawyer and with a full career in banking, Anabel is leveraging Banking as a Service (BaaS) to solve issues around inclusion. With her company NovoPayment she has expanded into 12 countries, has more than 72 deployments and touches more than 12,000 platform users across the Americas.Nicole and Anabel get into why learning is a process Anabel will never tire of, being recognized with the...
2022-05-25
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E3: Why Penelope is Building Bright Financial Futures with Jean Smart.
Growing up in LA, Jean watched her immigrant parents work tirelessly to provide for their family and employees. But when it came to retirement they left themselves vulnerable.Despite owning a grocery store and restaurant, like many small business owners, they failed to invest in their own retirement. This left a huge impression on Jean whose mission, through Penelope, is to make sure every SMB owner has a bright financial future.Nicole and Jean get into why SMBs are the backbone of the US economy, why they remain an untapped source in the Fintech industry...
2022-05-18
33 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E2: Henry Yoshida, CEO at Rocket Dollar | Fintech Founder | Retirement
Growing up, Henry believed successful people won because they knew the rules. Now he’s rewriting those rules, making sure more people win when it comes to retirement investment.Retirement is a hot topic and how we invest and prepare for it is crucial. Through his company, Rocket Dollar, Henry has created a platform that lets people invest tax-advantaged retirement dollars into private alternative investments, like venture capital and crypto.Nicole and Henry talk about what it’s like growing up outside the dominant culture, how he felt working in traditional firms like Merrill Lynch, and...
2022-05-11
37 min
Humans of Fintech
S2 E1: Shruti Joshi, COO of Facet Wealth | Fintech | Financial Planning
When fintech is used right, it can bring outsiders in from the cold. Meet Shruti Joshi, bringing humanity to financial planning.Welcome to season 2 of Humans of Fintech, where Nicole Casperson digs deeper into the humans behind the headlines.Kicking off episode 1, Nicole and Shruti discuss the importance of empowering people with financial knowledge, how money (wrongly) defines identity, and Shruti’s own feelings of feeling like an outsider. Shruti shares how Facet Wealth is turning traditional financial planning on its head, putting human wellness at the center.You’ll also hear why she...
2022-05-04
34 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E21: Flori Marquez, Co-Founder of BlockFi | Fintech | Crypto
For someone who never felt ready to become a founder, Flori Marquez has nailed that niche. Bringing crypto investing into the real world, find out BlockFi is redefining banking.When traditional marketing around crypto investing is aimed at one demographic, it’s tough to bring equity into that space. But Flori and Co-Founder Zac Prince are changing the mood by providing credit services to markets with limited access to simple financial products.Nicole and Flori get into what it’s like to stand out as a woman in the fintech space, how being a generalist was...
2022-05-02
56 min
Humans of Fintech
Humans of Fintech - Season 2 Trailer
How did you find your way into Fintech? I bet it wasn’t a conventional path. Every single leader I interviewed last season fell into this industry because, one way or another, they didn’t fit traditional finance or tech norms. Every one had a unique story. I’m Nicole Casperson, and on this season of Humans of Fintech we’re bringing you stories of diverse leaders who were once outsiders, and how they since found belonging in our industry.If you’ve ever felt on the outside of fintech, you’re no t alone. I want...
2022-04-27
01 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E20: Rishi Khanna, CEO of Stocktwits | Fintech | Trading
Twitter for investors? Stocktwits is what happens when content meets fintech, helping investors navigate the constant stream of information with its incredible community platform. Back in 2021 more than 10 million retail investors took to the stock market on the back of the Gamestop stock frenzy. But not all of them had the experience and confidence to cut through all the noise and make great choices.And that’s when Stocktwits comes in. Built like a social media platform, it allows investors to interact with financial media, investment/trading services, and the kinds of tools that genuinely add...
2022-04-27
47 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E19: Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of FinTech Sandbox | Fintech | Data
With the right data at your fingertips, you can change the world. Without it, you’ll fail. When you’re launching a startup, having the right data is the deciding factor. FinTech Sandbox gives founders free access to the data they need, leading to sustainable and inclusive financial systems.Nicole gets into conversation with Kelly Fryer, Executive Director of the Sandbox and talks through her role leading the organization’s strategy, operations and community. Kelly discusses her experience as Director of the Techstars’ FinTech accelerator program, partnering with major financial services companies, and cultivating Fintech startups...
2022-04-20
45 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E18: Anders Jones, Co-Founder and CEO at Facet Wealth | Fintech | Wealth Management
When your mission becomes your work, businesses like Facet Wealth are born. Anders Jones is democratizing wealth management, one subscription at a time.Facet Wealth embodies everything fintech should be. This platform provides highly personalized and unbiased financial advice at an affordable subscription price. In a world where financial planning often comes with a hefty price tag, Anders Jones is leveling the playing field.Nicole and Anders talk about how his mother’s job “helping millions of Americans save for retirement” was a huge influence on his career, why the client/advisor relationship is broken, and An...
2022-04-13
46 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E17: Nora Apsel, Co-Founder of Morty | Fintech and Financial Freedom | Women in Fintech
Home ownership has the power to make or break financial health. Meet Nora, a fintech trailblazer and founder at the forefront of the mortgage revolution.Mortgages account for two-thirds of household debt. Owning your own home can go one of two ways: It can set you up for life or start a steep decline into financial problems that quickly spiral. That’s where Nora and Morty come in. When you’re looking to take on the biggest debt of your life, you need to do it the smart way. Morty helps buyers find exactly what they need, all...
2022-04-06
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E16: Adriana Saman, Principal at Clocktower Technology Ventures | Fintech | Women in Fintech
When Adriana Saman invests, she’s looking for more than just market size. Find out how this VC big hitter is shaping financial inclusion in her day-to-day.Just 1% of the $70 trillion wealth management industry is controlled by women or minority fund managers. The impact? Female and underrepresented founders receive far less investment.But one woman making waves in the venture capital space is Adriana, with a resume that includes positions at Chase’s Digital Payments team and time spent as an Investment Banking Analysist at J.P. Morgan.Nicole and Adriana discuss how Cloc...
2022-03-30
38 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E15: Katherine Anthony, CEO of Euphoria | Fintech and Equity | Transgender
Kate Anthony isn’t just leveling the playing field, she’s building a whole new one with her company Euphoria, bringing out the best in Fintech and changing lives..Between 2-6 million people in the United States identify as transgender and 34% of those go without official identity that matches their gender. This gap makes it hard to access banking products. That’s where Euphoria steps in with a suite of technologies offering information, support and, crucially, a banking app that helps transgender people achieve their transition-related goals.Nicole and Kate discuss how the app, Bliss, allows...
2022-03-23
45 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E14: Jackie Shoback, Co-Founder 1414 Ventures | Web3 And Digital Identity | Fintech
Web3 is more than just NFTs and DAOs, it can help unlock financial inclusion. Find out how Jackie Shoback’s 1414 Ventures is banking on it.Jackie and her team are pouring the dollars into early stage startups, but not just any startups. Through 1414 Ventures she’s helping build the next generation of digital identity technology. Why? Because when Web3 meets fintech it can level the financial playing field.Staples.Yes, the office supplies chain. Jackie pioneered the launch of this household name back in 1998. She grew the business hard, hitting t$1Billion in revenue over 3 year...
2022-03-16
55 min
Humans of Fintech
S1 E13: Amy Kadomatsu, CEO ComplySci | Making Compliance Fun | Fintech
What do you think about compliance fintech? Stuffy? Serious? You haven’t met Amy Kadomatsu, CEO of ComplySci. You’re never going to see compliance in the same light again.We get it. Compliance isn’t sexy fintech. It’s not something you want to spend a whole lot of time thinking about, but get on the wrong side of it and it can spell disaster for your company. That’s why you need Amy, whose contagiously positive energy is shining a light on an area of fintech that deserves way more attention.Amy tells Nicole why...
2022-03-09
58 min
Humans of Fintech
International Women's Day 2022 Special
Celebrating women and the pursuit of equity on this International Women’s Day, meet some of the most inspiring women in Fintech, with WTFintech? host, Nicole Casperson.Hear from highly successful and influential operators in the Fintech space, each striving towards greater representation and working at the highest level.Nicole brings a selection of highlights from the show’s first season, from women motivated by success, mentoring those on the journey and working out what legacy to leave the next generation of women in Fintech,You can keep up-to-date with everything WTFinech? at http...
2022-03-08
04 min
Humans of Fintech
Welcome to the WTFintech Podcast
WTFintech? is a podcast for fintech professionals who want to shape the future of the industry with innovation and inclusion. Hosted by Nicole Casperson, fintech reporter-turned-creator, WTFintech? gives fintech professionals the news and analysis they need to get ahead in their careers — and hosts interviews with founders and investors you won’t hear anywhere else.
2021-11-29
03 min