• Bini Mary Easow, Principal Architect at SunTec


• 07.03.2023 03:59 pm

1. Why did you choose a career in fintech?

Bini: Fintech companies work within such a dynamic and interesting space that is unique to other industries. The financial technology sector appealed to me because it’s a very open and transparent working environment where teams work collaboratively with each other. This kind of connected culture, where knowledge, experience, and best practice is shared, is the best way to learn and grow.

2. What excites you the most about financial technology?

Bini: Technology is changing rapidly, and the banking, financial services and insurance sector is one of the few industries that is adapting and responding to it – and well. As a result, there are countless opportunities for us to explore, experiment, and work with the latest technologies and try to leverage them to continually improve the end-user customer experience. The opportunity to work with cutting-edge, innovative technologies is what makes my every day exciting.

3. What new fintech developments or trends will shape the industry in the next five years?

Bini: ‘Embedded Finance’ is one of the key trends that will exponentially increase and become incredibly popular in the next few years. Non-financial institutions are looking for ways to make the customer’s experience seamless and easy, especially when it comes to payment options. That’s why, despite the criticism, it’s attracted, the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market is definitely one to watch in terms of new and emerging innovative sectors that are growing rapidly and will continue to do so in the coming years.

4. What are the key issues facing women in the industry?

Bini: Issues faced by women in fintech are very similar to those faced by women in other industries. The pace of change in the fintech industry is fast and a great amount of time and dedication must be invested in personal development and learning to keep up with the latest trends. When women in fintech start a family and leave the industry, even if it’s only for a limited period, they do miss out on key career opportunities simply because of how fast-paced and ever-evolving the sector is. Starting a family and becoming a mother and the consequential change in lifestyle is also, unfortunately, one of the reasons why there are so few women in top leadership positions. The industry must change this by supporting lifestyle choices in a relevant, appropriate way to ensure women are not disadvantaged in their fintech careers.

5. What advice do you have for women starting a career in fintech?

Bini: It’s extremely important to keep an open mind and learn as much as you can about the fintech industry. Grab whatever opportunities that come your way and never hesitate to take up leadership roles.

6. How can the fintech industry increase leadership opportunities for women?

Bini: I think the industry must do better at providing support and mentorship to women in the fintech space from the beginning of their careers. Providing the right environment that fosters personal growth and improvement will create a lot more opportunities for women in the industry. Work-life balance within the sector can also improve and the only way to do this is by developing a strong and robust culture that supports lifestyle changes in a way that does not hold women back from progression and being able to readily access opportunities for career development.