Iba Jaggi
Global Head of Business Development
at Leading Point
Please introduce yourself, your background, and your company
I’m a Global Head of Business Development at Leading Point, a boutique financial services consultancy firm. We offer data management services, fintech strategy, and building digital operating models.
I got interested in technology when I worked within the defence and security industry. I had a lot of exposure to technology and industry leaders. One thing led to another, and I was offered a position in the fintech world.
What challenges for female professionals in the fintech world do you see?
I would say the top three challenges are ageism, bias from colleagues, and a work-life balance. In finance, senior stakeholders naturally assume that if a female is reaching out to them, she may not be the subject matter expert. They would always want to know who else is going to accompany me on those meetings, which is frustrating.
Juggling personal life, family and children, and career is an all-time challenge for women. As for ageism, there is still a bias in tech—the younger you are, the better fit you can be for a company.
What are the qualities that can help women to achieve success in fintech?
It’s a mix of being curious about the latest trends, being in the right place at the right time, networking with as many professionals as possible, and not being shy to ask questions. That’s something I found very helpful for myself. I’ve never been shy to ask questions and reach out to senior professionals just because of fear of not being taken seriously. If you have something to offer, they will always listen.
What changes would you like to see in fintech in the near future?
It comes down to motivating younger talent. Women are the biggest critics of themselves. I worked in recruitment, and the amount of women that overlook a certain job in tech because they don’t feel confident they can 100% fit the job description is insane. Giving women a chance to put themselves forward and telling them we don't expect the candidates to tick every box in the job description is so important.
Moreover, offering young women apprenticeships to work on projects and learn on the job would be really valuable to see. And it’s got to be a joint effort from women and men in fintech.
Engaging with both women and men is essential. We need to educate men in leadership roles because there is so much bias. I often see situations where a man and a woman have the same point of view, but only a man gets heard. It will never come to a level where women are taken seriously unless men at the most senior level make sure they’re doing their bit for the female community within fintech.
