Humans of Fintech
About
Humans of Fintech is all about getting into the raw, unfiltered stories behind the most innovative leaders—why they built their companies, what drives them, and how they’re smashing the status quo. Join your host, author and award-winning journalist, Nicole Casperson, as she dives deep into the human side of fintech, unpacking the real motivations, struggles, and triumphs behind the empires these leaders are building—no jargon, just straight-up inspiration, business insights, and power moves.
Episodes
- Brex’s Erica Dorfman is Leading from the CFO Seat
Erica Dorfman, CFO at Brex, shares her career journey across banking, private equity, and operating roles. She discusses leadership in fintech, major business decisions, and the future of finance, based on her experience at Brex and SoFi.
- Prove’s Alyse Belavic is Shaping the Role of Identity in Payments
Alyse Belavic of Prove discusses the intersection of identity, payments, and fraud prevention, and how these areas are evolving. She also shares insights on the importance of building relationships to shape a career in the industry.
- Casap's Shanthi Shanmugam Wants to Eliminate Fraud for Good
Shanthi Shanmugam, CEO and Founder of Casap, discusses eliminating fraud and rebuilding trust using agentic AI. The episode covers how Casap is transforming fraud and dispute handling in fintech.
- FinMkt’s Luan Cox is Building for Where the Market is Going
Luan Cox, CEO of FinMkt, discusses her career in financial services and building for future market needs. She also talks about her work with Springboard Enterprises to support female fintech founders.
- Stripe’s Sophie Sakellariadis is Teaching us About Stablecoins
Sophie Sakellariadis of Stripe joins Nicole Casperson on Humans of Fintech to discuss stablecoins. She also shares insights on Stripe’s global expansion and the development of money movement systems.
- SoFi’s Kelli Keough is Helping us Spend, Invest, Protect, and Save.
Kelli Keough, EVP at SoFi, joins Nicole to discuss how consumer behavior is changing and what it takes to build a successful consumer fintech brand. This episode also explores the future of fintech and companies that understand people and…
- Engineer to Storyteller: Sanjib Kalita, Chairman of Fintech Meetup on Building Relationships, Startups, and the Future of Fintech
Sanjib Kalita, Chairman of Fintech Meetup, speaks about his career trajectory from engineering to his current role. The discussion covers the significance of relationships and storytelling within the fintech industry, as well as insights g…
- The Fairness Playbook: How Consumer Reports Is Redefining Digital Finance
This Humans of Fintech episode discusses how Consumer Reports is redefining digital finance. It explores the Fair Digital Finance framework and its principles, emphasizing transparency, inclusion, and user protection in fintech.
- Inside Growing Global: Lessons From the Builders Scaling Fintech Worldwide
This episode, recorded live, explores global expansion in fintech. It features discussions on strategies for scaling financial systems, localizing messaging, understanding cultural nuances, and utilizing technology for global talent migrat…
- A Toast to Women in Fintech – Fintech for Good
This Humans of Fintech episode, recorded live at Money 2020, honors women in fintech. It features discussions with industry leaders about building financial systems and working towards financial inclusion.
- Connecting the Dots: Building Businesses That Last
Nicole Mitchell and Tiffany Haynes discuss leadership, scaling, and sustainable growth. They share insights on building businesses that last, drawing from their experiences in fintech and as advisors.
- Leadership, Ambition & Humanity in Finance: A Live Conversation
Nina Chmura and Amanda Estiverne-Colas discuss leadership and innovation in the finance industry. They share insights on building resilient teams and the role of relationships in growth.
- Fighting FinCrime Smarter: Trisha Kothari on Building Unit21 and Outpacing Fraudsters
Trisha Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Unit21, discusses how her company is fighting financial crime. She shares insights on compliance, AI's role in the FinCrime landscape, and the importance of collaboration in fraud prevention.
- Leading the Climate Fintech Movement with Bhuva Shakti
Bhuva Shakti, founder of Bhuva’s Impact Global and Chief Sustainable Innovation Officer at Wallet Max™, discusses the intersection of fintech, climate, and innovation. She shares how her work challenges legacy mindsets and how fintech can…
- Breaking Barriers in Credit with Angel Rich, CEO of CreditRich
Angel Rich, CEO of CreditRich, discusses her journey as a fintech founder, including building CreditRich and her focus on financial inclusion. The conversation also covers purpose-driven leadership and strategic disruption within the indus…
- Redefining Wealth-Building in Latin America with Carlos Díaz of RUUT
Carlos Díaz, Co-Founder of RUUT, discusses wealth-building in Latin America, focusing on access, inclusion, and reimagining investing. He shares RUUT’s mission, design for "non-investors," and the future of fintech in the region.
- Closing the Financial Gender Gap with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest
This episode features Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest, who discusses financial empowerment and community-building within the finance industry. She shares insights into launching Female Invest, a platform that provides financial edu…
- Financial Literacy for the 99%: Empowering Communities with Ashley Fox
In this episode, Ashley Fox, Founder and CEO of Empify, discusses financial literacy and community empowerment. She shares her journey from Wall Street analyst to launching Empify, a platform providing financial education to underserved co…
- Building Fintech Together: Storytelling, Partnerships & Innovation
This episode of Humans of Fintech, recorded live from Fintech Meetup, explores the power of storytelling, community-building, and partnerships in the fintech space. The discussion covers the challenges and advantages of working with a part…
- NY Fintech Week & The Future of Fintech with Jon Zanoff
Nicole Casperson and Jon Zanoff discuss NY Fintech Week and the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit. They also explore the future of fintech, focusing on inclusive leadership and addressing economic challenges.
- The Crossroads of Identity and Innovation: Solving Fraud in the Digital Age with Frances Zelazny
Frances Zelazny, a leader in biometrics and fraud prevention, shares her journey and insights into creating solutions for digital fraud. The episode explores the intersection of identity, technology, and fraud prevention.
- Flipping the Script: A Live Celebration of Fintech Feminists with Amy Nauiokas.
This episode of Humans of Fintech features a live recording from the book launch party for FinTech Feminist in New York City. Amy Nauiokas, Founder & CEO of Anthemis, interviews attendees and discusses the book, the future of fintech, and…
- Tori Dunlap: Financial Literacy, Female Leadership, and the Fight for Financial Equity.
Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K, discusses financial literacy, female leadership, and financial equity. She shares her personal journey and mission to help women achieve financial independence and power.
- Sallie Krawcheck: Money Moves, Power Plays, & Redefining Entrepreneurship
Sallie Krawcheck, Founder & CEO of Ellevest, discusses her experiences in the financial industry. The episode explores themes of leadership and entrepreneurship.
- S7 Ep6: How Candidly Delivered Nearly $1 Billion in Student Loan Savings, with Laurel Taylor
This episode features Laurel Taylor, CEO and Founder of Candidly, who discusses how her company uses technology to assist individuals with student loan repayment. Candidly aims to help users achieve financial wellness and is on track to de…
- S7 Ep5: Nina Mohanty on the Immigrant Experience and Financial Inclusion
In this episode, Nina Mohanty, founder of Bloom Money, joins Nicole to discuss the immigrant experience and financial inclusion. She shares her personal story and how Bloom Money aims to serve diverse communities with financial options.
- S7 Ep4: Breaking Barriers with Fintech’s Most Powerful Women (Live from Money 20/20)
This episode of Humans of Fintech features Sasha Pilch, Emma Zhang, and Kathryn Petralia discussing female representation and empowerment in the fintech industry. They share insights on breaking barriers and fostering a more inclusive envi…
- S7 Ep3: Breaking Fintech Barriers and Trusting the Journey, with Anaid Chacon
Anaid Chacon, SVP of Product Development at Argyle, discusses establishing trust in fintech, how behavioral finance elements create a more trustworthy experience, and the importance of authenticity and diversity in the fintech industry. Sh…
- S7 Ep2: Banks, Fintech, and the Latin American Landscape: A Candid Conversation with Cristina Ciaravalli
Cristina Ciaravalli discusses her career in the fintech industry, including her time at Goldman Sachs and Plaid. She also shares insights on the fintech landscape in Latin America, regulatory differences, and her hopes for future changes i…
- S7 Ep1: Poker Power Play: Bridging the Gender Gap, with Jenny Just
Jenny Just, founder of Poker Power Play App, discusses women's representation in the poker world and financial education. The conversation also explores how playing poker can develop skills for personal and professional growth, and the goa…
- S6 Ep6: Zach Anderson Pettet on the Future of Fintech, Money 2020, & Beyond
Zach Anderson Pettet joins Nicole to discuss the future of fintech, his personal experiences in the industry, and observations from the Money 20/20 conference. They also cover the significance of diverse experiences and content curation wi…
- S6 Ep5: Overcoming Your Financial Baggage, with Alejandra Rojas
Nicole and Alejandra Rojas discuss overcoming emotional and financial baggage. They explore how women can approach money with a clearer mindset to seize opportunities and create a positive financial outlook within the fintech space. The co…
- S6 Ep4: A Global Perspective on Embedded Finance, with Ahon Sarkar
Ahon Sarkar, General Manager at Helix, joins Nicole Casperson on Humans of Fintech to discuss the global future of embedded finance. They explore cultural spending, wealth management in different countries, and the challenges faced by nich…
- S6 Ep3: Feminism, Fintech, and OnlyFans, with CEO of OnlyFans, Keily Blair
Keily Blair, CEO of OnlyFans, discusses the intersection of feminism and fintech. She addresses the male-dominated nature of the fintech industry and the importance of including women in the design process, highlighting how OnlyFans empowe…
- S6 Ep2: The First Wealth Management App for Couples, with Plenty Co-Founder & CEO, Emily Luk
Emily Luk, CEO and Co-Founder of Plenty, discusses the first wealth management app for couples. She shares her journey in developing Plenty and the current landscape of wealth management for couples.
- S6 Ep1: Unpacking the Gender Gaps in Fintech, with Tracey Davies and Scarlett Sieber
Nicole sits down with Tracey Davies and Scarlett Sieber to discuss gender gaps in the fintech industry. They also talk about the importance of psychological safety in the workplace and how Tracey’s organization, RiseUp, supports women in f…
- S5 Ep6: B2C Fintech’s Greatest Misconceptions, with Katie Perry
Katie Perry and Nicole Casperson discuss misconceptions in B2C fintech. They cover the advantages of diversified perspectives, encouraging women in leadership, and how Public aims to make investing more accessible by providing education an…
- S5 Ep5: Dismantling the Double Standards Women in the Workplace Face, with Author Julia Boorstin
Julia Boorstin, author of "When Women Lead," discusses her book which covers research and characteristics that help top female leaders thrive in the workplace. The episode also addresses studies on female-founded startups.
- S5 Ep4: NYT Bestselling Author Daniel Crosby Talks Behavioral Finance
Daniel Crosby, a New York Times bestselling author and Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion, discusses behavioral finance and its relevance to fintech. He explains how understanding human behavior can help design financial apps that promote p…
- Martin Toha, CEO of Array, on Empowering Consumers and Embracing Inclusion in Fintech
Nicole chats with Martin Toha, CEO of Array, about building a platform to help clients and customers own their financial future. They also discuss intentional investment in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and its impact.
- S5 Ep3: Rewriting the Asian American Narrative in Fintech, with Liang Zhao
Liang Zhao, CEO of Vansary, speaks about her experiences as an Asian American in the fintech space. She discusses the culture of internalization and the need for fintech to build a more inclusive future.
- S5 Ep2: Representing the Communities Fintech Serves with Helen Min
Helen Min, Co-Founder of Phenomenal Ventures, discusses the importance of representation in fintech, particularly for women. She also shares insights on brand storytelling and verticalized fintech applications.
- S5 Ep1: How Stash CEO Liza Landsman is Making Economic Stability Accessible to All
Liza Landsman, CEO of Stash, discusses making economic stability accessible through FinTech. She also talks about breaking down barriers for consumers and representation in the FinTech sector.
- S4 Ep14: Virtual Event: Building The Fintech Community Through Real Talk
Nicole Casperson and Alex Johnson host a virtual event to build the fintech community. They discuss fintech inclusivity, the relevance of B2C fintech, and how Gen Z values influence career choices. The event also includes an audience Q&A s…
- S4 Ep13: Commentary - SVB: The Shaky Foundation Built On Under Representation
This episode features a commentary on Silicon Valley Bank. Nicole analyzes the root causes of the situation, discusses herd mentality, and considers how fintech can improve.
- S4 Ep12: Why A Fintech Company Is Going Back To Basics In The Classroom
CJ MacDonald, CEO and Founder of Step, discusses why his financial services company is focusing on teaching financial literacy in schools. He explains how early financial education can lead to financial stability for young people.
- Fireside Chat: Katie Palencsar - VC Investor At The Anthemis Group
Katie Palencsar, a VC Investor at The Anthemis Group, is featured in a quickfire round of questions. She shares insights on her fintech soundtrack and the best advice she has received.
- S4 Ep11: What Katie Did Next. The VC Investor Backing Female Fintech Founders
Katie Palencsar, an investor at the Female Innovators Lab Fund, discusses her work in bringing equity to VC investments. She also talks about challenging misconceptions surrounding female fintech founders.
- S4 Ep10: Commentary - Why Financial Inclusion IS Fintech
This episode of Humans of Fintech discusses financial inclusion in the fintech space. Nicole defines inclusion, provides examples from a book by Annie Jean-Baptiste, and explains how to create inclusive products for underrepresented groups…
- Fireside Chat: Alison Staloch - CFO at Fundrise
In this Humans of Fintech episode, Nicole and Alison Staloch, CFO at Fundrise, engage in a rapid Q&A session. They cover various subjects, including music and inspirational advice.