At fintechview we embrace change and the people who bring the change with their corporate ethos and culture. In today’s world, many women take on multiple roles – career professional, mother, partner, sister, caregiver, community leader, and more. Through out the year, we have interviewed three women in leadership positions, with success track-record, thriving in fast-paced corporate environments and taking the International Women’s Day as an opportunity, we re-share their insights on“multi-role” women, motherhood and career balance.
Alexandra Spyrou, CEO & Founder PS Novus Consulting LTD
8th of March, International women’s day reminds me that every woman determines her own dynamics, whether we are talking about a mother who fights for her children, or a woman who consciously chooses and pursues a specific career path, or a woman who is fighting in a male-dominated society for what we should have taken for granted, such as the right to education, the right to drive the right to freedom. So I admire all the women who struggle to make the choices that make them happy.
Being a mother does not and should not exclude the possibility of her having a successful career.Work life balance can be difficult however it’s not impossible. We assume work/family is a seesaw, and if work is up family is down. Yet, we forget that work/family can, and often is, mutually beneficial. Becoming a parent can help people become more self-aware, more empathetic, and develop new skills and relationships that help them thrive at work and become more successful leaders. Having a rich, meaningful career can help you be a better parent, as it provides perspective, meaning, and greater economic stability. My personal opinion is to become a role model for your children through your achievement and your actions and enrich them with values that matters. After all at all times you lead by example whether in your professional life or your personal life.
Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO payabl.
Mothers bring a unique set of skills and experiences to the workplace that makes them valuable contributors to any team. When I became a mother I also got a super-human upgrade in so many areas of my life. I am able to multitask, I am militant in my time management, I have a deeper empathetic connection and I can adapt to situations instantly. As a mother, you’re always working on the fly and this is a valuable skill. That said, a key pillar to being able to ‘do it all’ is also to have a supportive partner – to me, this is essential and one does not come without the other.
My piece of advice is to find your voice. Don’t be intimidated by who is around you. If you know your stuff then share it with confidence. Knowledge is power and confidence is key. Also do not be afraid to make mistakes, if you are proactive – you are bound to fail sometimes, that is not a disadvantage – learning from your mistakes and bettering yourself is a great skillset to have.
Carla Nemr, Global Director of Business Development, CFI Financial Group
To all the women who aspire to pursue a career in the fintech world, I would suggest, first and foremost, staying up to date with the latest trends and developments, as this is a rapidly evolving industry.
Motherhood has been greatly beneficial to my career as it helped me gain valuable skills and experiences which have proven extremely useful in my professional life. As a mother, I improved my time management, leadership, multitasking, problem-solving, communication, and empathy skills, since a family is a microcosm of society or a company if you like. These skills have helped me increase my productivity, effectiveness, resilience and problem-solving and enabled me to communicate better and collaborate efficiently with my colleagues. It is essential that organisations recognise and support these skills and allow women to integrate work and family life. I appreciate that I am part of a company that values employees and helps them maintain a healthy work-family balance.
