For International Women's Day, we spoke with women leaders from BlueSnap and our partners, as well as students at Stonehill College for their words of inspiration and aspiration in pursuing the fintech industry.

1. Inspiring &
Aspiring Women
in Fintech
International Women’s Day I March 8, 2022
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

2. This International Women’s Day, we wanted to honor women
who have found their place in financial technology and the world
of payments, while also providing advice for women aspiring
to learn about and join the field. At BlueSnap, we are lucky to
not only benefit from the strong women leaders we work with
every day, but we also have an entire network of partners who
recognize women’s contributions in their organizations.
We’ve asked these women to inspire the future generation of
women in fintech and also reached out to students at Stonehill,
one of the few schools in the US to offer financial technology
programming to undergrad students, who shared what sparks
their interest in the field.
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

3. Take responsibility for your own
career and learning. Do not expect
or wait for someone to give you
an advantage — make it yourself.
Have a voice and use it.
Susan Madden,
SVP Business Operations, BlueSnap
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

4. I love a challenge –
being slightly outside my
comfort zone is where
I feel most comfortable.
Nikhita Hyett,
Managing Director, Europe, BlueSnap
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

5. “Women, especially, need to pursue
what makes them happy. I know it
sounds like Pollyanna advice, but it
really is true. It doesn’t matter if it’s
an industry that has traditionally been
male-dominated – if you’re pursuing
your true fashion, it will take you far.”
Maryann Bekkedahl, SVP
Global Business Development, BigCommerce
Women, especially, need to pursue
what makes them happy. It doesn’t
matter if it’s an industry that has
traditionally been male-dominated –
if you’re pursuing your true passion,
it will take you far.
Maryann Bekkedahl,
SVP Global Business Development, BigCommerce
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

6. Fintech applications are revolutionizing
the way money is exchanged, and I think
it’s essential that we understand how these
transactions are taking place. The more
I can learn about these topics, the easier
it will be for me to transition into a male-
dominated field.
Isabel Keohane,
Stonehill College Student
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

7. Most women are naturally good multitaskers
and project managers. These are important
skills for any corporate leader and will
help any woman succeed in the world
of payments. These are skills you should
promote to potential clients or employers.
Jen Robertson,
CEO of Red Maple
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

8. I became interested in pursuing an education
in financial technology when I began investing
in digital assets at an early age. Being an early
adopter to this technology has allowed me
to think about how we should positively
affect future generations and how future
generations will view and utilize digital
currencies and payments.
Mary Pitruzzello,
Stonehill College Student
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

9. Some people say to follow your passion,
but I find it more productive to follow
my curiosity. Curiosity is connected to
imagination and invites new possibilities.
You’ll find great fulfillment when
curiosity is your guide.
Erica Eby,
Head of US Channel Engagement, Ingenico
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

10. I wanted to learn more about the world
of payments & fintech because I wanted
to be informed on how innovation would
be transforming my day-to-day purchases.
I believe this topic is important for
everyone to study regardless of whether
you aspire to have a career in finance.
Abigail Russo,
Stonehill College Student
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

11. As a finance major, I quickly became
interested in the emerging world of
technology and payments. I think it is
extremely beneficial for this generation
of students to become familiar with
the various forms of electronic
payment technologies.
Sydney Pare,
Stonehill College Student
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

12. Don’t be afraid to ask questions,
even if they seem basic!
Understanding the fundamentals
of payments will help you grow
your knowledge exponentially.
You will often have a unique
voice in a room – use it!
Jessica Wallis,
Vice President of Product Management, Veracross
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

13. Payments is the first fintech area I cover
in class, because the students can easily
relate to the products. It also provides the
best case study to show the efficiency
gains when finance meets technology.
It is very encouraging to see our female
students committing to learn about the
latest developments in business.
Elif Sisli Ciamarra,
Associate Professor of Finance, Stonehill College
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

14. I found the payments industry
compelling because of its various
implications in everyday life. Not only
are they used by big corporations
like Target, but they are also making
it easier for the local coffee shop to
accept various payment methods.
Lucy Malcolm,
Stonehill College Student
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

15. Dream big, learn all you can,
get together with other experts
and make it come true. Follow
your heart, but also use
common sense.
Shevie Chen,
Java Developer, BlueSnap
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

16. Learn more at BlueSnap.com
BlueSnap’s global team is committed to creating
a workplace where everyone has a say and everyone
is empowered to help us find the best way for our
customers. We are an entrepreneurial group with
experience from all different kinds of industries and
backgrounds.
We strongly believe in supporting women of all
backgrounds to do their best, to take risks, to lead
and to uplift others.