Sydney

Tell us about your journey into tech?
My journey into tech was not a conventional one. I studied English and Philosophy at university and decided that I wanted a graduate job in financial services. When I started my career at a global investment bank, I was shocked that some of the technology being used was older than me! This is when I started to research and explore the world of financial technology. With shrinking margins and rapid innovation from new players starting to cause waves within the financial services industry, I quickly realised that the incumbent organisations needed to disrupt themselves or get ready to be disrupted. With countless efforts to try and bring the organisation into the future of financial services, I decided that I wanted to see change quicker than what is possible with a conservative, established mammoth of a company. So I joined the side of the disruptors. Whilst my skill set isn’t obviously technical, I work in technology managing client relationships, helping to innovate with Product and getting my hands stuck into multiple sides of the business.

Working in the Fin-Tech/start-up space has been an invaluable experience for my own AI-powered platform start-up that is currently in testing. Loop Not Luck is a diverse talent recruitment platform. Powered by artificial intelligence, we provide university students with a bespoke stream of career opportunities and employers with insights and access to the best diverse talent.

How do you feel you have made a difference in what you do?
For a long time, I was on the hunt for my ‘purpose’. Looking back, I realise I’d be executing it all along without really realising. I am a school governor, mentor tens of university students, work in fin-tech and am launching a social-mobility focused start-up. Everything I do feeds into having a positive impact on society. I hope the impact I make across these varied frontiers will contribute to a larger wave of change and influence with regards to diversity and access to opportunity.

What would you say is your biggest achievement?
Placing our first candidate at Loop Not Luck was one of the biggest achievements to-date. The entire premise of the company is to level the playing field for students who are just as talented as their peers but don’t ‘know someone who knows someone’ and therefore get limited access to opportunity. Having a positive impact on the trajectory of talented individuals and seeing that come to fruition was a very proud moment.

How do you think people can go about making a difference, in regards to spreading awareness of Black Women in tech?
I think this question is part of a much bigger one. Awareness is important and is definitely one of the first steps in creating change but it needs to be done in tandem with other initiatives. Such as proactive budget allocation by organisations to hire and develop their black female talent pool, increased education around the plethora of careers that are available, recognition and addressing the role intersectionality plays in a majority white male-dominated space like technology and much more. Awareness is crucial but is most impactful, I believe, when combined with action.