Dare To Take Inspired Action - My Money 20/20 Reflection
*I GOT IT! Money 20/20 here I come!*
That was the message I sent “The Kugblenu Squad” - the group chat with my family and a consistent source of love and jokes. As part of my village of supporters, they are the first to learn about my life updates. I spent weeks perfecting my Money 20/20 Rise Up application, revising each answer until I was certain there was no better alternative. Rise Up is a program under Money 20/20 dedicated to the diversity and inclusion of women at the leadership level in the Payments/ Fintech space. Having a golden ticket to attend the event was a HUGE DEAL! The surge of emotions that welled up when I read the “congratulations on your acceptance” email was a mixture of relief, excitement, and anticipation.
Wait. Let me back up a bit. You might be thinking to yourself, Linda, what is Money 20/20 and why was it such a huge deal? Money 20/20 is the host of Fintech’s biggest conversations. It is a multi-day event where over 400 speakers and leading companies discuss the evolution of the Fintech industry. The itinerary included important conversations on Open Banking, embedded finance, crypto, the metaverse, regulation, and global innovations. Money 20/20 is to the Fintech industry what the FIFA World Cup is to football/soccer (except all parties involved leave happy). Prominent speakers such as professional tennis player Serena Willams, CEO of OnlyFans, Amarapali Gan, and our very own head of JPM’s Global Payments, Takis Georgakopolous were set to take the stage to deliver powerful messages (and that they did!).
Day one of Money 20/20 pulled at my heartstrings. At the beginning of the conference, speaker Lashawna Hampton (SVP of her department at Synchrony), asked us to reflect on where we come from, who we are, and what we are about. Immediately, I was transported back to nine-year-old Linda living in Tabora #6, my neighborhood in Accra, Ghana. Even at that age, I had ambitions and dreams bigger than what my young body could hold. I was a natural-born leader with the desire to make positive changes and support others in tangible ways. Certain teachers found me a nuisance because of my inclination to lead. I asked too many questions they didn’t have the answers to. “Linda de3, wo ho t3 wo.” This in Twi (one of my native languages), loosely translates to “Linda, you’re too big for your britches. Calm down.” Being a girl worked to my disadvantage since girls were to be seen and not heard. Girls were supposed to move imperceptibly in the background, and by being loud at center stage, I was going against cultural norms. Thankfully, my spirit was strong and their condescending remarks and cultural expectations did nothing to dampen my dreams. If anything, their lack of imagination added fuel to my fire. I wanted to show them that a girl with the capacity to dream big and lead was a powerful one!
Over twenty years later, at Money 20/20, I remembered the young version of myself and hugged her tightly. Lashawna concluded her opening remarks with the question, “Who are you and do you fit in where you are or do you belong?” At that moment, I belonged. I sat amongst other women (and men) who too had a fire in their hearts, big dreams, and a propensity to lead. I found my people meaning I was no longer the odd one out. Money 20/20 and Rise Up connected me with like-minded leaders who truly inspire me. I was inspired by law professor and author, Alexandra Carter, whose book “Ask for More” is currently on my nightstand. I was inspired by every conversation I had with professionals from all corners of the world. Money 20/20 aligned me with people who support each other to accomplish goals that make the world a more equitable place. One goal of mine is to help illuminate the African continent when it comes to discussions and initiatives on Payments/Fintech and more broadly technological advancements.
Listening to Serena Willams and Takis Georgakopolous discuss opportunities in Africa’s Fintech sector was surreal! Serena Ventures, Willams’ VC firm, is currently investing and looking to expand activity in African Fintechs which is noteworthy. Generally, Fintechs in Africa does not get the global press coverage they need. Even on a global stage like Money 20/20, there was little representation from the African continent. Some of this was due to attendees dealing with visa complications and therefore not having the clearance to fly in for the conference. However, in a newsletter from Simon Taylor, he made the astute observation highlighting the stark difference in attendance between discussions on Fintech in Africa when compared to discussions on Fintech focused on the US. It is not enough to profess Africa as the next big thing for Fintech if we are not creating an environment and bringing together all appropriate stakeholders to nurture that ecosystem. Africa needs not only our attention but tangible well-planned initiatives to move forward.
Many people in African countries do not have access to established financial services and are either unbanked or underbanked. Fintech start-ups have the potential to fill in the gap and service people in these communities. However, progressive tech startups on the African continent usually struggle to source funding and get government support. We need to bring together the essential stakeholders such as banks, the government, telecom operators, and individuals from the industry being serviced (examples: farmers from the agriculture industry or apparel designers from the textile industry). The potential of Fintech as a catalyst for major growth and impact in Africa is an initiative I am passionate about and can speak on.
Overall, Money 20/20 was an enriching experience. For the sake of not making this blog post longer than it already is, some other key takeaways from the conference included: the importance of self-care, understanding what drives you (your why), embracing your superpower (what makes you unique), and leading with vulnerability. I would encourage any woman in Payments/Fintech to apply for the next cohort of Rise Up. Whether you dream of seeing major progress at the intersection of Fintech and Africa or creating a platform that helps Gen Z understand VCs (shoutout to Meagan Loyst), dare to take inspired action. Don’t let naysayers douse your internal fire but instead find like-minded people who fuel your flame. I am beyond grateful for everyone who I got to hear speak and everyone who I had personal conversations with. I am also grateful for my Rise Up mentor, Fernn Lim, whose vivacious spirit fills me with inspiration! Leaving the conference, my heart was full and two weeks later, I’m still reminiscing and reflecting on my notes. On my flight home, I also reflected on the importance of my role at JPM — a global firm that ties my interests in global remittances, Payments, and my love for understanding global cultural nuances. The fact I work with brilliant colleagues? Definitely a bonus!
***All opinions are my own and should not be taken as the opinions or beliefs of my employer***
