In honor of International Women’s Day, let’s shine the spotlight on some extraordinary women at SlimPay.
Today, around the world, is a moment to celebrate the work and achievements of women. And that’s exactly what we are doing at SlimPay.
It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in the tech world. Add to that the gender imbalance in executive roles in the finance industry. As a result — you guessed it — these sectors are traditionally male-dominated.
At SlimPay, we are at the intersection of both of these sector: finance and tech. We believe that building a gender-balance company will only lead to more diverse and innovative solutions. Because as the International Women’s Day organization aptly says,
“Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue.”
Today, 38% of our team are women. We have steadily increased that number in the past year, growing by 26% — it’s a trend we hope to continue into 2019.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we are highlighting a few amazing women on the SlimPay team. Let’s hear from Head of Product Julie Chalumeau, DevOps Engineer Sarah Hadbi and Head of Business Development Marta Cid Sanz about their experience working in FinTech:
Julie Chalumeau
Head of Product
I am responsible for all aspects of the product — from discovery to business requirements to, finally, delivery.
I initially joined SlimPay as a product marketing manager and then as a product owner. It was a natural transition to head of product as I was already familiar with the product functionality and its features.
One of the benefits of working at SlimPay is that there’s no “small” role. We know that everyone has a different perspective so we are keen on sharing knowledge. It’s important to leave your ego at the door and listen to each person, no matter their position.
On top of that, we’re working to simplify recurring payments in the age of the subscription economy. Working in SlimPay means you’re at the center of these changes. We have a direct impact in shaping the future of payment.
My wish is to have more women driving the decisions in FinTech. Consumers are both men and women, and we will benefit as an industry if we can deliver diverse products that reflect the makeup of the real world.
Sarah Hadbi
DevOps Engineer
As a DevOps engineer, I follow a set of practices that automate the processes between dev and IT teams. The goal is to foster collaboration between teams that usually work in silos. This enables them to build, test, and release software faster and reliably.
As a kid, I was drawn to mathematics and technical things. But my parents wanted me to be a doctor. While I listened to them for two years, I knew it wasn’t possible. I needed to pursue my passion, which meant switching to a master’s in computer science at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie.
The reality is that tech is not an easy path for women. There are many stereotypes that I’ve had to address in this male-dominated field. The best way to persevere is to see things in a different light. When people underestimate me, it’s a chance to prove them wrong. I’ve learned how to handle these experiences by stepping out of my comfort zone; and I’m stronger for it in the end.
My advice for women is to believe in themselves and never give up. There might be times where you feel that your skills aren’t good enough or doubt your place in the team. Remember: You are worth it. You deserve a seat at the table, so challenge the status quo, and importantly, yourself.
Marta Cid Sanz
Head of Business Development Spain
My role at SlimPay is to drive new business in the Spanish market with top-tier merchants. This allows me to apply my solution-oriented technical knowledge, while building relationships with our clients.
After completing my master’s in civil engineering at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, I launched my career as a business analyst and a product owner. In 2017, I joined SlimPay in their Madrid office to support the international market as a solutions manager. And now I’m overseeing the entire Spanish market — it’s my biggest challenge yet!
What I learned from all these experiences is that there’s always room for growth. There’s so many ways to challenge yourself. My advice is to be open, to say yes to the opportunities when they come — and to learn fast.
It also helps that I’m working in the always-dynamic FinTech industry, which is being disrupted. Consumer behaviour and lifestyle needs have changed drastically since the start of the subscription economy. Behind these trends is the work of payments. We subscribe to so many things now that payment process is an afterthought. And this is only the beginning!
We hope that these experiences inspire more women to join SlimPay and the FinTech community! Join the team!
