TurnKey Lender Women in Tech Initiative – 25+ Women Shaping the Future of FinTech

Over the past few years, we’ve interviewed more than 25 women shaping the global FinTech and technology landscape. The list includes founders, executives, investors, operators, and community leaders.

We wanted to find out what helped them succeed and what they’d like to share with the new generation of female leaders entering the workforce. 

These conversations made clear that innovation in financial technology is driven by people who are driven to expand access to finance, build inclusive systems, and push their industries forward.

Here we’ve brought these voices, insights, and stories in one place.

Featured Leaders

• Inna Larycheva – Operating Director at TurnKey Lender

Featured for extraordinary humanitarian leadership in organizing the evacuation of 150+ people (including employees, families, and civilians) and coordinating critical aid during the war in Ukraine. 

• Casey Christopher – Chief Empowerment Officer, Quontic Bank

Casey Christopher shared her perspective on empowerment as a strategic driver of innovation in financial services. Her work focuses on building inclusive cultures that enable individuals and teams to perform at their highest level. She emphasizes that diversity is a business advantage shaping better decision-making, stronger teams, and more impactful customer experiences.

• Chilufya Mutale – CEO, Premier Credit Zambia

Chilufya Mutale discussed the realities of expanding access to credit in emerging markets and the responsibility that comes with it. Her leadership reflects a balance between financial sustainability and social impact. Her work demonstrates how localized lending solutions can empower underserved communities while contributing to broader economic growth.

• Corinne Bartow – FinTech Partnerships, MX

Corinne Bartow highlighted the growing importance of partnerships in the FinTech ecosystem. Her work focuses on connecting institutions and technologies to drive innovation and improve financial experiences. She underscored that collaboration is increasingly the key to scaling modern financial solutions.

• Emily Man – Investor, Redpoint Ventures

Emily Man offered an investor’s perspective on what defines successful FinTech companies. She spoke about evaluating founders, identifying scalable models, and supporting innovation through capital and strategic guidance. 

• Katelyn Wamsted – Chief Program Officer, Girlstart

Katelyn Wamsted focused on the importance of early education in building a more inclusive tech ecosystem. Through her work, she helps inspire and prepare young girls to pursue careers in STEM. Her perspective highlights that long-term innovation in FinTech begins with access to education and opportunity.

• Susan Perlmutter – Chief Revenue Officer, REPAY

Susan Perlmutter shared insights into the evolving role of payments in lending ecosystems. Her work centers on enabling seamless, always-on financial transactions for lenders and their customers. She emphasized that operational excellence and user experience are critical in driving adoption.

• Michelle Katics – Co-Founder & CEO, BankersLab

Michelle Katics discussed the importance of experiential learning in financial services. Through simulation-based training, she helps financial professionals better navigate digital transformation. Her work bridges the gap between traditional banking knowledge and the demands of modern FinTech environments.

What We Learned

• Fintech is shifting from products to infrastructure

Financial services are increasingly being embedded into platforms rather than offered as standalone tools. Leaders describe a clear move toward invisible infrastructure where fintech enables experiences in the background rather than operating as a visible layer.

• Real-time data access is becoming the foundation of modern finance

Access to clean, interoperable financial data is now a core requirement across the ecosystem. Leaders consistently highlighted how real-time insights are transforming underwriting, risk analysis, compliance, and customer onboarding. 

• Financial inclusion is now a product design principle, not a mission statement

Rather than being treated as a separate initiative, inclusion is being built directly into product and system design. Many leaders are embedding accessibility into core infrastructure decisions rather than layering it on afterward.

• Collaboration across the ecosystem is essential for scale

No single player can solve fintech’s structural challenges alone. The most effective innovation is happening through partnerships between fintechs, banks, investors, regulators, and public institutions. Ecosystem collaboration becomes a prerequisite for sustainable growth.

• Compliance and trust are becoming competitive advantages

Regulatory alignment is no longer just a requirement, it is a differentiator. Leaders emphasized that companies have to build compliance, transparency, and security into their core systems to scale and form long-term institutional partnerships.

• Fintech leadership is becoming more cross-functional and systems-oriented

The traditional separation between product, engineering, compliance, and business strategy is breaking down. Leaders increasingly operate across disciplines, reflecting the complexity of modern financial systems and the need for integrated decision-making.

All Featured Leaders

Banking, Lending & Payments

• Susan Perlmutter – Chief Revenue Officer at REPAY, focused on scaling embedded payment solutions for lending and financial service platforms.
• Yvette Salas – Relationship Manager at Camino Financial, supporting small business owners through access to funding and credit solutions.
• Roxanne Herrera – Director of Corporate Development at Camino Financial, driving strategic partnerships and organizational growth initiatives.

Founders & Executives

• Chilufya Mutale – Co-Founder and CEO at PremierCredit Zambia, advancing SME lending and financial inclusion in emerging markets.
• Michelle Katics – Founder & CEO at BankersLab, building simulation-based training tools for financial services and risk education.
• Keren Moynihan – CEO & Co-Founder at Boss Insights, enabling real-time financial data access to support modern lending decisions.
• Margaret Hartigan – Founder & CEO at Marstone, developing digital wealth and investment management solutions.
• Olga Adler – Founder of Austin Business Woman, supporting and amplifying women-led entrepreneurship and business growth initiatives.

Investors & Media

• Emily Man – Investor at Redpoint Ventures, backing early and growth-stage fintech companies across global markets.
• Mary Wisniewski – Former Banking Editor at Bankrate, covering trends, innovation, and transformation in banking and fintech.

Technology, Compliance & Operations

• Eve Buchatskiy – VP of Special Projects at airSlate, focused on workflow automation and digital document transformation.
• Nermine Wissa – Head of Project Management Office at Endorse, leading execution and delivery of fintech projects and operations.
• Doreen Hoffman – Director of Compliance at Credibly, specializing in regulatory frameworks and risk management in lending.
• Sheryll Viguilla – Sales and Business Development at Grover, scaling subscription-based technology access and growth.

Community, Ecosystem & Advocacy

• Katelyn Wamsted – Chief Program Officer at Girlstart, advancing STEM education and opportunities for girls.
• Leigh Christie – SVP of Global Technology & Innovation at Austin Chamber of Commerce, supporting regional tech ecosystem development.
• Leslie Dill – Board member at Austin Women in Technology, supporting access to capital and professional development in tech.
• Victoria Padrón — Director of Economic Development Finance at Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, focused on expanding access to capital and driving local economic development initiatives.

FinTech Leaders

• Casey Christopher – Chief Empowerment Officer at Quontic Bank, focused on inclusive banking and organizational culture transformation.
• Kelsey Weaver — Board Member at Locality Bank, sharing insights on career growth and industry experience across financial services.
• Corinne Bartow – FinTech Partnerships at MX, building strategic alliances across the financial technology ecosystem.
• Lisa Nicholas – President at 1Up Digital Consulting, guiding financial institutions through digital transformation initiatives.
• Olena Tkachova – Head of Training and Coaching at TurnKey Lender, leading internal learning and talent development programs.
• Brittney Conte – Sales executive responsible for regional growth and client partnerships.
• Lisbeth Garassino – Marketing executive, leading global marketing strategy and brand positioning.

Know someone who should be featured? Want to collaborate or join a future session?

Get in touch with the TurnKey Lender team.