October marks Black History Month, and 2024’s theme revolves around Reclaiming Narratives. This theme is centred around taking ownership of the stories that define what it means to be black in the UK. We’re proud to place the spotlight on our Growth Strategy Manager, Andre Paez-Taiwo. Andre shares his experiences as a person of colour in the fintech industry, with a story aimed at teaching and motivating others who want to work in fintech.
What inspired you to pursue a career in finance/technology?
Andre: While at university, I attended several graduate events where everyone kept talking about this fintech that was entering the market. At that time, it was known as IT finance, and no one fully grasped fintech. I had always wanted to work in finance, using technology to improve people’s access to financial services. When I finished university, my first graduate job was in fintech; the timing could not have been more perfect. I’ve consistently worked in fintech, helping the industry move forward with new innovative technologies.
How would you describe the early days of your career?
Andre: Reflecting on my early career in the fintech space, I remember it as a new, fast-paced, and innovative environment. Businesses and customers were still trying to understand what fintech meant and how it would transform the financial services industry. Looking back, I recall the challenges I faced in convincing businesses to digitise their processes. Many were reluctant to change, fearing they would be left behind by the influx of new technology. This challenge then fuelled my passion for fintech, especially when people were not ready to embrace change.
What is your career highlight?
Andre: One of my biggest highlights to date was being nominated for Employee of the Year and receiving recognition at the Black Tech Achievement Awards. Although I did not win in my category, the nomination underscored the impact I had both internally and externally within the business. It was a fantastic evening in Westminster, where I met many talented individuals. Most importantly, my former colleagues and leadership team were there to support me.
What challenges have you faced as a person of colour in the finance/tech industry?
Andre: I recall an occasion when I was speaking to a client who assumed I wasn’t black and was questioning my identity. They thought I had to be white to be able to sell to them. It was my first time experiencing this in a corporate environment, which wasn’t pleasant. I felt my skin colour dictated how the conversation or sale would proceed with that client. From that experience, you start realising that being a minority in an organisation or an industry can be very challenging from the outset.
Who were your role models or mentors early in your career, and how did they impact you?
Andre: Tim Campbell is the first role model who always comes to mind. He was one of the first black candidates to win The Apprentice. This was some time ago, and he was the first black man I’d seen wearing a suit and working in a corporate environment on TV. I think culturally, as an Afro-Caribbean, your parents always tell you that you have to be a lawyer or a doctor. But growing up, I hadn’t seen any black lawyers or doctors. When I saw Tim Campbell win The Apprentice, it was as if I thought: “Wow, I’ve seen a black person in the corporate world win The Apprentice!” That’s something that I aspired to achieve. Years later, I won an award at university, and Tim Campbell presented me with the award. So, it was a “360 moment” watching him on TV and then meeting him in person as I was about to start my professional career after university.
What advice would you give to young people of colour aspiring to enter the finance/tech field?
Andre: Don’t be intimidated by the lack of representation. As black or brown people, we should consider it an opportunity to fill a gap and showcase the importance of diverse talent. The lack of representation in the industry puts you off entering fintech. However, I always saw sportsmen, athletes, musicians, actors, and the like in the media growing up. But regarding fintech, I’d say we need more people of colour in technology to improve representation across tech industries. We need more black developers, coders, analysts, engineers, consultants, and salespeople. There’s so much we need to do as an industry. If I were to give my younger self any advice, I’d say try to go into an industry where you can be impactful and innovative. Technology is one area that does that. For me, technology works as an enabler for finance, which is why I’m passionate about it. For the young people out there, I would say go for it, break the ceiling, smash the ceiling so that someone else can come in, and help build more representation. Be impactful in improving the industry, whether you’re working for an organisation or impacting how businesses or people are using technology to enhance their needs.
What strategies have you used to build networks and find opportunities in the industry?
Andre: I’ve been inspired by events like the Black Tech Festival. It’s a great event with over a thousand people and many companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Deloitte. When you’re in those spaces, you see black talent, and it’s just so inspiring! Whenever I’ve gone to those events, it’s nice to speak to people who understand the black experience in the corporate world and see representation of people at senior leadership levels. So, you know it’s possible. When you’re in those rooms, it’s not just networking; it feels like networking with your cousin, uncle, or friend down the road; everyone is so happy to be there. It’s always great to tap into those spaces; there’s always someone who’s either paved the way for someone else or gone through that experience you’re about to go through. So, I’d say network as much as possible at those events.
The second event is the Black Tech Achievement Awards. Again, it celebrates excellence for black people in technology and black talent. As I mentioned before, you always leave feeling very inspired when you’re in those spaces because you see people celebrated for achieving great things in the tech space. You’re not just a number; you are a majority, and being in a room full of high performers is genuinely inspiring.
What changes would you like to see in the industry to make it more inclusive for the next generation?
Andre: My answer probably goes back to my experience as a kid. When I was younger, all I saw were athletes. Naturally, I wanted to be a footballer as a kid, which I pursued and got very close to. But if we want to get more black talent in technology, especially in fintech, we need to start building relationships with schools and youth clubs and developing new programmes, especially in underrepresented areas of London. Having more technology companies enter those spaces and do more in those environments would help young people of colour to see themselves in specific roles and educate the next generation more about the tech industry.
How do you think companies like Pulse can better support and retain diverse talent?
Andre: I think it’s more about allowing someone to be their authentic self, something I pride myself on. With Pulse, as we continue to grow as a business, it’s about ensuring that anyone who walks through the doors can be authentically themselves and not code-switching or downplaying themselves. We must create a culture where people can feel at ease and be themselves. So that’s my goal – to make sure people are comfortable and do not compromise themselves to fit in. I think it’s just creating a culture where people can express themselves. From that, you’d develop a company with diverse talent, which could lead to success. What you tend to see historically is companies employ the same type of people and get the same results. However, there is something special about building a company with diverse talent: it enables an organisation to position itself for long-term success.
Summing up
Andre’s career in fintech shows us the challenges and opportunities for people of colour in this industry. His story teaches us why representation, mentoring, and inclusive workplaces matter. As we mark Black History Month, we should focus on making our companies more diverse and inclusive. This helps create workplaces where everyone can access and flourish in their chosen field. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our network in The Power Behind Pulse series!
