Accessibility, Security, and Efficiency in Financial Services

Exploring Diversity and Inclusion in FinTech

In the latest episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions, host Nadia welcomes Nigar Rustamova, CFO and Executive Director at GuavaPay, for an insightful conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial technology industry. This episode delves into Nigar's personal journey, the mission of GuavaPay, and the actionable steps needed to foster true inclusion in FinTech.

Nigar Rustamova’s Journey to CFO

Nadia opens the discussion by highlighting the podcast's purpose—to celebrate wins, raise awareness of challenges, and walk the talk for inclusive change across FinTech. Nigar shares her path to becoming a CFO, reflecting on the challenges and rewards that shaped her career. With a deep-rooted passion for finance, Nigar has navigated various aspects of financial management, strategy, and operations. At GuavaPay, she has been instrumental in scaling the company’s financial infrastructure, ensuring compliance, and driving growth.

The Fast-Paced Nature of FinTech

Nigar emphasises the fast-paced nature of the FinTech industry, where balancing financial stability with innovation is a constant challenge. As a woman in a predominantly male-dominated sector, she underscores the critical importance of diversity in leadership. Nigar passionately advocates for creating an environment where women have equal opportunities to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful change in FinTech.

GuavaPay’s Mission and Vision

The conversation then shifts to GuavaPay’s mission. Founded in 2017 and licensed in 2019, GuavaPay aims to revolutionise the payments landscape by providing seamless, secure, and efficient financial solutions for both businesses and individuals. The company focuses on bridging gaps in the global financial ecosystem, enhancing cross-border payments, digital banking, and financial services accessibility. Nigar highlights the company’s goal of empowering businesses and consumers to transact effortlessly, regardless of geographical boundaries.

Improving the Global Payments Ecosystem

Nadia probes deeper into the payments ecosystem, asking Nigar what improvements are needed globally. Nigar identifies three key pillars: accessibility, security, and efficiency. She stresses the importance of making financial services available to underbanked and underserved communities, particularly in emerging markets. Digital financial inclusion, she notes, is crucial for fostering economic growth and reducing inequality.

Security remains a top priority as cyber threats evolve alongside FinTech advancements. Nigar underscores the need for companies to invest in advanced fraud prevention and compliance measures to protect users. Efficiency, particularly in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness, is another critical area. Nigar discusses how innovations like real-time settlements, blockchain, and AI-driven risk management can enhance the payments ecosystem for everyone.

What Inclusion Means in FinTech

The discussion naturally transitions to inclusion within the FinTech sector. For Nigar, inclusion means breaking down barriers—whether technological, regulatory, or gender-based—to ensure everyone has access to financial services. She emphasises the importance of designing solutions that serve diverse populations, from small businesses to individuals in remote areas. Gender inclusion, she argues, is as vital as financial inclusion. Women are not just consumers of financial services; they are entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers. Yet, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles within the industry.

Promoting Gender Inclusion and Diversity

Nigar highlights the importance of actively supporting, mentoring, and promoting women in FinTech. True inclusion, she asserts, requires intentional actions rather than mere rhetoric. Companies must prioritise diverse hiring, implement leadership programmes, and foster environments where underrepresented voices are heard. Financial education, particularly among young women, is also key to nurturing the next generation of female leaders in FinTech.

Companies Leading by Example

Nadia and Nigar discuss examples of companies making real progress in inclusion. Nigar praises businesses that offer localised solutions tailored to different markets instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Providing multilingual support and education helps users navigate financial services more effectively. Partnering with regulatory bodies to create frameworks that promote financial inclusion is another positive step.

Internally, companies that prioritise diverse hiring and leadership programmes set themselves apart. Nigar highlights the significance of mentorship and leadership development initiatives that bring underrepresented voices to decision-making tables. Financial education programmes aimed at young women can empower them to pursue careers in finance, helping close the gender gap in leadership roles.

Driving Inclusion Through Intentional Actions

As the conversation draws to a close, Nadia asks Nigar what more can be done to promote inclusion in workplaces. Nigar calls for intentional actions, emphasising that inclusion should not be a checkbox exercise but a long-term commitment. She advocates for mentorship and leadership programmes for diverse talent, policies that promote work-life balance and equal opportunities, and open discussions about inclusion at all organisational levels.

Nigar also stresses the importance of designing financial services with diverse audiences in mind. Companies should consider varying economic backgrounds, accessibility needs, and regulatory environments. Actively recruiting and promoting women in FinTech is essential, as diversity should be embedded in company culture rather than treated as a target. Closing the gender pay gap and ensuring equal opportunities for career growth are crucial steps toward achieving true inclusion.

The Future of Inclusion in FinTech

Throughout the episode, Nigar’s passion for creating meaningful change in the FinTech sector shines through. She firmly believes that women are not just participants in the FinTech revolution but leaders, innovators, and changemakers. The more the industry invests in gender inclusion, the stronger and more resilient it will become.

This episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions highlights the importance of intentional actions in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry. Nigar Rustamova’s insights offer valuable guidance for companies looking to create more inclusive environments and better serve diverse communities.

Harrington Starr’s Commitment to Inclusion

At Harrington Starr, a leading FinTech recruitment business, we understand the critical role of inclusion in shaping the future of financial technology. Our expertise spans across FinTech recruitment, Cloud Engineering and DevOps, Cyber Security and IT risk, Data, Infrastructure support, Network Engineering, Product management, Quantitative Finance, Sales and Marketing, and Software engineering. We are committed to connecting top talent with innovative companies that prioritise diversity and inclusion.

If you’re looking to build a more inclusive team or seeking your next opportunity in FinTech, Harrington Starr is here to help. Together, we can drive meaningful change and create a stronger, more inclusive industry.

This episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions featuring Nigar Rustamova, CFO at GuavaPay, aligns closely with Harrington Starr’s mission as a leading FinTech recruitment company. Nigar’s emphasis on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within FinTech resonates deeply with our commitment to connecting top talent with companies that prioritise these values. Her insights into breaking barriers, promoting gender inclusion, and driving meaningful change highlight the importance of diverse leadership within the financial technology industry—an ethos Harrington Starr champions through our recruitment efforts.

GuavaPay’s dedication to revolutionising the payments ecosystem while embracing inclusive practices mirrors our approach to FinTech recruitment. Whether sourcing talent in Cloud Engineering and DevOps, Cyber Security and IT risk, Data, Infrastructure support, Network Engineering, Product management, Quantitative Finance, Sales and Marketing, or Software engineering, Harrington Starr ensures that diversity and inclusion remain at the forefront. Nigar’s advocacy for empowering underrepresented voices echoes our goal to build teams that not only innovate but also reflect the diverse communities they serve. Through conversations like this, we continue to support the FinTech industry’s evolution towards greater inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all.

For GuavaPay, inclusion extends beyond internal practices—it’s about creating solutions that serve diverse global communities, particularly the underbanked and underserved populations.Nigar emphasised that true inclusion in FinTech means breaking down barriers, whether technological, regulatory, or gender-based, to ensure equal access to financial services. GuavaPay is committed to developing seamless and secure payment solutions that cater to businesses and individuals from all walks of life, promoting financial inclusion on a global scale.

Internally, GuavaPay prioritises diverse hiring, leadership development for underrepresented groups, and fostering an inclusive company culture. Nigar highlighted the importance of mentorship and financial education, especially for young women, to close the gender gap in FinTech leadership. GuavaPay’s holistic approach to DEI not only drives innovation but also contributes to building a more equitable and accessible financial ecosystem worldwide.

At Harrington Starr, we recognise that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are fundamental to driving innovation and success in the FinTech industry. As a leading FinTech recruitment company, we are committed to promoting DEI by connecting forward-thinking businesses with diverse talent across the sector. We understand that a diverse workforce brings fresh perspectives, fosters creativity, and strengthens company culture, leading to better business outcomes.

In FinTech recruitment, DEI goes beyond simply filling roles—it’s about helping organisations build inclusive teams that reflect the communities they serve. At Harrington Starr, we actively champion diversity in traditionally underrepresented areas within FinTech, including Cloud Engineering and DevOps, Cyber Security and IT risk, Data, Infrastructure support, Network Engineering, Product management, Quantitative Finance, Sales and Marketing, and Software engineering.

Through initiatives like our FinTech’s DEI Discussions podcast, we shine a spotlight on leaders who are making meaningful strides towards inclusion, helping to inspire and educate the wider industry. We work closely with clients to implement inclusive hiring practices and support candidates from all backgrounds in finding opportunities where they can thrive. Our mission is to drive positive change in FinTech recruitment, ensuring the industry continues to grow as an inclusive and equitable space for all.