How Real-Time Payments are Transforming the Global Economy

Walking the Talk for Inclusion in FinTech

In a special live episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, recorded at Pay360 2025, Nadia welcomed Irina Chuchkina, who recently joined Wallet in Telegram as a Chief Growth Officer, from her previous role as a Chief Marketing Officer. The conversation delivered a wealth of insights into how inclusion, equity, and diversity can shape not only workplace culture, but also business growth and personal success within the financial technology sector.

At Harrington Starr, a FinTech recruitment business committed to building inclusive and high-performing teams across the global financial technology landscape, we know that conversations like this are vital. They don’t just spotlight powerful leadership—they provide actionable lessons for organisations and individuals alike looking to make a lasting impact in FinTech.

Global FinTech Career Path: From Retail Banking to CMO

Irina Chuchkina’s journey into the FinTech world started in traditional retail banking. But it was her interest in payments that soon set her on a new trajectory. She moved into the space with a role at Visa, where she spent seven impactful years, including a transformative stint in Singapore. It was during this international chapter that Irina honed her skills not only in business growth but also in leadership and cultural intelligence.

While in Singapore, Irina led the launch of GrabPay, which quickly became one of Southeast Asia’s largest mobile wallets. She also contributed to the rise of Rapyd, a payments company that has since achieved Unicorn status, and worked at Thunes, a cross-border payments infrastructure provider. These experiences sharpened her understanding of FinTech at both B2B and B2C levels and across markets as diverse as Europe, Asia, and beyond.

In her previous role, as Chief Marketing Officer, Irina was responsible not just for marketing, but also for strategic international expansion and special projects that drive the business forward. With two decades of experience at the intersection of financial services and technology, she brings a uniquely global, deeply human approach to her leadership role.

Scaling FinTech Companies: Strategy, Values, and People

Throughout the conversation, Irina is clear that scaling a FinTech business is about much more than just technology or infrastructure. It’s not simply a matter of rapid development or continuous product launches. Instead, true success lies in building the right organisational foundations—setting values, designing effective structures, and putting people at the very heart of everything.

In Irina’s view, hiring great people is only the beginning. The key to longevity and sustainable growth lies in giving those people a sense of purpose and tying their day-to-day work to the broader mission. This kind of alignment, she says, is what drives not only business results but also internal culture, motivation, and innovation.

This philosophy aligns strongly with what we see at Harrington Starr in our work connecting FinTech talent with forward-thinking companies. The firms that retain top talent and achieve market impact are those that embed purpose into every level of the organisation.

New FinTech Market Realities: Higher Costs and Smarter Decisions

As the FinTech sector matures, businesses face fresh challenges. One major shift Irina points to is the rising cost of capital. Compared to the landscape of two or three years ago, money is now significantly more expensive, and this economic reality is reshaping investment behaviour across the industry.

While this change presents clear difficulties, Irina also identifies a number of silver linings. The tightening of capital has prompted many businesses to become leaner, more focused, and more disciplined. There is no longer space for over-investing in surface-level projects. Instead, companies must return to their core strengths and deliver real value to customers.

This recalibration also opens up the potential for meaningful partnerships. As Irina explains, companies are increasingly recognising that collaboration can create greater impact than competition. Whether through strategic alliances or product integrations, partnerships allow FinTech firms to serve their customers more effectively and expand their reach. In a landscape where being adaptable is vital, working together can often achieve more than going it alone.

FinTech Career Development: The Superpower Combination

For those building a career in FinTech, Irina offers a thoughtful framework. She encourages professionals to develop three key areas of expertise: an understanding of technology, an awareness of growth strategies, and a grounding in regulation.

The first of these—technology—applies even to those in non-technical roles. Irina shares that as a marketer, gaining deeper familiarity with payment rails and back-end infrastructure has helped her refine messaging and better support product teams. This kind of cross-functional understanding is essential in FinTech, where value propositions are often built on complex systems.

Secondly, growth knowledge is critical. Irina points to the global centre of excellence in the United States as a source of tested frameworks and best practices, particularly around scaling start-ups. She advocates borrowing these playbooks and adapting them to local contexts, rather than constantly trying to reinvent the wheel.

The third area—regulatory understanding—is often overlooked but increasingly vital. Regulation in FinTech is not only complex but constantly evolving. From Europe to the UK to other parts of the world, knowing what regulators expect and how to align products accordingly can unlock the next phase of business growth. Whether dealing with wallets, payments platforms, or embedded finance, this regulatory fluency is an asset.

According to Irina, those who can master all three domains become truly valuable in the FinTech ecosystem. Even developing two out of three can set someone apart, she says—but if you can achieve the full combination, “you’re a superhuman.”

Redefining Inclusion in the Financial Technology Sector

When asked about what inclusion, equity, and equality mean to her, Irina offers deeply personal and actionable reflections. She describes inclusion not as a static condition, but as an active process. Inclusion, she says, requires all of us to take responsibility for creating opportunities—and for seizing them.

As a woman in FinTech, Irina has often found herself in male-dominated environments. Rather than waiting to be invited, she’s made a habit of putting herself forward—seeking out communities, raising her hand, and showing up. But that proactive stance doesn’t diminish the importance of sponsorship and support from others. Throughout her career, Irina has been lifted by those who believed in her and opened doors. Inclusion, she stresses, is a two-way street that requires both action and allyship.

This mindset reflects our own mission at Harrington Starr. In FinTech recruitment, we understand that inclusion doesn’t just happen during hiring—it happens through ongoing investment in culture, mentorship, and leadership. It requires leaders to be deliberate, consistent, and courageous in their approach.

True Equality Starts at Home: A Candid Take on Support Systems

Irina also brings an often-overlooked dimension to the conversation on equality: the role of personal support systems. As a mother of three, she credits much of her professional success to the support of her husband. Whether it’s covering childcare for a business trip or encouraging her to attend evening networking events, his willingness to share domestic responsibilities has enabled her to pursue opportunities without hesitation.

In her view, real equality for women in FinTech—or any profession—has to start at home. Employers can support this by recognising the holistic needs of their teams and creating cultures that respect work-life integration. From flexible working models to supportive parental leave policies, businesses have a chance to drive equality through the structures they put in place.

The Power of Communication Styles in Inclusive FinTech Workplaces

One of the most powerful takeaways from the podcast is Irina’s call for greater recognition of different communication styles in the workplace. Too often, she notes, companies celebrate the loudest voices—the extroverts, the quick thinkers, the charismatic speakers. But inclusion means making space for every voice, even those that don’t naturally dominate a room.

Irina encourages leaders to look beyond surface-level confidence and to actively involve those who may be more reserved. In meetings, she suggests deliberately asking quieter individuals for their thoughts, giving them the platform to contribute. These small actions can unlock enormous value, especially in teams where psychological safety is still being built.

In our work at Harrington Starr, we’ve seen how inclusive communication practices can transform hiring processes, team dynamics, and leadership pipelines. By valuing different styles of expression, companies can tap into a broader range of ideas, solve problems more effectively, and foster a culture of belonging.

FinTech Leadership and the Future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As the episode draws to a close, Nadia and Irina reflect on what it takes to build inclusive workplaces. Irina’s advice is clear: inclusion requires intention. It demands that we all pay attention to who’s in the room, who’s being heard, and who might be left out. Whether you’re a CEO or a junior team member, you have a role to play.

This call to action is especially relevant in FinTech recruitment, where hiring decisions shape the future of the industry. As businesses grow and scale, the choices they make today—about who they hire, how they lead, and what they value—will determine their long-term success.

For us at Harrington Starr, this episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions reaffirms why we do what we do. Our work isn’t just about placing people in roles—it’s about helping businesses build inclusive, forward-thinking cultures that support innovation and growth.