International Women’s Day (IWD) is not just a day of celebration but a global call to action. IWD is a powerful reminder that gender equality is a critical factor for innovation and progress. The theme for 2025, #AccelerateAction, calls for industries, organizations, and individuals to take concrete steps beyond conversation and into action. This year, the focus is on the need to accelerate gender equality.
This year’s campaign emphasizes the need for rapid, impactful actions to speed up progress, especially in economic participation, political representation, and combating gender-based violence, especially as the world continues recovering from setbacks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gender gap in fintech: An ongoing challenge
Despite its revolutionary impact on the financial world, fintech remains a male-dominated industry, especially in leadership roles. Women continue to face a variety of challenges, including limited access to funding, gender bias in hiring and investment decisions, and a lack of mentorship opportunities. These barriers not only hinder women’s careers but also prevent fintech from reaching its full potential.
In fintech, despite its rapid growth and innovation, significant gender disparities persist. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, receive less funding for startups, and often face bias in hiring and investment decisions. For instance, women hold less than 10% of leadership positions in fintech companies, and female-led startups receive only a fraction of the venture capital funding given to their male counterparts. These inequalities hinder progress, limiting both the industry's potential and the opportunities available for talented women.
The numbers don’t lie: Women are underrepresented in fintech
- Women hold less than 10% of leadership roles in fintech companies (IMF report 2022).
- Female entrepreneurs in fintech receive only a fraction of the venture capital funding that their male counterparts receive.
- Gender bias remains pervasive in hiring practices, performance evaluations, and workplace cultures.
Key actions to drive gender equality in fintech
1. Increase female representation in leadership
Leadership diversity is not just about fairness — it's a proven business advantage. Companies should set clear diversity targets for leadership roles, create mentorship programs, and ensure transparent promotion processes. Increasing female leadership is key to improving financial performance and fostering a more inclusive culture within fintech organizations.
- Set diversity targets for leadership positions.
- Establish mentorship programs that pair emerging talent with senior leaders.
- Ensure transparent and fair promotion policies that give women equal opportunities for career advancement.
2. Address bias in hiring and investment
Unconscious biases in hiring and investment decisions remain a major barrier for women in fintech. Companies should adopt blind recruitment practices, ensure inclusive workplace cultures that support work-life balance, and actively seek to fund female-led fintech startups.
- Adopt blind recruitment practices to evaluate candidates based solely on skills and experience.
- Foster inclusive workplace cultures that prioritize flexibility, work-life balance, and parental leave policies.
- Encourage investors to actively seek out and fund women-led fintech startups, providing them with the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
3. Closing the funding gap for women-led startups
Venture capitalists and investors must focus on funding female entrepreneurs, who often face challenges in securing financing. This can be done by dedicating funds to women-led startups, showcasing their work at industry events, and ensuring that investment criteria are free from gender bias.
- Establish dedicated investment funds that support women entrepreneurs in fintech.
- Create visibility for female founders through pitch events, industry conferences, and accelerator programs.
- Promote transparent funding criteria that assess companies based on their merits, not gender.
4. Build stronger networks and mentorship programs
Women need access to strong professional networks and mentorship opportunities. Creating platforms for women in fintech to connect, share ideas, and support one another is crucial for career growth. Corporate sponsorship programs and leadership initiatives will further help elevate women in the industry.
- Offer more networking opportunities through industry events, forums, and meetups.
- Create sponsorship programs where senior leaders actively advocate for high-potential women.
- Foster communities that encourage collaboration, such as women-led fintech groups and leadership development initiatives.
5. Encourage STEM education and career pathways
Long-term gender equality in fintech starts with education. It’s essential to inspire and support young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Scholarships, coding programs, and reskilling opportunities for women entering fintech from other sectors are vital steps toward bridging the gender gap in the industry.
- Support initiatives that encourage girls to explore STEM fields, such as scholarships, coding programs, and mentorship opportunities.
- Provide reskilling programs for women looking to transition into fintech from other sectors.
- Collaborate with universities and schools to build clear career pathways that guide women into fintech.
Accelerating action: Insights from Chaser team
At Chaser, women in leadership roles are paving the way for change and inspiring others to take bold action. Their thoughts on topics like personal growth, supporting inclusion, and challenging biases serve as a reminder of how powerful advocacy and self-belief can be in driving progress.
Sonia, SEO at Chaser
Success isn’t about breaking glass ceilings; it’s about building stronger foundations for those who follow. Behind every successful woman is a community that believed in her. Let’s be that community.
Krissie, Customer and Partner Director at Chaser
The world is a diverse place. Supporting inclusion and having a diverse workforce where every single person feels included, valued and heard is vital to best support your internal and external relationships. Reducing bias takes hard work and a desire to change, and leads to great personal and business growth when this is embraced.
Amaya, Head of Marketing at Chaser
Being a young female leader has taught me the importance of advocating for yourself, even when you feel like the ‘odd one out.’ Early in my career, I doubted whether my age or experience was enough to earn a seat at the table.
But I’ve learned that confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting your voice and taking action. Accelerating action means challenging the biases that hold us back and creating spaces where everyone, regardless of gender, age, or background, can thrive.
Charlotte, Head of Product at Chaser
Inclusion isn’t about checking a box — it’s about creating a culture where everyone belongs. When we amplify diverse voices, challenge biases, and uplift those around us, we build stronger, more innovative teams and a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Mariia, Senior Marketing Executive at Chaser
One key mindset shift for me has been embracing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. I used to be afraid to take risks, but now I see each decision as a chance to grow. Accelerating action starts with taking small steps outside of your comfort zone — pushing yourself to make those bold moves.
Ayca, Automation Tester at Chaser
Strength lies in the courage to leave your comfort zone. Every step, every decision, and every challenge makes us stronger. True progress begins when we embrace fear and transform it into courage. As women, our greatest power is our courage to transcend our limits.
In addition to the valuable perspectives shared by the women at Chaser, insights from male team members also shed light on the importance of fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. Their insights emphasize the significance of collaboration, challenging biases, and personal growth — core elements in accelerating action towards gender equality.
Pedro, CTO at Chaser
Inclusion at work isn’t just about policies — it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best.
Lewis, Sales Manager at Chaser
Personal growth happens when you push past fear and take action, even when it feels uncertain. One thing I’ve learned is that real progress comes from embracing discomfort rather than settling for what’s easy.
You get your best results when you become uncomfortable rather than allowing yourself to stay comfortable.
Katan, Frontend Engineer at Chaser
Personal growth starts with accountability. True progress comes from owning our decisions, learning from mistakes, and staying committed. Taking responsibility and taking action are what drive us forward.
Connor, SDR at Chaser
Challenging biases starts with awareness, but it doesn’t end there. Real change happens when we actively question assumptions, speak up, and create space for diverse voices to be heard. Each conversation, each challenge, and each step forward brings us closer to a more inclusive world.
Oliver, Data scientist at Chaser
Personal growth isn’t about avoiding failure, it’s about using every experience, good or bad, as fuel to move forward. Action turns lessons into strength.
Lewis, SDR at Chaser
Personal growth and taking action are essential because the industry is fast-changing and competitive. Continuous learning keeps you ahead, improves skills, and builds confidence to handle rejection.
Tiago, Backend Engineer at Chaser
I learned that small, consistent actions generate big changes over time for personal growth. Whether it’s seeking new learning, taking on challenges, or simply having the courage to try something new, the action starts with the decision to move forward, one step at a time.
Dean, Integrations Engineer at Chaser
I’m lucky to have a woman CEO who is not only brilliant but also an amazing mentor. Her guidance has shaped my journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. Breaking down prejudice lifts everyone up — because when we all have a seat at the table, we all win.
Taking action beyond IWD 2025
The #AccelerateAction campaign is not just about one day — it’s about consistent, meaningful change. Every person, organization, and institution in fintech must commit to accelerating gender equality, ensuring that women are represented equally in leadership, funding, and opportunities. As discussed in "Ways to address gender equality issues in fintech: A female CEO’s perspective", tackling gender disparities requires proactive steps, including addressing biases in hiring, fostering mentorship programs, and ensuring equal access to funding.
How you can help
- Advocate for diversity in hiring and leadership.
- Support women-led fintech startups through investment and visibility.
- Mentor and sponsor women to help them advance in their careers.
- Challenge gender biases in decision-making processes.
For more insights on the International Women’s Day 2025, visit the IWD website.
