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Rebecca, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Fintech Climate Start-up: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from a communications major at UCLA to Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, this professional's path is anything but linear!
A blend of UK government experience, teaching abroad, and a brief foray into the PR world showcases the power of networking and exploration.
The current role involves building a US office from the ground up, requiring dynamic relationship-building, market research, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Success in this field, the interviewee reveals, depends on strong relational skills, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex cultural landscapes.
A passion for climate action, sparked unexpectedly, has led to participation in COP28 and a deep commitment to collaborative problem-solving.
The interview offers valuable advice for aspiring professionals, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery, understanding startup realities, and the critical need for entry-level talent in the growing climate sector.
This professional's experience highlights the power of genuine connection, embracing diverse perspectives, and challenging established norms to drive innovation and positive change.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rebecca Saletta
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Fintech Climate Start-up
UCLA
N/a
Communications
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca's career path, beginning with a communications major at UCLA, involved a diverse range of experiences, including "a brief stint at a PR internship for wine" and a pivotal six-month internship with the UK government, which led to a five-year role with the British government after a post-graduation teaching stint in Italy. The roles resulted from networking, demonstrating the value of building relationships and exploring various sectors to discover the right fit.
Main Responsibilities Of A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At A Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Zedi, a Fintech Climate Start-up, is responsible for opening the US office, acting as employee number six to build the US market presence from the ground up. This involves "building out relationships," conducting market research, attending conferences, pitching the product, and communicating US business practices to the UK team to determine market viability and drive business development.
A Day In The Life Of A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At A Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca's role as Director of Strategic Partnerships at a fintech climate startup involves a dynamic, non-traditional workday, beginning with daily calls to maintain strong relationships with the UK team and internal stakeholders, ensuring "Rebecca's alive, Rebecca's awake". The remainder of the day is a blend of external relationship-building through coffee meetings and outreach, alongside internal collaboration and project work, encompassing "rapid fire" pipeline building and more in-depth partnership development across climate, finance, and automotive industries.
Most Important Skills For A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, emphasizes the importance of "relational" skills like "listening, building rapport, and asking good questions" in their role. The ability to be "resilient and pivot," prioritizing tasks effectively amidst the dynamic nature of a startup environment, is also crucial for success, according to Rebecca.
Favorite Parts of Being a Director of Strategic Partnerships at Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca thrives on the autonomy and fast-paced decision-making of her role at a climate fintech startup, a stark contrast to her previous structured government position. This allows Rebecca to "play" and build, spearheading initiatives like opening a New York office, while also enjoying the collaborative and intellectually stimulating nature of the climate tech industry and its shared mission.
Biggest Challenges for a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up
Rebecca's biggest challenge as Director of Strategic Partnerships is navigating the cultural differences between her American background and the British-based company culture, describing it as "cultural tension." This includes contrasting work styles, communication expectations ("humor and patience, tolerance, tempo"), and the sheer scale of the American market, which the leadership team struggles to fully grasp.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Climate Industry as a Director of Strategic Partnerships
Rebecca's career path, initially focused on international relations and unexpectedly leading to the automotive sector, unexpectedly pivoted to climate action after recognizing the significant emissions from the industry; this unexpected journey culminated in speaking at COP28, solidifying a passion for collaborative problem-solving within the climate space, which Rebecca describes as having "no greater unifier".
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Fintech Climate Industry, According To A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, finds success in the climate, automotive, and finance industries is driven by "innovators," but also those who can "understand history, appreciate history, and challenge it," blending traditional expertise with disruptive ideas to drive change within established sectors. The most impressive individuals are those who can bridge established structures with innovative approaches, particularly within rapidly evolving fields like automotive and climate tech.
What a Director of Strategic Partnerships at Fintech Climate Startup wishes they had known before entering the Startup Industry
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, wishes someone had explained the realities of startups before joining the industry; the experience involves a lot of "marketing, a lot of talk," and often a gap between perception and reality regarding company progress, highlighting the importance of asking informed questions about aspects like pricing models and the founder's long-term vision—for example, "do you wanna take this public? Um, or are you looking to sell it?"—to truly understand the company's values and direction.
Entry-level positions for aspiring Strategic Partnership professionals
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, emphasizes the significant need for entry-level talent in the climate sector, stating that "we literally need all hands on deck." The industry's rapid growth and high turnover create many opportunities for new perspectives and optimism, which is crucial given the challenging nature of the work and the need to counter existing weariness among long-term professionals.
Significant Career Lesson From a Director of Strategic Partnerships at Fintech Climate Start-up
Rebecca's most significant career lesson is that "people are people," a realization that empowered her to connect authentically with individuals across diverse fields—from diplomats to automotive engineers to finance professionals—by fostering genuine conversations and curiosity rather than intimidation. This approach, beginning with questions like "what brings you joy," helped level the playing field, unlock valuable insights, and ultimately advance her career.
College Experiences That Helped a Strategic Partnerships Director at Fintech Climate Startup Succeed
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships, emphasizes self-discovery as crucial for undergraduate success, advising students to "notice how you work with your friends," and explore interests beyond career-focused internships. Their experiences in Camp Kesem and a dance group built valuable leadership and communication skills, demonstrating that seemingly unrelated activities contribute significantly to professional development.
How Identity Has Influenced A Director of Strategic Partnerships' Career At A Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca's career in male-dominated fields, such as automotive and finance, led to the creation of "Women in Climate Investing and Finance," a supportive community combating feelings of isolation. This experience empowered Rebecca to "stir the pot," believing diverse perspectives are crucial for good decision-making, and viewing their role as "sweeping the glass aside" to pave the way for more women in these industries.
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