Favorite Parts Of Working In The FinTech Industry As A Director Of Strategic Finance
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, finds the most rewarding aspect of the FinTech industry to be the positive impact on emerging economies; providing microloans to those lacking traditional bank access and witnessing firsthand "how much impact" these loans have on lives, from school uniforms to starting small businesses, a deeply personal experience given their upbringing in East Africa. The remote work culture, a significant benefit of a globally distributed company, complements this fulfilling work.
FinTech, Microfinance, International Development, Financial Inclusion, Remote Work
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Zu Daya
Director of Strategic Finance
Tala
University of Toronto
MBA, University of Toronto
Biology & Related Sciences, Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
International Student, Honors Student, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Working in Fintech, specifically microfinance, allows Zu to contribute to improving economies and individual livelihoods by providing access to capital for those who traditionally wouldn't qualify for loans from traditional banks.
2. Zu's personal connection to East Africa gives her a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges and benefits of accessing capital, making her role at Tala particularly rewarding.
3. Tala's flexible remote work culture, including the ability to work from home, is a significant benefit for Zu, reflecting the broader advantages of working in the tech industry and collaborating across various time zones.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your industry?
For sure. FinTech is very broad. Let me narrow it down a little. We are a FinTech that does microfinance and micro loans, focusing only on emerging economies like Kenya, India, the Philippines, and Mexico.
Even though our head office is here in LA, this industry has so many benefits because of who we're helping. We provide loans to people who typically can't get one from a traditional bank. They probably need access to financing.
There's so much theory and philosophy on how you can improve an economy, or even more granular, how you can improve a family's or a single person's livelihood by giving them access to capital. When we do this in the US, students get loans, go to school, and that access allows them to get an education.
Being part of an industry like that, and a business like Tala, is just rewarding on so many levels. I grew up in East Africa and know what it's like to not have access to capital. I also know the benefits of having it.
Our CEO, Shivani, is great, and our mission is phenomenal. I've been here four years and have seen many customer stories about the impact we've made on their lives. This ranges from helping with uniforms for children's school or medical bills, to people starting small businesses like juice stands or corn farms.
That's been great in terms of the work and service we do. We are in tech, I get to work from home, wear a hoodie, and have my gym right here. Our culture is pretty great and resembles a lot of tech companies. The remote aspect is definitely a plus.
Because we are across four markets – Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India – and here in the US, we deal with many time zones. Remote work has really helped us be more productive. So, there are lots of rewards.