The Center East and Africa (MEA) area is usually an up and coming area with respect to its wider financial improvement. Particularly, the area has seen a progress and significance in fintech, producing its personal distinctive improvements, entrepreneurs and thought leaders within the area. As The Fintech Instances in September celebrates Girls in Fintech we take a second to listen to extra from a few of the main feminine leaders in each the Center East and Africa. Certainly one of them is Raja Al Mazrouei from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who at present works in a senior management place on the metropolis’s monetary centre, Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre (DIFC).
Raja Al Mazrouei is the Government Vice President of FinTech Hive on the Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre (DIFC). Raja oversees this innovation initiative the place over 50 per cent of fintech corporations within the Center East and North Africa (MENA) are actually primarily based. Programmes by way of the FinTech Hive carry collectively key stakeholders from monetary establishments, authorities entities, expertise companions, enterprise capitalists and entrepreneurs to develop applied sciences for the monetary providers business. Her goal is to speed up the adoption of tech throughout the monetary providers sector and additional differentiate Dubai because the area’s main vacation spot for fintech.
Describe your profession journey
My journey started when as a coder within the tech world having graduated in Info Know-how. I then held numerous technical roles supporting the again workplace operations of enormous firms.
In 2014 I had the chance to tackle a task in advertising for the monetary providers sector, which enabled me to study in regards to the business and work together with many key gamers and stakeholders within the sector. Throughout that point I used to be additionally capable of begin recognizing alternatives for bringing collectively expertise and monetary providers for the good thing about finish customers.
My ardour for studying took me to Harvard Enterprise Faculty, the place I proceed to remain concerned of their Alumni and member of Harvard Enterprise Faculty world advisory board. I loved gaining extra data there and apply this in present place.
I’ve been capable of mix my management abilities, expertise and educational background with technical experience to launch and develop the area’s first FinTech accelerator at DIFC.
As a recognised thought chief and a feminine, what difficulties have you ever confronted in your profession?
Unconscious gender bias could be problem in male dominated sectors like finance and expertise. Nonetheless, that has solely made me be extra decided to face out primarily based on skill and achievements. I’ve a supportive employer who champions variety which I’m grateful for.
Work-life stability could be a problem for females particularly once they have households. More and more, employers perceive this and concentrate on outputs and contribution quite than conventional methods of working. Moreover, could be extra reserved in addressing subjects equivalent to promotion, pay and profession development.
What are the longer term developments and predictions you see taking place within the area?
The developments that I see taking place within the area are:
- A surge within the adoption of tech throughout sectors resulting from a younger inhabitants and shopper behaviour.
- Development within the SME sector contribution to the financial system resulting from supportive regulation and infrastructure.
- Development in VC funding and investments in regional start-ups.
- Range and inclusion recognised as drivers of success for corporates and organisations.
What recommendation and proposals do you wish to give future feminine entrepreneurs and thought leaders who’re primarily based within the Center East & Africa (MEA) area?
I might advise feminine entrepreneurs to take cost of their very own profession development, and to be open and keen to take up roles in tech and innovation as it’s remodeling all business sectors.
I might additionally advise future feminine entrepreneurs to attach with a like-minded community, to faucet into better alternatives inside their profession, to begin investing in start-ups and to make use of each day as a chance to study.
