Life at Finastra Life at Finastra

In this episode of the Life at Finastra podcast, we chat with Giselle Mota, Founder of Versd, and the creator of NFTY Collective. Giselle’s impressive accomplishments span beyond these roles, and we explore them further. Our host for this episode, Sirita Donaldson, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here at Finastra leads the conversation, covering topics like generative AI, futurism, inclusive product development, financial inclusion, and the exciting world of the metaverse.
 
Giselle Mota is an inclusive futurist and innovative thought leader who is passionate about enabling inclusion in emerging technologies and product design.
 
Currently the Chief of Product Inclusion at ADP, she built and leads the practice of inclusion and equity throughout a 200+ product portfolio, ensuring an inclusive, responsible, and ethical methodology in development, design, and delivery cross-functionally.
 
Giselle has been named Top 100 in HR and Future of Work Thought Leader and has formerly served at ADP as Principal Consultant, providing future of work strategy and guidance to client executives and practitioners.
 
She is also the creator of NFTY Collective, which focuses on bringing disability inclusion into web3, XR, and metaverse. She is also the founder of Versd, an inclusive innovation and strategic ventures group, and a visiting instructor for UFM on Inclusive People Analytics and AI. She has also worked with NASA, PwC, and other organizations on inclusion and emerging tech projects.
 
She is a global speaker and has been featured on media outlets such as TED Talks, Forbes, NASDAQ, Yahoo News, PBS, Vogue, events such as SHRM, HR Tech, PluralSight Live, and guest lectured at universities such as MIT, Purdue, AI School Paris, University of Washington, among others.

In our latest episode, and in honour of Hispanic Heritage Month, we have an enlightening conversation with Isabel Fernandez, the EVP of Lending at Finastra.
 
 Isabel opens up about the importance of authenticity in the workplace and how it’s encouraged within the Open Together culture at Finastra. She shares her journey of being unapologetically herself, emphasizing that at Finastra, everyone is valued for who they are at their core.
 
 As a multicultural woman in the financial services environment, Isabel provides insightful perspectives on navigating this space. She also discusses how her Spanish and Dutch heritage has shaped her personally and professionally.
 
 Join us for this inspiring conversation as we explore the power of authenticity, diversity, and inclusivity in shaping the future of financial services.

Swathy is the COO of Universal Banking here at Finastra. We spoke about her career spanning 20+ years, where she has led major transformational projects working in various industry sectors. We reflected on the psychological aspects of identity, her passions outside of work, the importance of doing good work, building trust, relationships and taking risks.

In this episode, join us as we delve into an insightful conversation with Sirita, the Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Finastra. We explore Sirita's personal journey in DEI, the significance of belonging in an organization like Finastra, and the fascinating tasks she has undertaken. Discover the joys of this engaging recording and gain valuable insights into culture, challenges faced, and the global coordination of efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion.

The conversation is about Reagan Carnegie's 17-year journey with Finastra that has gone through numerous changes and acquisitions. Reagan's role has evolved over time and is now the Senior Director of Culture and Leadership. Reagan talks about facing challenges throughout her journey, such as ensuring that everyone is happy, but believes that finding a company that resonates with one's values is crucial to staying in an organization. Reagan also shares her experience transitioning from campus to corporate, emphasizing the importance of communication and organizational skills and gaining confidence over time.