Sustainability, Inclusion and the Power of Community in FinTech

Welcome to another insightful episode of FinTech’s DEI Discussions, brought to you by Harrington Starr, a leading FinTech recruitment business dedicated to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces. This series is designed to celebrate successes, raise awareness of challenges, and underscore the importance of walking the talk for inclusive change across the financial technology industry. In today’s episode, your host, Nadia Edwards-Dashti, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Harrington Starr, sits down with Katy Zack, Head of Sustainability at Griffin, to discuss her unique journey, the role of sustainability in FinTech, and how community and inclusion are essential to driving meaningful change.

Katy Zack: From FinTech Communications to FinTech Sustainability

Katy Zack’s career journey is nothing short of inspiring. With a strong background in communications, particularly within the FinTech space, Katy spent 15 years helping innovators tell their stories. She began her career in FinTech immediately after graduating from university and quickly became a key player in the industry. After moving to the UK, she started her own consultancy, assisting FinTech founders, tech innovators, and venture capital firms in effectively communicating their messages and reaching their target audiences.

However, in 2018, Katy experienced a profound shift in her career trajectory, sparked by a personal revelation. After having her first child, Katy read the IPCC’s "code red for humanity" report, which highlighted the urgent need for action on climate change. This report ignited a deep-seated desire in Katy to make a difference not only for herself and her family but also for future generations. She realised that she would regret it if she didn’t do everything in her power to contribute to the fight against climate change.

Katy explains that her epiphany was more than just a change of career direction; it was a complete re-evaluation of her values and priorities. She realised that the work she was doing in communications, while impactful in its own right, was not fulfilling her deeper desire to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world. This realisation led her to transition from communications to sustainability, a field where she could combine her skills and passion to drive real, meaningful change. In her current role as Head of Sustainability at Griffin, Katy is committed to ensuring that the company not only meets its business objectives but also contributes positively to society and the environment.

Understanding Griffin: A Bank and Technology Company with a Purpose

Griffin is a unique player in the FinTech industry, functioning as both a bank and a technology company. The company’s mission is to provide the platform and infrastructure necessary for other businesses to build financial products for their customers. However, what sets Griffin apart is its commitment to sustainability and inclusivity, values that were embedded in the company’s DNA from the very beginning.

Katy shares that the sustainability aspect of Griffin was heavily influenced by the founders' vision. They recognised an unmet need in the market, where many FinTech companies struggled to find banks that could meet their technological, operational, and product needs. Griffin was built from the ground up as a new type of bank—one that was purpose-built to serve a diverse range of customers and use cases, and that would have a meaningful impact on society.

While sustainability wasn’t explicitly named in Griffin's early days, it was always an inherent part of the company’s mission. As Katy explains, sustainability at Griffin goes beyond environmental concerns; it encompasses the social impact of the company and its broader group of stakeholders. Drawing parallels with the B Corp framework, Katy outlines the five dimensions that Griffin considers in its sustainability efforts: governance, community, workers, customers, and the environment.

This broad approach to sustainability ensures that Griffin is not just focused on profit but also on how the company can positively impact its employees, customers and society at large. This holistic view is essential in the FinTech industry, where the rapid pace of innovation must be balanced with responsible and ethical business practices.

The Broader Lens of FinTech Sustainability

In this episode, Katy delves deeper into what sustainability means at Griffin and how it aligns with the company's goals. Sustainability, as Katy defines it, is about looking beyond the traditional idea of shareholders and considering a broader group of stakeholders. This perspective is critical in today's FinTech landscape, where businesses are increasingly expected to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Katy emphasises that sustainability is constantly evolving. What society deems acceptable is always changing, and it's the responsibility of companies like Griffin to evolve alongside these shifts. By adopting a broader lens that considers governance, community, workers, customers, and the environment, Griffin is setting a new standard for sustainability in the FinTech industry.

Katy elaborates on how Griffin has embedded sustainability into its business model from the ground up. This includes making decisions that prioritise long-term impact over short-term gains, ensuring that the company’s growth is aligned with the well-being of its employees, customers, and the broader community. By doing so, Griffin not only builds trust with its stakeholders but also creates a more resilient and sustainable business that can adapt to the changing demands of the industry.

The Importance of Community in Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Financial Tech Industry

One of the key themes of this episode is the importance of community in driving inclusion and sustainability. Katy reflects on her personal experiences and how being part of a supportive community has been instrumental in her career growth. She shares a powerful story about her maternity journey, highlighting how a co-working space and nursery provided her with the community she needed as a new mother navigating the challenges of returning to work.

This experience of finding a "messy, inclusive community" where everyone supported each other had a profound impact on Katy. It reinforced her belief that community is everything, especially when it comes to building a more inclusive and sustainable industry. At Griffin, this belief is reflected in the company's culture and values, which prioritise kindness, empathy, and the well-being of its employees.

Katy's story about her maternity experience is particularly resonant for those who understand the challenges of balancing parenthood with a demanding career. She describes how the support she received from her community—both at the co-working space and at Griffin—made it possible for her to continue pursuing her career while also being present for her family. This story is a powerful example of how important it is for companies to create environments where employees feel supported both personally and professionally.

Katy also discusses how Griffin’s strong parental leave policies, including six months of leave for either parent, contribute to creating an inclusive workplace. She notes that these policies are not just on paper—Griffin’s leadership actively encourages employees to take advantage of them, setting an example by walking the talk. For instance, Griffin’s CEO took three months of leave when his partner had a baby, sending a powerful message to the entire company about the importance of work-life balance and parental support.

This commitment to inclusivity is also reflected in how Griffin approaches its broader community. Katy explains that the company is deeply involved in various industry groups and events, where they actively seek out opportunities to learn from others and share their own experiences. This focus on community-building extends beyond Griffin’s walls, as the company strives to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable FinTech industry as a whole.

Walking the Talk: Advice for Driving Inclusion in the FinTech Workplace

Nadia and Katy explore the concept of "walking the talk" in the context of inclusion and sustainability. Katy shares insights into how Griffin is fostering an inclusive culture through initiatives like "The Life of Grifflings." This employee-led initiative encourages Griffin employees, or "Grifflings," to share their lived experiences with their colleagues. These stories cover a wide range of topics, from living with Crohn’s disease to navigating life with a hybrid of autism and ADHD.

These personal stories, shared through blog posts, fireside chats, or podcast-style discussions, help build empathy and understanding within the company. Katy highlights that one of Griffin’s core values is kindness and empathy, which are essential for creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. By encouraging employees to listen to each other and share their stories, Griffin is fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and understood.

Katy’s advice for anyone looking to drive FinTech inclusion in their workplace is simple yet powerful: listen and share your own story. She believes that by creating spaces where people can connect on a human level, companies can build stronger, more inclusive communities. This approach not only benefits FinTech employees but also helps companies evolve and adapt to the changing needs of society.

Katy stresses the importance of Financial Tech leadership in driving these initiatives. She explains that for inclusion to truly take root in a company, it must be modelled by those at the top. Leaders need to be vocal about their commitment to inclusion and demonstrate it through their actions. This could mean sharing their own experiences, advocating for inclusive policies, or simply taking the time to listen to their employees' concerns.

By walking the talk, leaders can create an environment where all employees feel empowered to bring their full selves to work. This not only fosters a more inclusive workplace but also drives innovation, as diverse perspectives lead to better problem-solving and creativity. Katy's insights are a reminder that inclusion is not just a moral imperative but also a business necessity in today’s rapidly evolving FinTech industry.

Building a Sustainable Future in FinTech

As the conversation comes to a close, Katy and Nadia discuss the future of sustainability and inclusion in the FinTech industry. Katy reiterates the importance of community and the need for companies to be proactive in driving change. She encourages listeners to be curious, meet new people, and constantly seek out opportunities to learn and grow.

Katy’s story is a testament to the power of personal epiphanies and the impact that one individual can have on an entire industry. Her journey from FinTech communications to sustainability reflects a broader trend in the FinTech world, where more and more companies are recognising the importance of social and environmental responsibility.

At Harrington Starr, we believe that building a sustainable future in FinTech starts with creating inclusive workplaces. As a leading FinTech recruitment business, we are committed to helping companies find the talent they need to drive innovation and make a positive impact on the world.