By Sandra Wasicek, FWSF Programs Committee
During San Francisco Tech Week on October 7, 2025, the Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) hosted an industry-leadership and networking event at Visa’s headquarters: “Women Driving the Fintech Revolution.” The evening opened with a fireside chat between Nicole Casperson (Founder, Fintech Is Femme) and moderator Sandra Wasicek (Founder & CEO, ZorroFi).
Casperson, a journalist turned entrepreneur, shared her five-step framework for creating a brand rooted in authenticity and purpose:
She reminded attendees that storytelling is a strategic skill, not a soft one: “The brands that thrive are those that align mission and values with every story they tell.” Casperson illustrated how storytelling can drive tangible business outcomes—from partnerships to funding—by building trust and emotional connection.
Yet her message went beyond branding. Community, she said, is the greatest competitive advantage in a noisy digital world. “We no longer create for the masses—we create for the people who believe in us.” Her Fintech Is Femme community, now numbering in the thousands, is proof that authenticity and shared purpose can turn engagement into impact.
Why it matters for FWSF members: Nicole’s five-step framework offers a practical path to build professional visibility, thought leadership, and opportunity flow. Community isn’t just “audience”—it’s sponsorship, referrals, and trusted relationships that compound careers.
In the second session, moderator Sandra Wasicek led a conversation with Mona Ahmadi (President, FWSF), Joyce Zhang Gray (Head of Fintech, Visa North America), Linda Kreitzman (Berkeley SkyDeck), Drew Glover (Fiat Growth & Fiat Ventures), and Gwyneth Borden (Founder, Remynt) focused on industry leadership and the future of fintech.
Mona Ahmadi opened by highlighting that women bring empathy and purpose to fintech, creating products that genuinely serve communities and make finance more humane. “When diversity enters the room, so does progress,” she said, emphasizing how inclusivity leads to better solutions and stronger ecosystems.
Joyce Zhang Gray urged women to see fintech as accessible, not intimidating. “Technology transcends borders and background,” she said. “What’s left to build is everything else—and that’s what all of you represent.” For her, fintech remains one of the few industries where innovation can truly function as a great equalizer.
Turning to artificial intelligence, Linda Kreitzman encouraged discernment amid the hype, stressing that the real opportunity lies in AI infrastructure, compliance, and personalized finance—areas that strengthen trust and scalability. She advised professionals to “acquire the skill set” and use AI tools to stay competitive, echoing FWSF’s focus on lifelong learning.
From an investor’s perspective, Drew Glover reframed how founders are evaluated: success depends less on “founder-market fit” and more on founder-problem fit—the depth of their obsession with solving a real pain point. “Ideas are worth zero,” he said. “Execution, grit, and an unfair go-to-market advantage are what make startups succeed.”
Gwyneth Borden offered a candid reminder that entrepreneurship requires resilience and timing. Her message: resilience and purpose are non-negotiable. “The best customer is the one you already have,” she said, underscoring the value of loyalty and long-term relationships in financial innovation.
The panel closed on a forward-looking note: as AI reshapes industries, adaptability remains essential. The shared takeaway: curiosity, community, and collaboration are women’s greatest advantages in navigating the next wave of financial innovation.
Why it matters for FWSF members: Staying fluent in AI, regulation, and investor expectations helps members lead across product, risk, finance, and strategy. The panel’s message—adaptability, execution, and community—maps directly to career durability and mobility.
From Connections Newsletter (Past Event Highlights): November 2025
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