The only moment that matters is now

By Theodora Lau and Bradley Leimer of Unconventional Ventures

For the few women executives in the Fortune 500, last week offered a rare moment to celebrate, as Jane Fraser got tapped to become the CEO of Citi, the first female executive to run one of the largest Wall Street banks. 

While this is worth applauding, the way her appointment was covered in the media reminds us of how much further we have yet to go. Just as when Alicia Boler-Davis joined Jeff Bezos’s inner circle (the first Black executive to do so), or when Glenda McNeal became the first Black woman on the executive committee of American Express, or when Tokiko Shimizu was named Japan’s central bank executive director, most headlines focus solely on their gender and race, without even bothering to mention their names alongside their accomplishment. 

Their identities matter. Representation matters. 

Ask ourselves this: When was the last time we saw a nameless white male face on the headline? And what happens when machines are increasingly being used to scan the news headlines — where the names of female leaders are underrepresented?

Systemic bias in the media is yet another ceiling that women have had to overcome. 

While women currently make up over 6% of Fortune 500 CEOs, women are far from equitably acknowledged, and appropriately placed within this echelon of leadership of our largest firms. 

Now comes the hard part

The question isn’t why? 

The question is what can we do about it? It’s not that women are any less capable, or lack ambition or have any less passion. Plenty of people, including both of us, have written before, as to why this opportunity gap exists. Women have fewer chances to rise, because the opportunities around careers are hardly the same between genders. And it gets even harder when race, zip codes, and education come into play.

Yet it is beyond time for changes within our society, in the way we report on and highlight milestones of gender diversity and inclusion. And it is simply not enough to just include women; we must be mindful of what it represents. 

We must tell the stories differently. 

As Scott Astrada, Director of Public Policy and Social Impact at Affirm, mentioned in his keynote at the recent FinTechTalents North America conference, the face of our country is changing. We need to proactively create the space for diverse voices to emerge in the discussion. And it is not sufficient to just get them a seat at the table; we must put a microphone in front of them so their voices are heard. And we must truly listen to what they have to say.

The stakes are high to get this right. It will require all of us to get there. 

It will not be easy but it’s a journey worth traveling.

We need to show up and be present.

We need to take accountability.

We need to engage and rebuild better — together. 

Because maintaining the status quo is no longer an option. 

History doesn’t repeat itself; but it rhymes.” Mark Twain

The only moment that matters 

Change is always present in every day that has ever been. We have this innate need to question, to probe, to inquire. We have the ability to make positive changes in lives that impact not only our own, but the lives of those around us. Whether that is in the work that we do, the friendships we keep, or the ideas that we help bring to life. 

Empathy in action. 

Given where we are today, taking into account the cadence of this very strange time, the minefield of an eternal newscycle, and the crushing weight of history that we are up against, we take each victory of progress as a win, and move on to fight another day. 

The only moment that matters is now.  

The only day that matters is today. 

The future will surely come. 

When you feel like you are at wits end, remember this: You are not alone. You are enough.

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In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Bradley talk about the week that was, including Jane Fraser being named the new CEO at Citi, positive movements at Santander InnoVentures, the challenges of living in cities during a pandemic, and lessons of change for financial services. And change we must. At this past week’s FintechTalents North America conference, Scott Astrada from Affirm delivered an inspirational keynote on why the industry must change to reflect the changing face and the changing needs of America. 

On the 50th anniversary of Milton Friedman’s controversial free market manifesto, with our world facing one of our most severe economic challenges of modern times, there isn’t a more urgent moment than now - to refocus our attention on the well-being of ALL stakeholders. Tune in for another episode of One Vision, where Theo and Bradley talk about the week that was.

You can find this episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google. 

We thank you for listening and please consider subscribing.   

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Unconventional Ventures helps drive innovation to improve systematic financial wellness. We connect founders to funders, provide mentorship to entrepreneurs, strategic advisory services to a broad set of corporates, and broaden opportunities for diversity within the ecosystem. Our belief is that anyone with great ideas should have a chance to succeed and every voice should be heard. Visit unconventionalventures.com to learn how you can partner with us today.

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