Innovation is key in the fintech space today. However, as Strategic Advisor in Technology Alina Timofeeva points out, the real challenge lies in making that innovation sustainable and scalable across large organisations.
We discussed this with her at Money20/20 Europe this year, and her mission to empower the next generation of tech and fintech leaders.
Scaling innovation at large-scale banks
For Alina, while there are pockets of innovation at large-scale banks, “the question is, how do you scale it?”.
“It’s very hard to transform the hearts and minds of people who may have been doing certain things for a long period of time,” she explains.
Alina believes the answer lies in changing the mindset of people within organisations. She advocates for a culture that encourages failing fast, iterating and ultimately seeing positive outcomes. “It’s about making sure that they fail, but they never give up,” she adds.
Empowering women in tech
Beyond her work in organisational transformation, Alina is passionate about empowering women in the technology sector.
She serves on the advisory board for Rise Up, a programme that supports and mentors promising female talent in the industry.
“We have a cohort of 30 ladies chosen from about 600 candidates globally,” Alina shares. “They’re the upcoming talent, maybe in mid-management right now, but they have big dreams and big ideas.”
The programme provides intensive coaching on personal branding, career development and addressing issues like imposter syndrome.
What sets it apart, according to Alina, is the intimate and honest sharing of experiences by mentors and speakers.
Personal mission and future plans
Alina’s own experiences as an immigrant who built a successful career in the UK have shaped her mission to inspire others. “I want to make a much bigger impact,” she says. “I have a mission to inspire 50 million people to see failure as an opportunity to grow.”
To achieve this goal, Alina launched her own initiative, ‘Unique.Bold.You’.
She says: “15 years ago I washed toilets in McDonalds in a village in Russia where I was invisible. Today I’ve become an executive in Data & Technology and I speak on large stages in London, Amsterdam and Davos, and am quoted on TV and in the press as an expert.
“I am looking to deliver vulnerable, relatable and empowering content & lessons learned from the challenges I faced and overcame – whether these are related to technology or my personal journey.”
The company will focus on sharing lessons learned from her journey, including how to build a personal brand, grow in a male-dominated industry, be seen and heard as a member of an underrepresented group, and doing this at scale.
Influencing the future of tech
In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Alina has taken on a significant role with the British Computer Society (BCS), the largest technology society in the UK and Europe.
As a board member, her mission is to build the organisation’s influence, particularly among younger generations and underrepresented groups.
“Everybody is talking about technology, but I want to make a change at scale,” she explains.
“The 71,000 members of BCS – which is potentially growing to 100,000 – is something which helps me achieve my mission, but also helps do good for the community and ensure that people grow in the technology sector.”
By focusing on sustainable innovation, empowering underrepresented groups and changing mindsets around failure and growth Alina aims to shape a more inclusive and innovative future for the industry.