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As part of International Women’s Day 2020, we spoke to some of our female colleagues at Auriga to find out their thoughts on #EachforEqual.
This is the IWD 2020 campaign theme, which comes from the idea of “Collective Individualism”, how each individual’s actions impact our wider society and collectively create a gender equal world.
For Angela Caruso, a metrics and measurement analyst, Each for Equal means nurturing a gender equal environment, where there’s mutual respect for one another.
I envision a future in which cultural changes will lead us to promote gender equality as a whole and encourage mutual respect. I wish for a future where men and women can live and work together, regardless of gender restrictions, to collaborate, to learn one from one another, and improve society as a whole. I also hope for women to be protagonists more and more in our society, bringing together all aspects of life, from pursuing a career to enjoying motherhood.
The fintech industry has traditionally been male dominated, but more and more opportunities are now opening up for women in tech.
Software engineers, Carmen Fioretti and Sidorela Bojaxhi, share their top tips for young girls thinking about entering the sector:
The fintech and banking world is often thought to be for men only, but this is not true. Many women have made their way into this sector. I feel that if you have a passion, if you are curious about this world, you have to hold on and move on. We need to be inventive, understand the needs of the community, and always try to be one step ahead
advises Fioretti.
Bojaxhi agrees:
Keep persisting! If you are truly interested in something and work hard, you can achieve anything! Always try to keep a very open mind, because one thing is pretty certain: change is constant in this industry. Every day brings a new opportunity and you have to run and catch it.
And what inspires women to join the tech industry in the first place?
Product engineer, Rosvanna D’Amico was drawn by the opportunity to work in a stimulating environment.
The competitive environment of the banking sector offers plenty of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Working in the banking sector is versatile – it is highly motivating for people looking to develop their personality.
Whereas for Antonella Montanarella, administration and treasury manager, it was her curiosity and attraction towards an industry that is leading the global economy, which led her to her current role at Auriga.
Speaking of her achievements to-date:
I can’t quite pinpoint one achievement in particular, because what I’m most proud of is being part of a successful team dealing with constantly evolving projects.
Jessica Elorde, data scientist, shares the same sentiment as she feels that she is constantly learning on the job and developing new skills at Auriga:
Learning for me will always be an achievement. By working here, I was able to discover a whole new world that was initially beyond my imagination and comprehension. By learning, I was also able to teach others what I learnt, and together we were able to create something we are proud of.
Together these are just some of the women who define how Auriga is today – a workplace striving to be full of equal opportunities.
Angela Caruso
Metrics & Measurement Analyst
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
I envision a future in which cultural changes will lead us to promote gender equality as a whole and encourage mutual respect. I wish for a future where men and women can live and work together, regardless of gender restrictions, to collaborate, to learn one from one another, and improve society as a whole. I also hope for women to be protagonists more and more in our society, bringing together all aspects of life, from pursuing a career to enjoying motherhood.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
To me, women in fintech and banking tech should be determined and mindful, able to develop their own points of view. They should also be innovative, passionate about their job, flexible, and capable of promoting the cooperation while working in teams.
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
I am proud of my contribution in structuring quality company processes through my soft skills and operative support. Dealing with this process included defining tools and standards for the project and test management of software factory projects – involving my colleagues in the active participation of the improvement of processes, planning training sessions aimed at sharing knowledge, promoting continuous learning and finally monitoring and measuring the results.
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
The banking sector is deeply involved in digital transformation processes and always at the forefront of technological innovation, leading to significant changes in the products and services offered. This environment inspired me to face strongly competitive and critical fields of application, which make one’s competences and skills everyday more adaptive to the context; overcoming fixed schemes and improving decision-making processes.
What is one great thing about working with Antonella Montanarella?
My colleague Antonella Montanarella has innate empathy and kindness, two features that create a positive and trusted connection in the work environment. I really appreciate her ability to put people at ease and her being always available to help.
Antonella Montanarella
Administration and Treasury Manager
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
My opinion is that a steady growth of our knowledge, together with our innate organisational, problem-solving skills and our perseverance, are the right mix to gradually reduce the social gap still withstanding in some environments.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
First, I would focus on how great an opportunity it is to be witnessing the development of this industry, which is constantly evolving and changing in terms of market dynamics. The advice I would give to young girls dealing with fintech and banking tech is to specialise in this field as much as possible, also taking part in industry events and workshops – in order to be always up to date. For example, gaining an in-depth knowledge of the opportunities given by the new PSD2 scenario is a basic condition to take the first steps.
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
I can’t quite pinpoint one achievement in particular, because what I’m most proud of is being part of a successful team dealing with constantly evolving projects.
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
My curiosity and attraction towards an industry that is leading the global economy.
What is one great thing about working with Angela Caruso?
Angela is a very professional and meticulous colleague. Working with her is extremely enjoyable, because she brings both expertise and cheerfulness in the workplace at the same time.
Carmen Fioretti
Software Engineer
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
I imagine a world in which women have full and effective participation and equal opportunities in all sectors and at all levels. A world where there is no need for a law to guarantee integration or participation for women, in which women do not have to fight for their rights. In my opinion we are not far from all this, but there is still someone who thinks differently. Together we could make change happen. Each of us, in its own small way, can make a difference.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
The fintech and banking world is often thought to be for men only, but this is not true. Many women have made their way into this sector. I feel that if you have a passion, if you are curious about this world, you have to hold on and move on. We need to be inventive, understand the needs of the community, and always try to be one step ahead.
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
I entered the Auriga world as a normal programmer. Today, I am a software engineer and I am proud to be able to support the younger colleagues who approach this sector for the first time with my experience and skills. I grew up with Auriga and I consider it my second family. At present, Auriga is one of the leading companies in the banking sector in Italy and is also achieving great results abroad. Having contributed to all this can only make me proud.
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
The financial sector has always fascinated me, to just think that one of my high school exam topics was “Wall Street’s stock exchange”. Together with my passion for IT, my desire for innovation and my thirst for technology , it is easy to understand what prompted me to approach the banking technology industry in the first place. Today, banks are one of the key points of contact in the financial sector and increasingly there’s a focus on technology as a way to meet customer demands.
What is one great thing about working with Sidorela Bojaxhi?
I have known Sidorela since my early days at Auriga. Today, more than ever, we work very closely as we are both software engineers and we collaborate to find the optimal solution for each new project we face together. I think she is a smart, scrupulous person who never loses sight of the goal and maybe that’s why we work so well together.
Rosvanna D’Amico
Product Engineer
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
In order to achieve a better world of equality it is necessary to act individually at first. Everyone is responsible for his or her own thoughts and actions. Everyone has the opportunity to choose. Waiting for someone else to do something for us is not a can-do attitude. We should believe in ourselves and start taking actions for things to happen, regardless of gender and race. Starting from the individual, we can change our society. In the banking field, for instance, we are experiencing an increasingly large number of female role models to look up to — where, until a few years ago, the banking world was almost totally male-oriented. In my opinion, this is a clear message of how we are getting closer and closer to a gender equal world.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
My advice to young girls wishing to enter this industry and carve out a career is to dive into this world full of challenges and believe in their skills. The fintech world is an exciting world, an ever-evolving dynamic world. Being a woman in today’s world is a challenge, which is a perfect match when paired with fintech!
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
Having had the opportunity to lead a wonderful team made up of young boys and girls, full of enthusiasm and desire to keep up with the new technologies that the market offers—a challenge of my always-exciting and never-trite daily staff!
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
I was driven to enter this industry because it offers a stimulating working environment. The competitive environment of the banking sector offers plenty of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Working in the banking sector is versatile – it is highly motivating for people looking to develop their personality.
What is one great thing about working with Jessica Elorde?
Even if we work in two different locations, working with Jessica is always synergetic. Jessica deals with data science, which was not integrated into the banking reality until a few years ago. Today her role allows us to exploit artificial intelligence for the benefit of all services, such as: identification of fraudulent activities and automation of intense activities. I consider Jessica a brilliant professional – always ready to make her skills available for the benefit of our banking environment.
Sidorela Bojaxhi
Software Engineer
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
Simply great! It’s a world where all people, men and women, work together with no barriers for a healthier, wealthier and happier society, just like a big family! Everyone can make a difference at any time, contributing with their full potential, in order to achieve equality.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
Keep persisting! If you are truly interested in something and work hard, you can achieve anything! Always try to keep a very open mind, because one thing is pretty certain: change is constant in this industry. Every day brings a new opportunity and you have to run and catch it.
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
I’ve been working at Auriga for almost 16 years, and during this time I’ve been involved in different projects and great challenges. Perhaps becoming a role model for many teammates is my biggest achievement as it has given me the opportunity to improve myself and to do a better job every day.
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
The technology industry may be one of the most challenging and inspiring industries of our times. Perhaps the biggest reason to join this industry is the work itself: it involves research, development, coming up with new ideas, and my favourite one: problem-solving!
What is one great thing about working with Carmen Fioretti?
She is great at team dynamics, organisation and scheduling; she has the right answer at the right moment. But the thing I appreciate the most is her ability to constantly create a constructive and collaborative atmosphere in our big team. And as you know, a great team can do great things!
Jessica Elorde
Data Scientist
How do you envision a world that is “Each for Equal”?
A world where gender equality exists is a world where there are equal opportunities for everyone – regardless of their gender, age, religion or economic background. I imagine a world like this as a place where people who have the courage and ability to achieve their goals can thrive, where each individual helps their neighbours to succeed because one’s success is also another’s.
What would you say to young girls today who are thinking about going into fintech/banking tech? Would you have any advice for them?
The banking/fintech world is not as scary as it seems, if you have the passion and the right attitude you will surely thrive in this world. There are many opportunities in different areas, and it may all seem too intense sometimes, but slowly you’ll learn who you are and what you want to achieve and you’ll find the right place for you.
What achievement are you most proud of during your time at Auriga?
Learning for me will always be an achievement. By working here, I was able to discover a whole new world that was initially beyond my imagination and comprehension. By learning, I was also able to teach others what I learnt, and together we were able to create something we are proud of.
What inspired you to join the banking technology industry?
I never actually planned to join the banking technology industry; it was all by chance. I’ve always imagined it as an environment that was so political and gender biased, but by being in it I now know that skills and merit are actually a huge part of it.
What is one great thing about working with Rosvanna D’Amico?
Working with Rosvanna is always pleasant since she is an exceptional employee, very professional and diligent.
