FINTECH FOCUS: RISKS AND REWARD
Lessons learned from the edge of the world High-risk, complex and high-profile expeditions. That could describe any number of fintech startups! In fact, they’re what Victoria Nicholson, New Countries Setup Specialist at banking-as-a-service platform Railsbank, has led for many years in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Her experiences, while extreme, have helped her to navigate equally testing conditions back home. Here, she shares what she’s learned with fellow fintech adventurers As Founder of Chase Expeditions, I’m proud to have spent the last 12 years supporting the world’s most intrepid adventurers in pursuit of ambitious goals, often in largely uncharted territory and extreme climates. In addition to co-ordinating these challenges, I’ve taken part myself, completing the notoriously-gruelling Marathon des Sables, which is six ultra-marathons in six days in the Saharan desert, as well as major expeditions on every continent. I joined the Railsbank team because they saw how transferable my adventuring skills are to fintech – and the challenges associated with dynamic, fast-growth businesses. I must say, the adversity and isolation we’ve faced in the last 18 months as we adjusted to COVID-19 is as unnerving as any other unfamiliar landscape that I’ve faced. But there are some things I’ve learned in navigating the natural world that feel particularly relevant to that of fintech.
Share your vulnerabilities I’ve frequently been the ultimate remote worker – tapping away on a laptop in a flapping tent in blizzard conditions on an icecap, or at a remote mountainous base camp, clinging to the wavering satellite signal to try to get news home. I’ve also often been in the relative comfort of my home, in charge of those undertaking remote expeditions themselves. They’re usually alone and worlds apart from their support team, any possible search-and-rescue capabilities and
their families. They might be rowing an ocean, climbing K2 or dragging a sledge across the bitter Arctic tundra. In order to stay alive, they must be willing to be ‘connected’ and to be vulnerable. They must show their vulnerabilities, exposing how they’re really feeling. This connection requires blistering honesty – asking for help or admitting that you’re struggling is hard for anyone. In the male-dominated expedition world – and within the fast-paced fintech sector – this takes particular practice and bravery.
Peak performance: But success isn’t all about reaching the top
www.fintechf.com
Issue 9 | ThePaytechMagazine
69