Female-led Tala’s diversity culture encourages more women in FinTech

Female-led global technology company Tala is making strides in impacting the lives of its female customers and shaping the FinTech industry as it closes the gender gap in job positions and compensation packages. Its efforts to level the gender playing field stem from the deeply held principle of CEO and founder Shivani Siroya that all individuals “all have the same potential, just not the same access.”

More financial independence equates to an increase in self-confidence among 80% of female borrowers, based on the Talas Impact Report for 2022. More than three out of four or 78% of these borrowers show an increase in their household, while 70% of these women report a growth in influence on household decision-making due to Tala. These women’s partnership with Tala resulted in 56% of them having more financial independence; 53% of them can now afford household expenses; and 15% can now pay for education.

For Tala’s female executives and employees, the company is helping shape the landscape of the traditionally male-dominated FinTech industry. Tala Philippines Senior Director of People Katherine Antunez described the purposefully diverse workplace that they have built: “Tala is focused on creating and following objective, fair and just processes within the company. We want to promote an equal and inclusive workplace, every contribution is valued and appreciated.” With Tala’s more inclusive practices in place, it resulted in half of the company’s management team being led by women.

In addition to giving its talent pool equal opportunities, management has put in place benefits that can help women maintain a sense of work-life balance. These benefits include being able to manage their own work calendars and enjoy personal time off (PTO) on top of maternity and unexpected life event days off that cover emergency and bereavement leave. These policies and benefits are implemented across Tala’s offices in the US, Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico and India.

Beyond professional fulfillment, Tala’s female employees are supported with learning opportunities and engagement activities to assist them in their development, not only as employees, but in fulfilling their various roles outside the workplace. Periodically, experts are invited to conduct lunch and learn sessions covering topics ranging from work-life balance and wellness to parenting and ambition. Several employee resource groups such as Women@Tala, Parents@Tala and Mom’s@Tala have been put together to help employees connect, share experiences and provide feedback to the company on what else management can do to make Tala the preferred workplace. women.

According to Senior Vice President of People Punam Brahmbhatt, these groups create an engaged and consultative environment for employees. “My mentors and leaders at Tala help me build my confidence and taught me to explore opportunities. I also give my team a chance to grow.”

Tala Senior Vice President of Brand and Communications Lauren Pruneski spoke about the impact of being surrounded by female leaders, saying, “The diversity of role models helped me develop my own voice and gave me the courage to take big steps in my career.”

Tala continues to fulfill its mission of inclusion by encouraging more women to thrive within the organization, among the people Tala serves, and as it helps bridge the gender gap in the FinTech industry. “Tala is at the forefront of breaking molds and biases by allowing women to lead and serve our markets that haven’t always received much attention and innovation,” Tala CFO Jen Loo said of the company’s role in helping women manage their finances.

For Tala Chief Technology Officer Kelly Uphoff, exposure to a variety of leadership types and teams can help reduce stereotypes among female leaders in FinTech. “Representation begets further representation. Prejudice slowly diminishes as people experience different leadership styles.”

Tala Senior Director of Global Customer Experience Operations Iona Iñigo-Mayo shared her enthusiasm for taking on a larger role in a globally recognized company: “As a Filipina in a diverse and inclusive talent pool, I feel an even greater sense of purpose to take on me a global leadership role. I look forward to seeing more women at Tala become rising stars in their respective roles, and bridge the gender gap in an otherwise male-dominated FinTech industry.”

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