Women
“Spent: Looking for Change” Highlights the Challenges of the Underbanked
It’s not easy to live outside the traditional financial system, and it’s not cheap, either. For millions of Americans, this has become a way of life that is dragging them deeper and deeper into debt and financial servitude. Fortunately, we live in an era where technology can be harnessed to eliminate the barriers to financial inclusion and it has never been more important to bring these barriers down. Not long ago, I was asked to include my thoughts on financial inclusion in America for the film “Spent: Looking for Change.” This documentary, produced by Davis Guggenheim and narrated by Tyler Perry, is well worth watching as the film follows four...
Read MoreSearching for Global Financial Inclusion Pioneers
My co-author, Karl Mehta and I have both been working for years in the exciting field of mobile financial services. Reflecting on what has already happened, one can see the world reshaping. And yet, it is only the beginning. But it has given us a view of what is possible. Our book Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid will spotlight what is happening today around the globe – which we think you will agree is quite extraordinary. The future of financial services is emerging – it is just not evenly distributed. So much innovation is taking place, even in the most unlikely places. Who would have predicted that Kenya would become a leader in mobile banking...
Read MoreMen should join Vivek Wadhwa’s call for Women on Twitter’s board
Women in technology have been second class citizens for too long – get any group of women in tech together and listen to their stories. Most do well despite the gender biases – but biases are real and substantive obstacles to a women’s career in technology. And this hurt companies because it lessens women’s contribution to the company’s top and bottom line. Worse case, talented women get worn out and move on in their life and leave the tech industry. The higher you go up in a technology company the fewer women there are. I am at Money2020 where 85% of attendees and 95% of presenters are men. Too bad for the payment industry – they are missing out on immense...
Read MoreGraduates – Embrace Change, Dream Big, Innovate!
This is a copy of my commencement speech to the Computer Science graduating class in 2012. Still true in 2013. —————- I am honored to address the graduates, family members, faculty, and friends of San Jose State University, Computer Science. To the graduating class: You have worked hard to get to this point – studying, practicing, labs, tests, homework, on-the job training – and now you are equipped to launch your careers in technology. You have everything you need to be successful in this great industry in this exciting moment in time. But with today’s economic uncertainty, you may wonder why is this such a great time, and why is...
Read MoreMale-dominated Mobile World Congress is Missing a Great Business Opportunity – Women
When you look at the sea of people at Mobile World Congress – it is mostly men with a few scattered women in the crowd. So it is not surprising that this male dominated industry is missing out on a massive marketing opportunity –women. Visa, Cherie Blair Foundation, GSMA and Bankable Frontier Association collaborated on primary research whose results were presented on Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress. They looked at getting women access to mobile phones and mobile financial services. The question I have is why was this held in a small seminar room instead of the large conference area. It was a much more important and interesting session than any of the keynotes so...
Read MoreAfrica Needs One Million Super Managers
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Serial Entrepreneur, Mobile Payments and Banking Pioneer, Author, Board Member Carol Realini is a successful Silicon Valley executive and expert infinancial service innovation.