What led you to choose your course at Leeds Beckett University?

It was our business, SUBA Capital, that led me to pursue a master's in business administration (MBA) at Leeds Beckett University. As a business owner, I wanted to gain a professional qualification to strengthen my leadership and strategic capabilities. The course provided valuable insights into managing and structuring SUBA Capital.

Since implementing my newly found knowledge through practical improvements to our board, accounting systems, and overall business structure, we've seen a significant uptick in performance - with over 700 active wallets now on our platform and a $20,000 grant secured from the Gates Foundation!

As a business, we're now currently focused on building trust with our customers, aiming to onboard 1,000 new users over the next 24 months. Who knows - perhaps we may even expand into Europe.

For those of us that don’t know, can you explain what FinTech is?

Of course! FinTech refers to any financial service that uses technology. Its subsectors include Payments, LendTech, InsurTech, WealthTech, Regulatory Technology known as RegTech, and finally the most recent entrants, Cryptocurrency and DeFi.

The FinTech sector is still maturing, so there are lots of opportunities for growth. Until recently, there were no regulations in place around the buy now, pay later model, which shows how quickly FinTech is evolving.

The use of FinTech solutions is now part of our everyday lives, like tapping your card on the bus, using buy now, pay later schemes, and booking travel and holidays — you’ve probably encountered it more than you realise! So, yeah, that's FinTech in layman's terms.

So how did you get involved in FinTech North as a Consultant?

Beckett Careers referred me to FinTech North when they had an opening for someone to deliver FinTech Talent Upskilling, including resource development and training. They were looking for someone with hands-on experience in the financial-technology space and I fitted the profile.

Our business, SUBA Capital, is a FinTech solution that supports financially excluded individuals in growing their money and getting access to microcredit through our digital wallet platform. Prior to building SUBA Capital, I was in the education sector for 10 years, so the opportunity to introduce others to FinTech was a natural fit for me! Thanks to my combined experience in education and in the FinTech sector, I was offered the role of FinTech Upskilling Associate, working as a Consultant at FinTech North.

I now work closely with Leeds Beckett - one of FinTech North's Skill Partners - to deliver training and support to graduates interested in entering the FinTech sector. Within SUBA Capital, we also offer Internships and Associate Programmes to students and recent graduates as our own way of supporting and growing talents in the sector, so the partnership works really well.

How did the Beckett Careers team support you into the FinTech North role?

The Beckett Careers team has been fantastic in supporting my journey into my current role at FinTech North. They helped me prepare for the interview with coaching sessions that included mock interviews and guided me in presenting my skills to match the role's person specification, drawing on my background in FinTech and education.

As a result, I secured the FinTech Upskilling Associate position as a consultant out of 40 candidates who reached the interview stage. It's provided me with an additional income stream while my business is starting out, and so much more!

What do you find most rewarding about the work you do?

One of the biggest impacts from doing this work is helping people gain clarity about the FinTech sector and enabling financially excluded individuals to access basic financial services through SUBA Capital they might otherwise be denied.

I've noticed that not many graduates are currently pursuing careers in FinTech. Whether it's through direct training delivery with FinTech North or university engagement, supporting more graduates to enter the sector is one of my personal goals.

What top tip would you give to someone who wants to improve their employability for a future job?

First, get clear on what you really want to do. For me, it was about gaining professional training to support our business. Identifying your current skills and understanding what you need to add to your toolbox can really help you move forward. Upskilling is a great way to do this.

Making connections through networking on LinkedIn, various online communities, or attending in-person events can also open doors. FinTech North runs amazing events across the North of England, and if FinTech is an area you’re interested in, you’ll want to attend one of our FinTech North events and be part of the talent pool.

You can follow me on LinkedIn and on X. You can also join the next Beckett Careers Graduate Futures - FinTech Bootcamp by contacting the Graduate Progression team at gradcareers@leedsbeckett.ac.uk