Finance to FinTech: An Interview With Paolina Calabro
By Raman Kang
“I think instead of people talking about the technology specifically, we should instead start a conversation about being tech enabled to include everyone that works in the industry.”
Thinking about one of her favourite quotes by Brene Brown, “Maybe a story is just data with a soul,” Paolina Calabro says she likes to think of herself as a storyteller with the goal of giving a soul to financial data. “By doing that I’m helping to enable the success of the business,” she explains. Paolina didn’t start off in tech, but like so many women she ended up in the tech sector by chance. While going to school for accounting, she applied to, and was hired by Real Decoy, a tech company in Ottawa. She’s been with them for the past eight years and has stayed with them to become a financial analyst, “It seemed like a great place to work with a good culture.”
This was her first introduction to the tech industry and so far, it’s been a good one. Paolina says she’s been lucky enough to have a great role model in her CFO, also a woman in tech. “I didn’t know what to expect from the experience so having a role model through it has been very helpful,” she says. “One thing I’ve learned working in tech is that it’s always changing, it’s not a boring industry to be in and you’re always learning, which is something that I’ve always looked for,” says Paolina. However, because her background isn’t directly related to tech, she’s struggled with her identity within the field.
“It was funny, [because] when I was thinking of applying to the Mastermind group, I was a bit hesitant at first because as a finance person I wasn’t 100 percent sure I would have classified myself as a woman in tech,” she says. After taking a moment to really think about it, she realized the phrase “women in tech” isn’t just reserved for software developers; it can include anyone who works in a tech company. “I tend to think of myself as a finance person, but I’m still a person that works in a tech company and has to understand the business to support it,” explains Paolina. “You don’t necessarily need to be a tech person, or have the traditional background or education to be a person in tech,” she says.
“I think instead of people talking about the technology specifically, we should instead start a conversation about being tech enabled to include everyone that works in the industry. That way, we can talk about how tech can help you accomplish what you want in the world. That’s why, even through my blog, FinanciElle, I like to showcase women that are tech enabled or tech entrepreneurs changing the world through their technology and businesses.” Realizing she does qualify as a woman in tech after all, Paolina joined the very next session of Mastermind.
“I was looking for a learning and networking opportunity with women from outside of my network, it ended up being a lot more than I expected,” says Paolina. “In the beginning we all seemed to be in different stages in our career development, but by the end, our paths were actually more similar than I thought. It’s interesting to see how topics evolved,” says Paolina. She explained that it started off with a strengths and values discussion, then turned into a discussion on how to articulate your worth, embracing change, and advocating for yourself. “The transition through these stages was very organic, all of the pieces seem to fit together really well to make a cohesive set of takeaways from the sessions,” she says.
When asked about what she thinks about the state of women in tech is right now, she says, “I think progress is being made slowly, but I do think it’s being made.” Paolina points out there are a lot of programs to encourage girls to get into tech. “I’ve volunteered with being a mentor with the ambiSHEous program that tries to get girls into social entrepreneurship, technology and politics,” says Paolina. She also points out that Technovation Ottawa also does a lot to get girls into the industry. “Programs like Mastermind that help when you’re actually in your career are great, but progress still needs to be made.”
If you are interested in accelerating your business or career, learn new skills, and collaborate in a supportive and welcoming group then reserve your spot in the next Women in Tech Mastermind Series today! Sign up at https://womenintechworld.com/masterminds