At SteelEye, we are dedicated to creating a workplace that embraces diversity. Our commitment is to empower each employee, regardless of gender or background, fostering an environment where they can contribute their best and thrive personally and professionally.
Through mentorship programs, leadership initiatives, and ongoing support networks, we strive to ensure that women at SteelEye have the tools and resources needed to thrive in their careers. Through actively supporting the progress of women within our organization, we aim to establish a standard for equality and inclusivity within the RegTech industry.
Katie Squire is a member of the Operations Team working as a Project Manager based in SteelEye’s London office. Katie shares insights into her experience as a Project Manager at SteelEye and offers advice on how women can effectively leverage and overcome obstacles that they may encounter in a male-dominated industry.
Q: What motivated you to choose Project Management as your career path?
Katie: Project management was a natural career path for me, as I have always been organized and enjoyed bringing groups of people together to achieve a particular goal – be that organizing a group holiday through spreadsheets in my personal life or bringing engineering teams together in the workplace to deliver value to our clients. The role of a project manager is a versatile one that has allowed me to work on projects across different industries, with the majority of my career spent in the FinTech space. This has allowed me to work on projects across business change, software development, new product launches, and even sustainability initiatives – including working at SteelEye to improve our sustainable business practices.
"Project Manager is a versatile role that has allowed me to work on projects across different industries."
Q: What is it about your work at SteelEye that excites you?
Katie: Working at SteelEye is exciting for me, as I have had the opportunity to join a growing team and contribute towards the setting up of SteelEye’s Project Management Office (PMO) and establish best practices for running projects. The opportunity to contribute to the creation of tools that empower financial institutions to navigate complex regulatory requirements is both challenging and rewarding, but at SteelEye it is important that we are always delivering value to our clients. Working in a scale-up like SteelEye means working in a fast-paced and forward-thinking environment and that always keeps me motivated.
"Working in a scale-up like SteelEye means working in a fast-paced and forward-thinking environment and that always keeps me motivated."
Q: In a male-dominated sector, how would you describe your experience as a project manager at SteelEye?
Katie: Being a Project Manager in a male-dominated sector has its challenges, but it also presents opportunities for growth and positive change. It can often be nerve-wracking and discouraging looking around a room and realizing you’re the only woman there, however, my unique perspective as a woman allows me to bring a diversity of thought to the table and help drive decision making at SteelEye. The key to having a positive experience in this sector is to build up a good network, both within and outside of your organization to ensure you have allies throughout the industry who can promote inclusive and collaborative work environments.
"My unique perspective as a woman allows me to bring a diversity of thought to the table and help drive decision making at SteelEye."
Q: What positive steps do you think we could take to help women overcome the challenges they face in our industry?
Katie: There are many steps that companies can take to overcome the challenges in the RegTech and wider tech industries. Firstly, companies should always be focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) goals and creating strategic initiatives to meet DE&I targets. This also includes ensuring there’s a culture that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Companies must also focus on growing their existing talent into more senior roles, to ensure diversity within leadership teams – this can be through mentorship schemes, training, and accelerator programmes. Companies should also look to implement flexible work policies, such as remote working, to support better work-life balance, not just for women in FinTech, but also for men to allow families and partners to better split personal and professional responsibilities.
"Companies should always be focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion goals."
Katie Squire's shared insights not only provide valuable advice but also serve as a thoughtful guide for women exploring opportunities in the ever-evolving FinTech and RegTech sectors.
Katie acknowledges the challenges of working in a male-dominated field but emphasizes that it is an opportunity to bring diverse thoughts and opinions to decision-making processes. Katie also highlights the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, advocating for a culture that values diverse perspectives. Additionally, Katie emphasizes the significance of implementing measures such as mentorship programs and flexible work policies to address gender challenges in the industry and support a healthier work-life balance.
At SteelEye, we understand that a diverse and inclusive workplace is vital in fostering creativity, innovation, and resilience. We recognize that the strength of our organization is based on the diverse perspectives and experiences that each team member contributes.
We are dedicated to establishing a positive and rewarding workplace for women through the cultivation of a culture that actively celebrates and advocates gender equality. And while we have put measures in place to achieve this, we know that our work is far from over and we will continue to aim for an equal and positive workplace in the hope that everyone feels like they can be their most authentic selves.
