Who is Nicole Casperson?
Nicole Casperson is a journalist, creator, and founder of WTFintech, a news and content platform sharing industry news, insights and analysis in fintech and the humans behind the latest & greatest financial innovations. Her podcast and newsletter is subscribed to by 50,000+ industry professionals.
She has interviewed numerous industry leaders like 43rd Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, and American businesswoman Mellody Hobson.
Nicole is a part of media company Workweek as one of their founding content creators. Before joining Workweek, she was the fintech reporter for InvestmentNews, hosted the podcast TechStack$, and produced the Her Success Matters podcast.
Before joining IN, Nicole served as Deputy Editor of Auto Finance News and reported on housing and mortgages for Dallas-based DSNews and MReport.
Nicole holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism both from Texas Tech University.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter @nicolecasperson
1) As one of the younger voices in the finance and investing space, what have you observed that corporations and older generations miss in catering to the financial needs of younger generations?
When thinking about younger generations like GenZers or younger Millennials (like myself), it’s important to remember that these generations prioritize community, values, and personalized experiences more than just getting rich.
That’s what makes the creator economy so powerful. Consumers today don’t just buy products from creators because they need or want them.
Instead, they’re willing to spend money to feel part of the creator’s community.
Exacerbated inequities and moments of social reckoning over the last two years have more users demanding they use their wealth and access to technology to push for change.
It’s about using finance for good, and we need to take ownership of that for our industry to prosper. By that, I mean actual ownership, not just virtue signaling.
Today, fintech companies are more than a consumer tool to build wealth or software that enables enterprises to offer financial services. Fintech entices a sense of belonging with like-minded users willing to pay or partner to feel part of your company’s community.
As humans, we are communal creatures naturally. Using community and uniqueness to grow your fintech company may come as a surprise in a world that makes us think we have to choose between people and profit. We don’t.
2) Tell us a bit about your podcast WTFintech?
I launched the podcast a year ago and have since rebranded it to Humans of Fintech, which felt fitting for my discussions on the show. It’s about highlighting the human elements that make fintech a valuable space.
Human behaviors impacted by financial technology are just as important, if not more, than the machines and algorithms involved.
These are not conversations about product roadmaps. Instead, the discussion is more philosophical. I want to dig into who a fintech founder, CEO, investor, operator, or leader is and what it was about their upbringing, whether it be trauma or inspiration, that led them to fintech.
The majority of my guests are women and people of color. Do you know the saying that our industry is pale, male, and stale? Ya, I got tired of hearing the same voices over and over. Every one of my conversations is so wildly different, thanks to the diversity of my guests.
In every interview, my guest share how they got into the fintech space, the challenges they’re working to solve, and what drives them. You’ll hear how they found connection in the industry, and how they’re moving the dial when re-shaping fintech for the better.
3) You’re very outspoken about the role of women, minorities, and POC in the finance and investing industry. What drives this passion?
My personal experiences as a biracial woman that grew up never quite fitting in anywhere is a huge inspiration. I spent a lot of my upbringing having to check “other” boxes. As I developed my career as a journalist, those feelings of being “othered” always came back through the interviews and stories I wrote.
Not only were the finance sectors I covered predominantly white and male, but so were the newsrooms I sat in.
We must remember that stories repeated in our minds interact with our biology. That means there is a direct connection between the representation of diverse communities in media and newsrooms and how it impacts investments in and perceptions of fintech as an industry.
I find it hard to believe it’s just a coincidence that the lack of representation in media reflects the lack of diversity in fintech leadership.
Media fuels the perceptions of our society but lacks diverse perspectives.
So how can we be surprised that our fintech industry, let alone any industry, lacks representation?
My solution to this problem is that female and minority founders must tell their stories to raise awareness.
As a journalist, it is my job to help women and POC be loud about their stories and ensure they are never forgotten.
As a woman of color, it’s my responsibility to create a safe space for women and POC to feel comfortable sharing their stories.
That’s why I built WTFintech.
4) Who have been some of the people in the industry that have inspired you and why?
So many amazing people inspire me. My dad is big into music, so a love for music was imprinted on me early on. I always draw inspiration from icons like Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, and Megan Thee Stallion. Listening to strong women is essential to me and the work I do.
Take a look at my podcast guest list, and you’ll see a massive list of 50+ episodes filled with humans of our industry that inspire me a ton – women like Lule Demmissie of eToro, Shruti Joshi of Facet Wealth, and Lara Hodgson of Now are just a few of the women I look up to. But, of course, the list is much, much longer!
5) As a content creator, what do you see as the opportunities in the space for creators like yourself or people who wish to emulate what you do?
Hit me up! My dream for WTFintech is to have the brand run by a group of badass women storytellers that are ready to change the narratives society projects onto us.
If you’re looking to do your own thing in the creator economy, my first piece of advice is to reflect on your personal story.
No one can tell your personal story better than you. It’s your gift and what will set you apart from the rest.
The more authentic, open, and honest you can be about yourself, the better.
Then think about your skills. How can you use your unique abilities to create a solution to the problem you have faced throughout your journey? Finally, how can you tie it to a bigger-picture problem the world faces?
For example, I grew up searching for belonging. So I used my storyteller skills to build a community and media brand to rewrite our industry’s polarizing narrative. With my brand, women and people of color are at the center of the narrative.
WTFintech is where anyone who has ever been “othered” can find belonging and have their stories told.