Welcome to our Women in RegTech series! In this empowering collection, we spotlight remarkable women at SteelEye from across the globe. Through engaging interviews, we delve into their experience, exploring strategies for nurturing an inclusive workplace and why they decided to pursue careers in RegTech.
In this interview, we speak to Sonia Chowdhury, a Regulatory Solutions Sales SME based in our US office. Sonia offers insightful guidance to women seeking to enter the RegTech field and highlights why this is an exciting time to join the industry.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in RegTech?
Sonia: My professional journey unfolds in two distinct chapters. I spent the beginning of my career working in compliance for some of the world's leading financial institutions, experiencing first-hand the regulatory challenges firms are faced with today. These experiences highlighted to me the increasingly important role of technology in supporting compliance operations, which propelled me to move into the world of Regulatory Technology (RegTech), helping to develop the technology solutions that enable firms to meet their regulatory obligations. This is what ultimately led me to the role I am in today.
Q: What excites you about your role at SteelEye?
Sonia: In my role as a Regulatory Solutions Sales SME at SteelEye, I am responsible for leading the U.S. Pre-Sales function. I find it exciting that my role involves varied responsibilities ranging from managing client relationships to speaking at industry events. Working in a small team is particularly enjoyable as I get to see the impact of my contributions firsthand. It also makes me happy that SteelEye has fostered a supportive environment where my peers and I feel empowered to drive change. This enables us to openly discuss the potential steps leadership can take to cultivate an organization that we are proud to be a part of and eager to contribute to.
" It also makes me happy that SteelEye has fostered a supportive environment where my peers and I feel empowered to drive change."
Q: How do you think we can promote diversity and inclusion in the industry?
Sonia: In an industry that is dominated by men, it is important to take part in initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion. At my previous company, I noticed that there was a lack of female representation. So, my colleagues and I decided to take action. We started a new community initiative with the goal of not only attracting women to the RegTech sector, but also helping them rise into leadership roles. This initiative brought women and allies together, creating a space where we could support each other and push for change.
Currently, I am a part of several communities including NYC FinTech Women, Fintech is Femme, and Women in Product. These communities demonstrate firsthand how important it is for women to have supportive networks. Looking ahead, we need to keep building these communities while also pushing for bigger changes within organizations. It's about making sure everyone feels valued and heard, and that's how we'll create a more inclusive and equitable industry for all.
"It's about making sure everyone feels valued and heard, and that's how we'll create a more inclusive and equitable industry for all."
Q: What advice would you give to women joining their first job in RegTech?
Invest time in acquiring new skills:
You can do this by taking a formal training course. However, if you spend some time researching, you will also find that there are countless free online courses. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities. At SteelEye, we are fortunate to have an employee training scheme that we can apply for.
Build your network and community:
Participating in communities where you can leverage the experiences of those who have successfully transitioned into RegTech is also key. Networking and actively engaging in conversations within communities have been key to my success, and I truly believe I wouldn't be where I am today without having done so.
Shadow your colleagues:
For anyone starting out their career, I would encourage them to devote time to shadowing colleagues in order to learn about the different areas of the business. For example, if you work in sales or marketing, you could decide to shadow someone on the product team to learn in more detail how the product is built and works, this will only make you better at your job. There is no such thing as too much knowledge.
"Networking and actively engaging in conversations within communities have been key to my success, and I truly believe I wouldn't be where I am today without having done so."
Q: what excites you most about working in RegTech, and how do you see women playing a role in shaping it in the future?
Sonia: Over the past decade, regulatory compliance has transformed from a relatively new field into a dynamic and continually evolving space. In a time when AI and ChatGPT are at the forefront of many conversations, everyone is looking for smarter ways of working. This is, therefore, an incredibly exciting time to be working in RegTech as I believe the sector is going to see astronomical growth over the next decade.
In my opinion, women have always played a pivotal part in this industry. Though outnumbered, the women I have worked alongside have always excelled, and what I want to see in the industry is more of a spotlight on these women. Promoting women of all backgrounds into leadership roles is pivotal. After all, we all know that diversity brings creativity, innovation, and a broader range of perspectives. Ultimately, empowering women will contribute to the overall success and sustainability of organizations in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
"Though outnumbered, the women I have worked alongside have always excelled, and what I want to see in the industry is more of a spotlight on these women."
At SteelEye, we firmly believe that attracting and empowering female talent is crucial for creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.
That means offering flexible work arrangements, hosting women-led events, advocating for the women on our teams when promotions become available, and taking the time to listen to our female colleagues regarding what they need from us to be an ally.
We understand that inclusivity and equity for all is an ongoing journey rather than an end destination. While there is always more work to do, we are proud to have created a culture that is enriched by different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things that the women of SteelEye will accomplish, both in their personal and professional life. Interested in learning more? Visit our website to see the open roles we have across our global offices.
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