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Starling Bank boss hopes banking is becoming less sexist | Starling Bank boss hopes banking is becoming less sexist |
(about 11 hours later) | |
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The woman behind the £2bn bank nobody believed in | The woman behind the £2bn bank nobody believed in |
The boss of Starling Bank has said she hopes the sexism she overcame has made it "easier" for other women to start a business. | The boss of Starling Bank has said she hopes the sexism she overcame has made it "easier" for other women to start a business. |
Anne Boden founded the mobile-only bank, which is now valued at more than £2bn. | Anne Boden founded the mobile-only bank, which is now valued at more than £2bn. |
But she said female businesswomen have been treated like "boiled eggs" by male colleagues. | But she said female businesswomen have been treated like "boiled eggs" by male colleagues. |
"They are either too hard or too soft, but never quite right," she said. | "They are either too hard or too soft, but never quite right," she said. |
Anne Boden began a forty-year career in banking after graduating from Swansea University with a computer science degree. | Anne Boden began a forty-year career in banking after graduating from Swansea University with a computer science degree. |
What hurdles do black women in business face? | What hurdles do black women in business face? |
Women not supported to become leaders, says boss | Women not supported to become leaders, says boss |
'Women are perfectionists - it can hold us back' | 'Women are perfectionists - it can hold us back' |
After the financial crisis of 2008 she became increasingly concerned about banks' relationships with customers and started planning to launch Starling Bank. | After the financial crisis of 2008 she became increasingly concerned about banks' relationships with customers and started planning to launch Starling Bank. |
It involved "audacious" approaches for investment which eventually bore fruit. | It involved "audacious" approaches for investment which eventually bore fruit. |
'Five-foot Welsh woman' | 'Five-foot Welsh woman' |
Anne Boden was a steelworker's daughter who started her career on the counter at Lloyds Bank | Anne Boden was a steelworker's daughter who started her career on the counter at Lloyds Bank |
She said: "There I was, knocking on doors, saying I've got a great idea. | She said: "There I was, knocking on doors, saying I've got a great idea. |
"Nobody believed me, and they wouldn't have believed me, probably, if I was a different sort of person. | "Nobody believed me, and they wouldn't have believed me, probably, if I was a different sort of person. |
"But I am a 5ft tall Welsh woman that was pretty determined that we had the opportunity to change an industry. | "But I am a 5ft tall Welsh woman that was pretty determined that we had the opportunity to change an industry. |
"I persevered, and two years in I got the funding to build something as special as this." | "I persevered, and two years in I got the funding to build something as special as this." |
'Responsible job' | 'Responsible job' |
Ms Boden said she is most proud of the people who work at Starling Bank | Ms Boden said she is most proud of the people who work at Starling Bank |
Starling Bank has almost three million personal and business accounts and employs staff in London, Southampton and Cardiff. | Starling Bank has almost three million personal and business accounts and employs staff in London, Southampton and Cardiff. |
The Cardiff office opened in 2020, with plans to employ 400 people, but now has almost 900 employees in the city. | The Cardiff office opened in 2020, with plans to employ 400 people, but now has almost 900 employees in the city. |
"What I am most proud of is the people who work here, who really believe that the profession of being a banker, of being a technologist, has special responsibilities. | "What I am most proud of is the people who work here, who really believe that the profession of being a banker, of being a technologist, has special responsibilities. |
"We look after people's money - that's a responsible job, and we want to do it well," she added. | "We look after people's money - that's a responsible job, and we want to do it well," she added. |
Third of ethnic minority staff face racism | Third of ethnic minority staff face racism |
'Master every aspect of your business' | 'Master every aspect of your business' |
Starting the bank involved personal sacrifices for Ms Boden, who sold her Swansea home to help pay bills before investors backed her idea. | Starting the bank involved personal sacrifices for Ms Boden, who sold her Swansea home to help pay bills before investors backed her idea. |
She was also acutely aware that a Welsh woman in her 50s was not the usual start-up founder - and those preconceptions placed further hurdles in her path. | She was also acutely aware that a Welsh woman in her 50s was not the usual start-up founder - and those preconceptions placed further hurdles in her path. |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
Anne Boden explains how Starling is using data and analytics to build online banking for customers | Anne Boden explains how Starling is using data and analytics to build online banking for customers |
She said women still face a higher bar than male colleagues in business. | |
"Lots of women in the industry are having a tough time getting to the position in the organisations that they deserve. | "Lots of women in the industry are having a tough time getting to the position in the organisations that they deserve. |
"And it's sometimes because of the boiled egg syndrome - they are either too hard or too soft, but never quite right," she said. | "And it's sometimes because of the boiled egg syndrome - they are either too hard or too soft, but never quite right," she said. |
Asked if her own success made it easier for women to follow her path, she said: "I really hope that having role models makes things easier for lots of women. | Asked if her own success made it easier for women to follow her path, she said: "I really hope that having role models makes things easier for lots of women. |
"I am a technologist, with a computer science and chemistry degree from Swansea University. | "I am a technologist, with a computer science and chemistry degree from Swansea University. |
"I have started a bank that is one of the leaders in the world of fintech. | "I have started a bank that is one of the leaders in the world of fintech. |
"It can be done by people from Wales and we can lead the world - and we can be women." | "It can be done by people from Wales and we can lead the world - and we can be women." |
HEARTBREAKING DECISIONS: Families fleeing the war in Ukraine | HEARTBREAKING DECISIONS: Families fleeing the war in Ukraine |
WALESCAST: One-stop shop of what's happening in the world of Welsh politics | WALESCAST: One-stop shop of what's happening in the world of Welsh politics |