“Only 2% of UK’s VC investments go to female founders”

We are proud to introduce Sylvia Carrasco, a woman in FinTech and the CEO of Goldex, whose dream was to create a gold provider that promoted financial inclusion and protected people’s savings by founding the first gold provider that is completely un-conflicted with its customers’ interests. Before embarking in this venture, she spent 18 years working at top investment banks in the City, where she became one of the key figures in the development of equities electronic trading.

By answering these questions, she reveals herself as a woman who enjoys life at its fullest.  

When did you realise that you had such an entrepreneur spirit?

One can say that I have always had an entrepreneur spirit. Even during my career in investment banking, part of the excitement was to develop an entirely new product at the time. The only difference was that we were always perfectly capitalised with large budget allocations, but the work was in itself very entrepreneurial and we always had to think out of the box.

How has it been to be a woman in FinTech, develop your career in a sector dominated by men and break through the glass ceiling?

I always say that I have not felt disadvantaged during my career in investment banking. I was treated fairly by my bosses, colleagues and clients.

Now that I am a female founder of a FinTech company, I am starting to wonder if the investment barriers Goldex is encountering are not due to the fact that I am a woman. It is shocking that only 2% of the UK’s Venture Capital investments are given to female founders. How can that be possible? 

What tips can you offer young women who want a career in FinTech?

Get on with it. If you have an idea, don’t waste time. You are as good or better as anybody else. Be ready for a rollercoaster of emotions and try your hardest.

Which professional skills have led you to become the CEO of Goldex?

Having worked for nearly 20 years developing trading systems and managing budgets and teams have been crucial. And a very important aspect is having had the largest institutional investment houses in Europe as my clients.

What do you enjoy the most about working at Goldex?

Being a pioneer. The satisfaction I receive on a daily basis from the fact that we are breaking new grounds and building something special is tremendously rewarding. 

The world of investments can be confusing, what advice can you give newbies looking to invest in gold with apps like Goldex?

Goldex is a very complex machine but beautifully simple for the user. One of the main compliments we receive is that it is “clean and easy to use”. In order to make it accessible to all, we offer trade recommendations, no-nonsense research, gold news and interactive charts.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

I love to give. It doesn’t matter whether is money or time. Giving back does not only benefit the person that receives but mainly the one that gives.   

What’s the quality you most like in people?

High morals and values both professionally and personally.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“I don’t believe in Karma; I am Karma”.

If you were to die and come back as an animal, what would it be?

I would love to be reincarnated as one of my dogs. Their only concern is to catch squirrels in the park every day!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I am truly inspired by Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician (she just reached her 100th birthday) that worked at NASA at a time where she had all the odds against her.

What is your motto?

Be determined. Never allow anybody to put you down and if they do, get up and fight.