Chile has positioned itself as a fintech hub in the Southern Cone, highlighting the inclusion of women and diverse talent as key drivers of growth in this dynamic industry.
With the goal of fostering dialogue about the fintech industry and the role of professional women, InvestChile and FinteChile organized the webinar “Women in Fintech: Opportunities and Challenges for the Industry”, which was held on Wednesday, December 11.
The event brought together over 70 participants to explore challenges and opportunities in the fintech industry, emphasizing the role of women in creating innovative, inclusive, and balanced teams, thus fostering a more competitive and developed sector.
The meeting began with opening remarks by InvestChile Director Karla Flores, who underscored the importance of promoting the participation of women in the sector. Flores emphasized that a knowledge-based economy, a priority for Chile, requires diverse talent.
«What knowledge-based economies need most is the availability of talent. As we know, talent is distributed equitably regardless of gender or social class. Incorporating more women into this and other industries is key to competitiveness and economic growth,» said Flores.
She also noted that the development of the fintech sector is driven by Chile’s technological advancements and the policies that have supported them, such as the implementation of submarine cables, 5G towers, and data centers, which have positioned Chile as a potential hub for the fintech industry in the Southern Cone.
Josefina Movillo, Executive Director of FinteChile, gave a presentation on the industry’s encouraging outlook:
Movillo highlighted that access to digital financial products strengthens households and promotes financial inclusion, a critical issue in a context where 42% of people report insufficient income, according to the Financial Market Commission (CMF).
«The Fintech industry not only drives bankarization, but also enables access to more comprehensive products. We can help reinforce financial inclusion and accessibility to protect people,» she said.
Jazmín Jorquera, Vice President of FinteChile, highlighted the importance of fostering balanced teams in the industry. «Complementary teams are created between men and women, and this enables the development of more robust projects and strategies,» she said.
Although women represent 39% of the workforce in the sector, Jorquera emphasized the challenges of increasing their presence in leadership roles, where they currently account for just 8%. In this regard, she highlighted the need to attract senior female talent and position the industry as an attractive space for professional development.
Regarding the inclusion of women in decision-making positions, Jorquera underscored the importance of encouraging «women who have already built careers in other industries to transition into the fintech sector. We need intergenerational talent.»
Adding more women is essential, especially as «the export of services is on the rise,» she affirmed. For this reason, it is vital to «position the industry as a good employer and a strong sector for professional growth. We are an industry committed to inclusion—it’s part of our DNA as an ecosystem.»
What job opportunities are available for women in the fintech industry? The fintech sector offers a wide range of job opportunities for women, particularly in areas such as customer service, where relational skills are essential for providing empathetic and timely responses. Women also excel in compliance and legal roles, which are critical for ensuring industry standards are met.
Although their participation in product development remains limited, a growing number of women are contributing in areas such as user experience (UX), user acquisition (UA), and product ideation, where they play a crucial role in creating innovative, customer-centric solutions.
The event concluded with an optimistic outlook on the future of the fintech industry in Chile. Inclusion, talent development, and the strengthening of the fintech ecosystem are crucial to consolidating this sector as a driver of economic and social growth.
Chile continues to move toward a knowledge-based development model through its commitment to innovation, equity, and progress.
To find out more about female talent and labor policies developed by companies and industries to foster inclusion, see the following articles.