Cathy Stutt

I think I have certain traits like being very hard-working, but having a sense of purpose around what I'm working on has been crucial. Whether it was in client relationship management helping corporate clients succeed and grow, or now in innovation, I really feel fulfilled when I'm aligned to what I'm working on and helping others. From my upbringing, my dad always encouraged me that I deserved to be around the table and in the room, which gave me that confidence and nudge. The traveling I do has also shaped my perspective - when you see such different cultures and perspectives, it makes you think how big our world is and how much opportunity we have to make memories and live life to the most potential that I can. I think it's a combination of my outlook and perspective, and definitely having that purpose and aligning to what I'm working on.

I've been at the intersection of a number of male-dominated fields, from banking to technology to venture, and I've constantly been at times the only woman or one of few in the room. A lot of the times, things seem more intimidating than they are. I would really encourage anyone looking at these fields that there are fantastic opportunities, and we should have a seat around the table and be involved in the conversation. We need women making the decisions, especially in fast-moving spaces like AI, and we shouldn't miss out on these fantastic opportunities from a career, growth, and monetary perspective. There's that quote about how women look at job applications and won't apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria, whereas men might have half or less and still go for it. I think it's about taking a measured approach but really putting yourself in the ring for these things - apply, be tenacious, really go for it, because there's fantastic opportunity there and it would be a shame if we don't get to be part of that and benefit from the impact. Really back yourself and don't be intimidated by other people or stereotypes. Some of the smartest people I know are women who have paved the way in these industries and had tremendous impact. Innovation doesn't come from people who think exactly alike - it comes from fresh perspectives and different views. I've often brought completely different perspectives to the table because I see things in very different ways. That's so important, not just from a representation perspective, but for making things successful and achieving great outcomes. As women, we can benefit from this, so we shouldn't lose out on the opportunity.

I would say some of the key values are around authenticity - I think tapping into each of us bringing our best self into whether it's work or personally, and really being able to show up authentic is where everyone shines and brings out their best. I think it's good to be quite tenacious, and at times disruptive when appropriate. Being at that intersection of technology and innovation is really about helping shape the future of banking and bringing a fresh perspective, so sometimes that means being at the forefront of changes and keeping pace, which means pushing outside our comfort zones a bit with the right measure and risk tolerance. Curiosity is really important - I haven't had a technical background, I had a banking and financial services background, so coming into a more technical field can be intimidating. But what I've learned is that it's most important to be curious about things. You can always connect to the right people or resources to upskill yourself and ask the right questions. If you lose curiosity, you lose that ability to keep learning and growing. Being quite adaptable is also important as part of the ever-evolving environment we're in, especially in innovation. And I think being able to influence is important. Sometimes throughout my career, I've not necessarily had the authority or the title or prestige, or even if I had that title, people might be dismissive because I'm female and maybe a bit young compared to others in the room. Having that influence without necessarily having the highest level of authority, being able to connect with people and be a trusted advisor to get a successful outcome for everyone, is really valuable.