Each week, we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance takes us through her career in Square Mile and Me

What was your first job?

I held down several odd jobs while working my way through university, including being a librarian, legal assistant, and a waitress. Thankfully my waitressing career was never meant to be, as evidenced when I spilled a full tray of cocktails onto a very important table of VIP guests at an upscale restaurant!

What was your first role in FinTech/the City?

My previous experience has always been at the cross-section between policy and business. Innovate Finance asked me to join their initial leadership team to run Ecosystem and Membership back when the organisation was first being set up in 2014. Despite being very attracted to the role and the mission, I actually turned them down at first, as I had a comfortable and stable senior job at Chatham House and I wasn’t sure if the risk of moving into a less-established sector was worth it. Thankfully Innovate Finance’s CFO at the time asked me to reconsider and come and meet with the other 4 individuals who would be joining the leadership team with me. Immediately, I could sense that these people were my tribe, and that together we could create something awesome. I also had a chance to meet some of the incredible founders who were building the businesses of the future and was blown away by their passion and determination to change financial services for the better. I fell in love with the industry, took a risk, and it was the best professional decision I have made. More than a decade on I am now privileged to be leading Innovate Finance as CEO, but the strength of our organisation is very much down to the hard work and dedication of all the employees who have given their time over the years, and all the innovators who have made UK FinTech the best FinTech ecosystem in the world.

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