OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

All set with my front row seat for the first session and opener of the Fintech is Femme conference!

Name: Emily Patton

Degree Program: MPA IN PUBLIC & NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & POLICY

Specialization: PNP-Social Impact, Innovation & Investment

Conference Host Organization/Institution: Fintech is Femme

Conference/Competition Name: Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2025-04-23 Conference End Date: 2025-04-23

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
This conference opened my eyes to the many ways women in Fintech are looking at the emerging Fintech space as a tool to redistribute wealth into the hands of folks in their communities. I heard from panelists who created companies that build software tools for start-ups, offer creative financing to early-stage businesses, and reinvent the ways women can build their wealth. At the end of the conference, we heard a pitch contest from women founders - their pitches, paired with the judge's feedback afterwards, was really informative for my own future start-up aspirations.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
This conference enabled me to network with other folks in my industry interested in using fintech as a tool to tackle wealth inequality. During the informal networking sessions, I made connections that I look forward to building on in the future. For example, I connected with a student debt expert who is responsible for leading research on 529 policy and education and launching the baby bonds program in New York. She was very willing to offer her expertise to help with my upcoming capstone project on student debt as well!

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
Next steps for me are to reach out to the folks that I connected with at the conference and can continue to cultivate those connections. This conference also opened up my eyes to new organizations that I've now followed on LinkedIn to track for job opportunities and other chances to engage with employees of these organizations.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
I would recommend coming in with a networking plan, staying open and flexible to meeting all kinds of people; but also being conscious to do your research before you go so that you can connect with an educated understanding of why others are attending.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Education, Finance, Leadership, Social Innovation