Fintech is often described in terms of technology and disruption. But behind every product and every breakthrough we see, there are people.

In this conversation for the Women Leading the Way series, the Drofa Comms team spoke with Tracey Knowles, Chief People Officer at Wirex, about what it really means to build culture in an industry that never slows down.

Tracey’s journey didn’t begin in HR, but in sales — a space she still speaks about with genuine enthusiasm. It was there she learned how to read people and understand what drives us. In the end, these skills learned would later shape her entire leadership approach. Her move into fintech came from curiosity, and, as she describes it, a desire to be closer to where the future is being built.

Joining Wirex in 2022, at a time when the crypto industry was under intense pressure, was anything but comfortable. “A baptism of fire,” as she remembers it. Rapid change, constant motion, and the need to balance it all, while protecting team wellbeing, quickly became part of her everyday reality.

In the interview, Tracey also reflects on how the role of People & Culture is evolving from a support function into a strategic one — something that should sit at the core of every business decision. She shared her perspective on leadership as well. In Tracy’s opinion, it’s quieter than we often imagine, rooted in curiosity and the ability to create space for others to succeed.

We also spoke about women in fintech, asking her questions on how leadership is defined. Tracey challenges the idea that women need to adapt to existing norms in order to be taken seriously, and instead makes a simple but powerful point: authenticity is not a weakness, it’s an advantage.

“I find it important [for women] to behave as themselves rather than fitting into a predefined leadership style,” thinks Tracy.

👉Read the full interview with Tracy Knowles here: https://womenlead.co.uk/ideas/tracey-knowels