A business world gone suddenly virtual played to the strengths of fintech companies. After all, they are built on digital alternatives to analog processes, from making loans to trading securities.
But even though many fintechs saw growth accelerate over the last 12 months, they were not immune to the political, social and financial turmoil wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49 companies that earned a spot in our ranking of the Best Fintechs to Work For this year had to respond nimbly, as the crisis demanded shifts in business strategy and leadership style.
Top executives from each company – which include those in banking, mortgages, payments and wealth management – detailed how their businesses evolved and what they did differently to attract talent in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. They also talked about what qualities proved to be the most important for leaders. The ability to communicate emerged as a common theme. But so did trust, empathy and resilience.
Here is some of what these executives have taken away from the past year.
(Note that employee totals for each company are for U.S. staff only, and some companies may have higher overall headcounts.)