Women in Tech: Authentic Leaders with Audacious Goals

Diversity is what drives change and furthers our ability to make a difference in the world. Different people coming together with their own unique approaches, ideas, and problem-solving skills makes for better business, better innovation, and pushes the world toward a better future.

The tech industry has long faced diversity challenges, with many demographics underrepresented across various roles. Women, for instance, only make up roughly 25% of the tech workforce, compared to 47% of the overall US workface. Although the number continues to rise, even still women leaders in the tech industry can be few and far between.  

A particularly impactful addition to the Teslar team has been our Chief Technology Officer, Amanda Earhart. With an extensive background in the tech industry and leadership roles, she continues to lead here at Teslar with authenticity, passion, and boldness. Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Amanda about her experience as a woman in tech. Here is what she had to say: 

How did you first become interested in technology, and what drew you to the tech industry? 

In the 1980's, I was able to make a Macintosh 128k sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb.”  It fascinated me that I could program a machine to make music, so began my interest in learning what else could be done with technology. 

Can you tell us about your career journey and how you began working with technology solutions for community banking? 

I began my technology career as an intern at eBay working on operations software to make the customer support team more efficient at reviewing payments for fraud.  That led to a career at Facebook in a similar role where I got to launch virtual currency for games, then support payment management for ads and consumers. I've always enjoyed working in payments and operational efficiency, so when I heard about the opportunity to work at Teslar in support of community banks, it felt like a great extension of my current skills.   

Was there a pivotal moment or project that sparked your interest in working within the fintech industry, specifically with community banks? 

Throughout my career, I've been focused on using technology for the betterment of society.  Any project that "banks the unbanked" is of interest. Community banks are the heart of understanding communities’ unique needs and thereby the key to serving the underserved.  To that end, I'm passionate about any projects that drive efficiency for them so that they can thrive and invest more in their communities. 

How would you describe your leadership style, especially when managing teams developing fintech solutions? 

Authentic. We all have strengths and weaknesses. My strength is the ability to tap into passions and talents that align each person with the work needed while holding them accountable. We celebrate our failures as much as our wins. We strive to always learn from each other, the industry, and our customers. 

How does diversity within the tech industry impact the industries they serve? 

In my experience, diverse technology teams create more effective and creative products because they address problems from multiple perspectives.  Since community banks address the needs of diverse communities and employ diverse individuals, partnering with like-minded technology teams can help them stay competitive, adapt to changing market conditions, and ultimately better serve their customers. 

What are some of the unique challenges that arise when developing technology for community banks, and how have you and your team overcome them? 

Every community bank has unique needs. This means our platform isn't one-size-fits-all.  We work closely with current and prospective partners to evolve existing and new technology solutions. This is evident in how flexible we've built our workflow system. That same methodology is being used for our upcoming credit memo redesign and LOS platform too. 

What technological advancements do you see as the most impactful for community banks today? 

There are many, from cloud computing to blockchain, that reduce costs and streamline processing. However, I believe the most impactful are those that combat the increase in cybersecurity threats, namely investments in internal security training, multi-factor authentication, segmentation for data access protocols, and third-party oversight.   

In your opinion, what are the key areas where technology enables community banks to compete with larger institutions? 

Technology empowers community banks to maintain their close community ties while scaling their capabilities to compete with larger players. It's a unique blend of human connection and digital innovation that allows them to thrive. Here are the key areas where I see technology making the greatest impact: 

Enhanced customer experience: Community banks are leveraging technology to offer intuitive, user-friendly digital experiences. From loan onboarding to exception management, automated tools allow community banks to deliver a seamless customer journey while maintaining their unique personal touch. 

Data-driven decision making: Through advanced reporting, community banks can better understand their customers’ needs, enabling them to tailor products and services. This agility helps them respond quickly to market shifts and build deeper customer relationships. 

Improved operational efficiency: Automation and cloud-based solutions reduce operational overhead, enabling smaller banks to optimize resources and focus on strategic growth. This also helps maintain competitive pricing without sacrificing profitability. 

Strengthened security and compliance: With access to compliance automation, community banks can provide the same level of trust and safety as larger banks, reassuring customers about their data's security, and packaging insights to streamline audit management. 

What is your vision for the technology solutions you’re helping develop for community banks? 

Community banks should focus on what they do best: providing banking solutions that meet the needs of their communities, not on configuring and building technology.  We aim to provide software that not only looks great but is easy to set up, use, and build in additional features over time. Technology shouldn't be scary or cumbersome. 

Any advice you would give to young women aspiring to enter the tech industry? 

Tap into your passions. Set audacious goals and chip away at them. Ask for the hard problems, be inquisitive, research, and then ask the hard questions, even if you are insecure about asking them. You'd be surprised how many others have the same questions and see you as bold for speaking up and bringing everyone else along.