The importance of community – Insights from Ixa Nembang, Junior Partnerships Manager
At Enfuce, we are proud to celebrate, inspire, and advocate for inclusivity and equality in the fintech industry and beyond. With our Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Monika Liikamaa and Denise Johansson at our helm, diversity and inclusion have been at the very heart of Enfuce since day one.
That’s why we’re excited to introduce ‘My Seat at The Table’, our new exclusive blog series launched to honor International Women’s Day, where we shine a spotlight on the incredible women who help make Enfuce what it is today.
In this blog series, we’ll have the privilege of hearing from five remarkable Enfucers from diverse backgrounds and roles. Through their inspiring stories and unique perspectives, they share what it truly means to them to have a seat at the table, how they empower other women in their professional and personal lives and the changes they hope to see in the fintech landscape for greater equality.
In this blog we’ll speak with Ixa Nembang, our Junior Partnerships Manager based in London. Ixa joined Enfuce in June 2022 as a Business Development Executive.
Have a read and join us in our mission to raise awareness, advocate and celebrate women in business.
Hi Ixa, what’s your role at Enfuce?
I am a Junior Partnerships Manager at Enfuce. My day to day role consists of managing our wider ecosystem partnerships, becoming that point of contact for different partners and communicating with them about our offering and how we can work together so that we’re able to deliver best class solutions.
I wanted to be a beach lifeguard. I loved swimming when I was younger and the thought of being able to relax on a chair all day around water and the sun sounded like a dream to me.
What did you want to be when you were little?
Truthfully speaking? I wanted to be a beach lifeguard. I loved swimming when I was younger and the thought of being able to relax on a chair all day around water and the sun sounded like a dream to me.
What do you think of International Women’s Day (IWD)?
International Women’s Day holds immense significance for me. It’s a potent reminder to acknowledge and appreciate the phenomenal women who have shaped my life and inspired me to grow.
What does it mean to you to have a Seat at The Table?
Having “A Seat at The Table” signifies more than mere presence; it’s about being recognised, heard, and actively participating in influential decision-making processes.
Can you share a personal or professional experience where you felt the impact of having, or not having, your Seat At The Table
Growing up learning martial arts, the majority of the grading panel when I would attend my assessments for my next belt, had few but exceptional women instructors among their male peers. The women instructors were the ones I’d try to impress the most and seek guidance from. Around a decade later, now as a member of the grading panel, I understand the importance of representation firsthand. Thus, I actively strive to support and uplift all female students, especially the younger ones, ensuring they receive encouragement and guidance so they feel represented.
Who are the women who influenced your career the most and you feel helped you get #MySeatAtTheTable?
My mum, of course, stands out as my ultimate inspiration. Her resilience and emphasis on education and independence have shaped my path significantly. My incredible friends, sister, cousins provide me with a support system I wouldn’t trade for the world and contribute towards my confidence.
I’m highly appreciative of my manager and mentor, Iida Lähdemäki, who has been fundamental in my career, learning various skills and gaining knowledge from our daily chats. She elevates me and advocates for me in rooms where I’m not present – that’s something I will always remember and try to replicate.
I’m highly appreciative of my manager and mentor, Iida Lähdemäki, who has been fundamental in my career, learning various skills and gaining knowledge from our daily chats.
Monika and Denise, our co-CEOs, are a huge part of why I first started my journey at Enfuce. I couldn’t tell you many female CEOs in the fintech sector from the top of my head, so this representation is definitely something I boast about in conversations when I can. Their “Get Shit Done” ethos has undeniably influenced my career as I try to adopt the same mentality. On top of that, balancing being a CEO, wife and mum, is truly inspiring.
How do you empower other women at work or in your day to day life?
I believe in fostering a supportive community where women feel valued and heard. By offering an open space for dialogue and actively listening without judgment. I strive to empower other women to celebrate all achievements, no matter the size.
What’s the advice you would give to other women who might want to have a Seat At The Table and are currently facing challenges?
Speak to the women around you in your life already. Spark conversation about their journeys in their career and life in general.
What are their aspirations, learnings, regrets, achievements and goals within the next couple of years. Who are the women in their life that they think “have a Seat At the Table” and what attributes do they have that you’d want to implement in your own journey.
Having “A Seat at The Table” signifies more than mere presence; it’s about being recognised, heard, and actively participating in influential decision-making processes.
In your opinion, what can the fintech industry as a whole do to promote gender equality and ensure that women not only have a seat at the table but also feel heard and valued?
The fintech industry can foster gender equality by prioritising transparency and advocating for an inclusive culture within companies. By actively promoting diverse voices and perspectives, we can ensure that women not only occupy seats at the table but also feel valued and heard in decision-making processes.
Thank you, Ixa!
