How IN's new fintech reporter tackled the beat — virtually

Not one person on the InvestmentNews content team has met me in person.

Today, my colleagues only know — from shoulders up — the newbie fintech reporter who pitches her stories through a screen. For a few minutes every morning, I showcase my personality facing a virtual newsroom filled with editors and reporters at least 10-years my senior with lifetimes of industry experience.

No pressure.

I, the youngest of the gang, report on innovations in fintech. Fittingly, I was able to join IN because of the newspaper’s adoption of technology to keep up with our society’s new normal.

On the surface, it would seem like starting a new job virtually would be immediately disadvantageous.

I didn’t have the same opportunities to establish myself with sources through in-person conferences. I couldn't connect with colleagues through after-work drinks and playful office banter, or even the casual water cooler chat.

But as I cover innovations in wealthtech, I’ve also had to rethink how to be innovative, myself, with technology as my trusty tool to succeed. 

To fill the gap, I participated in everything I could get my hands on -- reporting outside my beat, speaking at IN’s virtual events, and making cameos on podcasts and videos.

Those additional efforts to engage with my colleagues, in turn, allowed for cross-team collaboration with our events, marketing and multimedia teams. I did everything I could to metaphorically shout, ‘I'm here!’, which has allowed me to work on passion projects, like managing content for Her Success Matters, a podcast hosted by our CEO Christine Shaw. 

While virtually switching jobs during the coronavirus crisis has its hurdles, my gratitude is shooting through the roof.

This year has landed me at a publication I am proud to call home.

The racial, gender and economic disparities that the pandemic brought to light served as an invitation to get curious about myself and reflect on what is — and isn’t — in alignment for my purpose.

As a biracial woman, I needed to put my thoughts into action. So I set a goal: Work for a prestigious publication that not only reaches a wide audience through news alerts and deep market analysis but also uses its platform and scale for good.

In a wide variety of mediums, InvestmentNews does that. So when the door to a new job opportunity opened, I virtually entered — with warm welcomes from my colleagues — and never looked back.

Together, I’m confident to tackle 2021, but not before this: Thank you to my colleagues for embracing me. I look forward to growing as IN’s intrepid fintech reporter.