FinTech Female Fridays: Meet Agnies Watson, Co-Founder and CEO at Stockperks

Agnies began her professional journey in audit before moving into investment banking, where she worked both in Sydney and London. She later joined Microsoft at its headquarters in Redmond, becoming a part of the corporate investor relations team.  It was here that Agnies discovered her passion for engaging with retail investors, particularly driven by the challenge of identifying who these investors were and how to effectively engage with them. Despite retail investors owning 32% of U.S. equities, she noted that companies often had limited knowledge of and interaction with this group.

This realization motivated Agnies to start Stockperks with the vision of connecting companies directly with their retail investors and getting these retail investors excited in companies they love, especially women investors. Stockperks envisions a world where retail investors are the committed ambassadors of companies they own shares in. This model promotes a sense of ownership among investors, encouraging companies to engage with their retail investors throughout the year.

Stockperks has created the first true connection between publicly traded companies and their retail investors. Furthermore, they have deployed proprietary validation technology to ensure that the shareholder data that they are providing to companies is accurate and timely. This solution not only offers a positive and lasting impact for their corporate clients but also significantly enhances the relationships these companies can have with all shareholders. In turn, these shareholders are energized to become better customers, brand evangelists and  participants in annual meetings and proxy votes.

Agnies is deeply passionate about her work, stating, “I see the future where investors get excited about their investments and are true supporters of companies they invest in. I have a passion for women owning their financial future and it starts with understanding the capital markets, investing wisely and making sound long-term financial decisions.”

Regarding current trends, Agnies highlighted the significant role of AI across the financial industry. At Stockperks, they foresee a surge in educated retail investors, facilitated by AI. This technology enhances financial literacy through personalized, data-driven advice, improved educational resources, and the ability to analyze complex financial data—all while reducing costs. This cost reduction expands accessibility to financial services for retail investors, further democratizing financial participation.

More on Agnies

Where you currently live: Long Island NY

Family at home: Husband, 4 kids and 1 dog

Hometown: Perth, Australia

Favorite hobby: Sailing and traveling

Favorite show to binge: Sherlock Holmes!

What is one piece of advice someone told you that resonated with you that can give to other women in FinTech?     

Find women in FinTech that can help and support you, surround yourself with people that believe in your vision and work together to bring that vision to life.

What's the best job decision you ever made? 

I don’t think back to what is the best job decision I’ve ever made, I’ve made great and very poor decisions in my work life, but in the end I look at all of them as learning steps. 

Can you tell us about a time someone encouraged you to try a task or take on a project you didn’t think that you would know how to do/or be good at? 

Product Innovation and Management! I have a finance background and never thought of myself to be a “product person.” However, being encouraged to be clear about what a product in my mind should look like tangibly for engineering, and creating user personas and visions of users, made me realize I love being a product person! 

What is the most important lesson you have learned from a mistake you’ve made in the past? 

You’re the only one that can make your dream come true. Don’t rely on others. Do surround yourself with amazing and brilliant people, but remember in the end you’re the one responsible for your success. Own your failures and learn from them. Move on when it’s time.

Do you have any productivity hacks?  What keeps you motivated? How do you maintain a work/life balance? 

I don’t really think the concept of "work/life balance" exists. A balance implies an equilibrium between professional and personal responsibilities, but in reality, it’s more about prioritization than balance. At times, work will take precedence, at other times, personal priorities must come first. The key is to approach life with flexibility, understanding that the balance isn’t static but dynamic.

This approach requires clarity about values and goals. What truly matters in the long run? What tasks or commitments align with those priorities? I look at these questions and make decisions that fit with what matters most, while minimizing guilt about what may temporarily take a backseat.

Daily Diary

4:20 AM - Get up and get kids to rowing - sleep or work in the car while they row

6:45 AM - Get back home, make breakfast and lunches and do school drop off

8:00 AM - Work day can begin - (with some de-stressing tea). Make to do list for the day, review key financial news highlights, plan day

10:00 AM - Stand up with sales team

10:45 AM - Stand up with account management

12:00 PM - Financial review with accountants

1:00 PM -  Eat lunch

1:30 PM - Follow up emails

3:00 PM - Update Calls

4:00 PM - Take kids back to rowing, work in the car while they row.

6:30 PM - Home, make dinner, dream of sleep…