FinTech Female Fridays: Meet Meredith Rowley, Head of Accounts, Client Strategy at The Ricciardi Group

In the world of fintech, where innovation and agility are key, there are women whose leadership and mentorship stand out as a beacon for others to follow. One such leader is Meredith Rowley. Her journey is one of transformation, mentorship, and a commitment to breaking barriers—qualities that make her an inspiring figure for women in the fintech space.

From Politics to FinTech: A Journey of Reinvention

Meredith Rowley’s career path is a testament to the power of reinvention. She began her professional journey in Washington D.C., working in communications roles within the Bush administration and on Capitol Hill. These early experiences in the political world were high-pressure, fast-paced, and complex—qualities that would serve her well as she transitioned to the world of finance.

After relocating to New York City, Meredith sought out a new challenge—one that could offer the same dynamic environment she’d experienced in D.C., but with a focus on capital markets and branding. She found this at the New York Stock Exchange, where she worked in their global marketing and branding department. This role ignited her passion for the intersection of finance, marketing, and growth. It was here that Meredith began to realize her true calling: helping businesses in the fintech space craft strategic, impactful marketing that drives measurable results.

The Birth of The Ricciardi Group (RG)

Meredith’s work at the NYSE led her to meet Marisa Ricciardi, who has been both her boss and invaluable mentor since 2008. This connection also led Meredith to play a key role in building the Ricciardi Group (RG), her professional home for the past 10 years. RG is a strategic marketing and branding agency focused on helping businesses achieve real growth. The agency’s mission is both simple and powerful: marketing should drive tangible business outcomes. Under Meredith’s leadership, RG has earned a reputation for simplifying complex ideas and pairing them with actionable, data-driven strategies that engage audiences and deliver results.

What makes RG truly special is its culture. Meredith has created an environment where empathy, grit, and agility are at the core of everything they do. RG’s account managers are former in-house marketers, which gives them a unique understanding of the challenges their clients face. This “walked in your shoes” mentality has allowed RG to build deep, meaningful relationships with clients in the fintech and financial services industries.

Meredith’s leadership style is not just about achieving business success—it’s about empowering others to reach their full potential. She believes in fostering a culture of mentorship and personal growth, where each team member has the opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact.

Mentorship and Leadership in FinTech

For women in fintech, mentorship can be a powerful tool in navigating the complexities of the industry. Meredith’s career serves as a perfect example of how mentorship and leadership can drive real change. She has consistently shown that with the right guidance and support, women can break through barriers, take risks, and achieve extraordinary success.

At RG, Meredith leads with empathy and integrity. She understands the challenges women face in fast-paced industries like fintech and uses her platform to help lift others up. Meredith’s mentorship is characterized by her willingness to invest in the growth of others, offering guidance, inspiration, and an example of what it means to lead with grace under pressure.

What Can We Learn from Meredith Rowley’s Journey?

Meredith Rowley’s journey offers several important lessons for women in fintech:

1. Embrace Reinvention: Meredith’s ability to pivot from politics to finance shows us that reinvention is not only possible, but it can lead to incredible opportunities. Women should feel empowered to shift careers, explore new industries, and pursue their passions, no matter where they are in their professional journeys.

2. Lead with Empathy and Integrity: Meredith’s leadership style is built on empathy. She understands the pressures that come with complex roles and high-stakes environments, and she leads with a calm, solution-oriented approach. She shows us that leadership doesn’t have to be about exerting control—it’s about guiding others with integrity and care.

3. Invest in Others’ Growth: One of Meredith’s key beliefs is that growth isn’t just about individual success—it’s about lifting others as you rise. By mentoring others and creating a supportive environment, she fosters a culture of shared success. Women in fintech can benefit from seeking out mentorship and, in turn, becoming mentors themselves to help others thrive.

4. Adapt to Change and Embrace Innovation: In an industry as dynamic as fintech, staying ahead of the curve is essential. Meredith’s commitment to embracing new technologies, such as AI, and integrating them into RG’s strategy sets an example for how staying adaptable and open to innovation is key to long-term success.

   
   

The story of Meredith Rowley is one of bold action, transformation, and empowering others. As women in fintech, we can all learn from her example of leadership, mentorship, and growth. Whether you’re looking to pivot your career, build your own network of mentors, or take bold steps in your current role, remember that real growth is possible when you invest in yourself and others.

More on Meredith

Where you currently live: Columbia, South Carolina - Go Gamecocks! 

Family at home: 3 kids ages 13, 12, and 8; 1 cat “Zeke” 

Hometown: New Canaan, CT 

Favorite hobby: Currently - hot yoga/barre …when it isn’t freezing out - running outdoors

Favorite show to binge:Currently - The Pit on Max 

Favorite fintech media that inspires you: I like to look at the practitioners who have their finger on the pulse - A16z - no holds barred, boundary pushing commentary and a signal for what will be the next “thing” and daily I enjoy Curatia a trading and capital markets newsletter 

What are you excited about Fintech this year? 

Alternatives are seemingly now mainstream so what will be the next alternative? Or how will the industry reclassify an existing asset as new and shiny. Seeing the bullish headlines on crypto with the incoming administration - and a test case meme coin to boot! I think there will be a resurgence here and all the related fields of management, trading, data analytics around crypto. This would be the first time it has true federal support so lots of growth potential. 

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

I think this could resonate to women no matter what field you work in but always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else.

It took many years for me to get comfortable in MY shoes and then I realized one day the very traits I tried to diminish - my bubbliness, my outgoing personality and positivity are actually what make me really strong in my role of account management and leading a team. So now I am unapologetically me. Elle Woods is my spirit animal! 

What's the best job decision you ever made? 

To move to New York and work at the NYSE - it served as a mini degree in business and capital markets and completely altered my career path leading to more experiences and open doors than I could have ever imagined - and not to mention my boss and CMO was Marisa Ricciardi. So the move ultimately led me to helping Marisa build the Ricciardi Group - and my professional home for the last 10 years! 

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? 

I spent a year leading our business development initiatives - it was something I knew would give me new skills and a broader perspective on how agencies operate/make money. I didn’t love it - but ultimately it was a great experience for growing my confidence and knowledge on how to research effectively, how to pitch business and truly listen to what prospective clients are asking for - all valuable skills to my current job as head of accounts and client strategy.

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

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast - rushing through something jeopardizes thinking and quality - and finding the right way to articulate to clients we will work quickly and efficiently but not magically. And also when you do make a mistake…own it…quickly and with sincerity. 

What keeps you motivated and how do you maintain a work/life balance? 

I am a mom of 3 kids who participate in any sport they are allowed. Meal plan and prep over weekends is central to my sanity (shameless plug for my sister in law’s business Its Tradish). What keeps me motivated is the very real notion this could all go away tomorrow so squeeze everything out of life I can. 

Tips for Maximizing Productivity and Staying Focused

• Block the first and last hours of the week for admin tasks: Use this time to clear your mind and focus on essential administrative work, ensuring you’re feeling strong and ready for the rest of the week.

• Reconcile hours: Take time at the beginning of the week to review your hours, ensuring everything is aligned and accounted for. This helps you stay organized and focused throughout the week.

• Clear out your inbox and prioritize meetings/decks: Start your week by addressing your inbox. Prioritize important meetings and decks, giving you a clear view of what’s ahead.

• Draft emails with subject headers and first sentences: Try drafting emails with at least the subject line and the first sentence. It’s proven that you’re more likely to finish them the same day rather than leaving them for later in the week.

• Utilize great account hygiene dashboards: Thanks to the RG Ops team, we have excellent dashboards for quick updates. These can be shared asynchronously, so everyone stays informed without taking up precious meeting time.

  
  

Daily Diary 

5:30 AM – Wake up, get the coffee machine going, and avoid my phone.

5:45 AM – Read scripture, meditate, and journal. Just try to ease my brain and heart into the day.

6:00 AM – 7:00 AM – Exercise.

7:30 AM – Make kids' breakfast, find them socks (not necessarily matching), and get them out the door.

8:00 AM – Go to my desk and start the day. I read my Google alerts set for RG accounts and their leadership teams, newsletters, and emails. I have two lucky mugs—both CNBC Squawk Box mugs with caricatures of Carl Q, Joe K, and Becky Q. They match, and I use one every single workday. It’s a ritual. Everyone in my house knows these are my mugs and not to touch them.

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Enter the Zoom stratosphere: client meetings, 1:1s with the team, sales planning, and account hygiene. Each day varies based on who needs more attention or some thought-partnering.

4:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Kids' sports, carpools, and dinner. (Did I mention I’m a huge believer in weekend meal planning/prep?)

8:30 PM – Relax, read, or watch a show. Currently reading The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer.

9:30 PM – Go to sleep! A good night’s sleep is the new black in mid-life!