One of the largest media and events companies dedicated to lending and digital banking, LendIt Fintech has been empowering the FinTech community since 2013. Following the multitude of transformational changes in the financial industry wherein FinTech will take center stage as everything becomes digital, Joy Schwartz as the President of LendIt FinTech is working with her team to promulgate knowledge, report news, enable real-time discussions and insights, and facilitate thousands of business connections annually.
Full name: Joy Schwartz
Current job title: President
Current company: LendIt Fintech
Current location: New York, NY
"I am especially excited to see more advancements in financial services/products tailored for women and minorities, as well as the emergence of green FinTech focused on sustainability and the environment."
Prior to beginning her professional career, Joy spent one year living and working in South Korea on a Fulbright fellowship after college. She then returned to NYC and started working for a B2B media and events company. As an event producer, Joy researched subjects ranging from emerging market private equity to stem cells and regenerative medicine. “I was a sponge and I tried to learn every aspect of the media business from content production, to sales, to marketing to operations. This dynamic skill set and 7+ years of experience, is what prepared me for my current role at LendIt FinTech.”
Throughout her career, Joy has had mentors who recognized her hard work and invested in her development. “My first mentor Greg taught me everything I know about the digital media business. He also taught me to think commercially and be direct. Even though he was tough on the outside and not everyone’s cup of tea, I never doubted his passion for the business and his devotion to his team. Not only did I want to do a good job for myself and my clients, but I wanted to make him proud. I will forever be grateful for the time and energy he invested in me and for the risks he took on me.”
While FinTech has the potential to improve the lives of billions by providing access to financial services and financial education to underserved communities all over the world, Joy believes that the current efforts are just the beginning. “Every day I learn about innovative startups targeting underserved communities all over the world. I am especially excited to see more advancements in financial services/products tailored for women and minorities, as well as the emergence of green FinTech focused on sustainability and the environment.” Joy herself is further impacting changes in FinTech as she oversees LendIt Fintech’s Women in FinTech Program. “Through this program, I have organized countless women in FinTech power hours, matched dozens of mentors and mentees, and donated 100s of conference passes to the next generation of women in FinTech.”
Like many businesses during the pandemic, LendIt Fintech had to make difficult decisions and reinvent itself. “We have fully embraced the virtual world and while we are excited that in-person events are coming back, I believe the new products and services we have launched over the past year provide great value to our community, are now an important part of our DNA, and are here to stay. My number one work goal is to continue to drive LendIt’s transition from an events business to a diversified media company.”
More on Joy
Currently live: NYC, Morningside Heights
Living arrangement: With my husband and 10-week old daughter
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite hobby: Running
Favorite part of your day: Seeing my daughter first thing in the morning. She always wakes up in the best mood and she makes the most adorable cooing sounds.
Favorite show to binge: I like all Doctor/medical dramas – Grey's Anatomy, New Amsterdam, The Resident.
Daily Diary
Tuesday
4:30 am: I hear cooing. It almost sounds like a baby bird chirping, but it is no bird, it is my daughter Arielle. She is 10 weeks old and ready to eat. Time to pull myself out of bed to change her diaper and feed her.
5:00 am: Go back to sleep.
7:30 am: Wake up, shower, get dressed, and make the bed.
8:00 am: Have breakfast with my husband and watch MSNBC. I’m not a morning person so he makes breakfast most mornings which consists of oatmeal, juice, and coffee.
8:30 am: Feed Arielle again.
9:00 am: Sit down at my computer and prepare the LendIt Fintech News - LatAm newsletter. My colleagues produce the Global and European editions.
9:30 am: Review inbox and respond to emails.
11:00 am: Join 1x week all team staff meeting to review key milestones and activities.
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Client calls.
2:00 pm: Catch up with Martin, my Sales Administrator. In case you were unaware, one of my responsibilities is overseeing the sales team. Together we prepare the sales inventory, prospectuses and improve upon our systems and reports in Salesforce and Olono.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Business Plan Writing. We are launching a new event soon called LendIt Fintech Nexus which I am excited to share publicly soon. In the meantime, I am preparing the webcopy, inventory and prospectus.
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Feed Arielle again.
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Back to the business plan.
5:30 pm: Walk along Riverside Park. Don’t stop until I have my 8,000 steps.
6:30 pm: Youtube fitness video for postpartum moms.
8:00 pm: Dinner with my husband Heli. We are tired so we order Poke bowls. Yum.
9:00 pm: Shower and relax.
10:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Read kindle in bed. Currently reading about interior design as we are moving soon.
11:30 pm: Feed Arielle again and put her down for the night. Swaddle time.
12:00 am: Pass out.
Sunday
5:00 am: Get up to change and feed Arielle. Woohoo she slept in a little. ;)
5:30 am: Go back to sleep.
10:30 am: Holy moly I can’t believe I slept this late! It feels amazing. Thanks, hubby.
10:30 am - 11:30 am: Stay in bed and read and relax.
11:30 am: Make brunch. It is a breakfast burrito kind of day.
1:00 pm: Go for a walk in Riverside Park with my family. Sit on a bench and people watch.
3:00 pm: Personal chores - reply to emails, pay bills, call friends and family.
6:00 pm: Make dinner - we subscribe to Blue Apron so it's time to cook before our ingredients go bad.
8:00 pm: Watch a movie. I reluctantly agree to watch Kong vs. Godzilla. My husband is a big fan.
10:30 pm: Review my schedule for Monday and get ready for bed.
Reach Out to Joy on LinkedIn
Comments