“I have always wanted full control over all aspects of my life” — Evita Lune of Pedersen & Partners interviews Stella Jemeljanova of Sun Finance for Riga TechGirls

Riga, Latvia — Evita Lune, Partner at Pedersen & Partners, talked to Stella Jemeljanova, Chief Executive Officer Southeast Asia, Sun Finance, for Riga TechGirls.

Moving from Latvia to Sweden to work as Regional Head of Risk at 4finance requires both courage and skill. Moving from Latvia to Vietnam and subsequently the Philippines, then building a new business from scratch in Southeast Asia, requires an even more remarkable spirit.

I was impressed by the open mind, ambition and free spirit of Stella Jemeljanova, CEO of Sun Finance for Southeast Asia — the very qualities that I love so much about my FinTech friends!

Q: You have been working in some of the most modern and digital-native companies in financial services, and have earned an excellent reputation as a leader, CEO and CRO. Working with FinTech clients, I know how demanding they are compared to the big corporates. Why do you think you have been so successful?

A: FinTech (coming from Financial Technologies) even sounds complicated — how it can turn out to be simple inside? I believe that FinTech needs to solve a much more complex problem: how to make a good business fast and effective, with a team that enjoys what it is doing. Given this complexity, FinTechs need to find not only good professionals, but also people who match the team, are open-minded, and can multitask while thinking widely, instead of focusing on the narrow specifics.

Q: What did it take for you to start leading other people and assume more and more complex roles — regional chief risk officer in the Nordics, and then regional CEO in South East Asia?

A: I knew from the very beginning that my career would evolve rapidly, and that I would end up leading people and making decisions. Going up, I was mentally prepared for this, and enjoyed it more and more at every step. Taking on tougher roles and leading more people requires a broader outlook, patience and appropriate communication. After realising this and improving these skills, my learning curve has accelerated and my progress has become smoother.

Q: What are the critical skills for any professional willing to develop a career in a FinTech space? What are the main differences between FinTechs and incumbent companies?

A: An open mind and the ability to speak up. The FinTech environment implies an exchange of bright ideas, not top-down instructions. In the FinTechs not yet spoiled by bureaucracy, management appreciates good ideas coming from the bottom and rewards their originators, unlike incumbent companies where all credit goes to the manager. In FinTech, it is not necessary to have 30 years of industry and management experience; people simply need to learn the business quickly, and have the desire and ideas for success.

Q: What are your tips for working in a tech-savvy environment, with tech people? How do you establish a successful dialogue and grow your own skills in the area?

A: Tech and data people are smart, but need to be understood. I never have problems working with them when I have some idea of what they are doing and how it works. They like to discuss their specialty, so simple questions can give you a lot of information about the tech/data. I do not see any option other than learning something about the technology, so that you can communicate in their language rather than making them speak yours.

Q: Please tell me about your main experiences of moving to live in another country — from Latvia to Sweden, then to Vietnam, then to the Philippines? What have you learned?

A: I like travelling a lot, so for me it was relatively easy to move to another country. It is exciting to learn how different the countries and cultures are — something that works in one country can cause trouble in another. I would say that much of my experience comes from observing differences, and this evolves into a different way of thinking. Everything stops being black and white, and becomes much broader and more complex. Adapting quickly to the new environment and learning to embrace changes rather than fearing them will make your life easier too.

Q: Did you have to make sacrifices for your achievements?

A: Success does not come easy. It is part of human nature to socialise and follow traditions, especially with familiar people. I had to learn how to make my life exciting despite being alone and physically separated from my family and friends. Moving to a different country every few years broke me out of my comfort zone, which is what people usually seek.

Q: What is your source of motivation and the biggest satisfaction in your professional life?

A: To be in full control of my life. I hate having to do things that I dislike or do not believe in. So my goal was and is full independence, and the ability to choose options that are great for me, not just satisfactory, in every aspect of my life: job, hobbies, home, travel, family — everything.