Anne Boden

CEO and Founder of Starling Bank, a UK mobile challenger bank.

@AnneBoden | LinkedIn Profile

Anne is a banker and technologist with more than 30 years of experience building and running global banking and payments businesses.
Before Starling she was the Chief Operating Officer of Allied Irish Banks Plc with responsibility for returning the bank to profitability. Prior to this she headed Europe, Middle East & Africa across 34 countries for Global Transaction Banking at RBS & ABN Amro. In 2010, Treasury and Risk Magazine named Anne one of the ten most influential figures in Global Finance.

Anne’s quick wit and sense of humour immediately rose to the surface throughout our interview. We hope you enjoy her responses and much as we did throughout the interview process.

What advice can you offer to women who want to succeed in financial services?

If you are twice as smart as the guys and work twice as hard as them you will get promoted just as quickly.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Isn’t work/life balance somewhat dated now? Millennials seem to mix work and leisure far more than my generation - I always thought I was ahead of my time.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Men!

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

Many years ago I was nominated to the FTSE 100 Cross-Company Mentoring Programme, which brings together FTSE 100 Chairmen and senior women executives just below main board level. This gave me the opportunity of working on real business problems with the leaders of Europe’s largest companies. I realised that these guys were just like me, with the same insecurities and doubts but perhaps a bit older and a little greyer. They had got there not because of luck but because they were talented, determined and resilient.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I have worked for some remarkable women leaders - Ann Cairns who is now President International at MasterCard and June Drewry, former CIO of Chubb, Lincoln and Aon who demonstrated extraordinary leadership during 9/11.

Who do you consider to be the most influential in your career?

Not who but what - big leadership roles in my early 20’s, a few years in strategic consulting and an international assignment.

What key characteristics do you attribute to your success in this industry?

I enjoy my job and when it is no longer all-consuming then I find something more challenging and intellectually rewarding. Starling is my latest and biggest challenge. It is probably the most exciting and compelling role of my career. I am working with some of the most innovative and professional people in the industry and that is so fulfilling and energising.

What are one or two key challenges facing your specific focus in FinTech? How are you addressing these with Starling Bank?

Challenging the banking business model whilst at the same time fitting into the banking regulatory environment is tough but there is tremendous political support for innovation. The technology, the processes and the team all need to be fit for purpose and pass the regulatory hurdles which are much higher than for a non-bank or a typical internet company.