When global fintech company Airwallex was established in Melbourne in 2015, nine out of every 10 fintech leaders in Australia was male.
“I was 25 when Airwallex was founded. Some people were surprised to see a young female co-founder of a startup in an industry traditionally dominated by men,” Co-Founder and President Lucy Liu tells The CEO Magazine. “In the early days, I recall a few double-takes when people saw my business card.”
One of Australia’s fastest-growing fintech unicorns, Airwallex now employs more than 800 people in 12 offices around the world.
“Being a young woman in business can be challenging, but for me, it became a source of strength,” Liu shares. “Being young allowed me to make bold choices and take risks. Tenacity and perseverance are qualities all successful entrepreneurs need, regardless of age or gender.”
LIFTING UP AS SHE CLIMBS
In March this year, Liu was awarded the Rising Star Award for Young Alumni at the University of Melbourne’s 2021 Faculty of Business and Economics Alumni of Distinction Awards for her work with early-stage companies and founders and her “drive to be a female role model”. Liu is also a startup adviser for the university’s Melbourne Accelerator Program and Startup Victoria Office Hours program.
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