Cassie Craddock

Tell us your story:

As one of Europe’s most senior women in crypto, I have international expertise in payments and blockchain from a range of fintechs. In my role as UK and Europe Managing Director at Ripple, I lead our business across four regional offices, with commercial responsibility for expanding the company's payments and custody businesses across the UK and European Union.

Outside of Ripple, I serve on The Payments Association board, helping position the UK as a hub for emerging payments technology, and take this opportunity to weave in the voice of the LGBTQIA+ community at events such as Money20/20 Europe and Merge Madrid. Prior to Ripple, I worked at French startup Mangopay, where I launched their UK operations before exiting the business to Credit Mutuel Arkea. I also held positions at Ixaris and Veridu.

My route into financial technology and ultimately blockchain was less orthodox than many since I began my career playing football for Ipswich Town in the FA Women's Premier League.

Impact:

It’s my determination to empower diversity and inclusion in an industry that has come a long way - but still has much further to go. I know the importance of building a supportive, inclusive environment at work - and I’m lucky enough to have worked alongside a range of diverse and inspiring leaders in my fintech career.

As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have an informed view on measures to enhance diversity within crypto - and more broadly, the financial services industry. As much as my leadership is about driving growth and commercial success for Ripple, it is about fostering a supportive workplace for underrepresented groups. I’m actively involved in pride at Ripple, where I contribute to an environment of empowerment and belonging. While I also offer guidance and inform how we embed DEI into our hiring practices to ensure fair access and opportunity.

I’m committed to shaping inclusion in a broader sense too through my involvement in Ripple's Women Employee Resource Group (ERG) where I’ve helped build a supportive network for Ripple’s female employees in Europe and beyond. I’ve also been a driving force behind broader industry initiatives, including Ripple’s sponsorship of the Association of Women in Crypto.

Advice:

I've always believed that to be an innovator and a leader, you can't be afraid to be your real, authentic self. Financial technology, by its very nature, aims to change financial services for the better. To do this we need diverse perspectives and the willingness to challenge the status quo.

And there will be times in your career when you are forced to take a stand. For me one such occasion occurred early in my career. During a meeting with four male representatives of one of my clients, the conversation turned inappropriate when they began to make deeply offensive, homophobic jokes about an executive from another company. The situation became even more jarring when one of them said to me, "At least you're not one of those," as if to include me in their sentiment.

In moments like this, you have a choice to make. I could have ignored the comment to maintain the business relationship. Instead I chose to stand up for what I knew to be right. I calmly asked them to leave and informed them that we would no longer be doing business together.

Should you find yourself in these kinds of situations, you will likely need to take a risk. Standing up to my clients was unquestionably a risky move for me personally but fortunately my manager did the right thing and backed me up. This situation proved to be a pivotal moment for me personally and cemented my belief that true leadership is rooted in integrity.

Never forget that the courage to be authentic and challenge unacceptable behaviour is far more valuable than any commercial deal.