Although female participation in the financial market is increasing, there are still many challenges for women working in the sector. For Victoria Schulz, Head of Transfero Prime, the way to achieve it is not accepting any discrimination or any favoritism, but simply equal opportunities.
“I simply want and seek to have the same chances for development”, she said in an interview with PanoramaCrypto.
The professional, who started her career in 2018 as an intern at Transfero, highlights that this is the best way to overcome the stigmas created about the female universe, such as that women are fragile, emotional and excessive.
“Some mistaken views, which place the woman as a more fragile or emotional person, need to be reviewed. These characteristics are independent of gender, just as other competencies and talents are as well”, she said.
In this exclusive interview, check out more details about Victoria’s path and her vision about female participation in the market.
How did you get started in the cryptoasset market?
Victoria Schulz – I came to this market, or rather, it came to me, through an online invitation from Transfero’s CEO, Thiago Cesar, to participate in an internship selection process in the Business Development area. At the time (2018), I was studying production engineering at PUC-Rio University and was looking for an internship opportunity.
I remember researching about the company and the cryptoasset market. I noticed that it was a Swiss company, which was still starting its activities, and that the cryptoasset sector still caused mistrust because it was a new market.
As I learned more about the industry, I discovered the many possibilities it opens and saw great disruptive potential. I thought it would be an exciting experience because it was a growing market and a company that was still in its initial phase, with growth potential. Therefore, I accepted the proposal.
What has your professional career path been over the years since you started at Transfero?
Victoria Schulz – As I mentioned before, I started my professional career in the financial market in 2018, working as an intern in the Business Development area at Transfero. At the time, the company had less than 20 employees, and we had a small room in a coworking space in Ipanema (Rio de Janeiro). The cryptoasset market was still in its early stages of maturation.
But after a year at Transfero, I decided to make a professional change to have experience in a financial institution that operated in traditional markets. So I moved to BTG Pactual, where I worked for about three years in the Middle area for the Investment Banking and Wealth Management segment. I have a lot of respect and gratitude for the institution and the people I had the pleasure of meeting because BTG was a great school for me. I learned a lot and developed a lot professionally.
After this period, I decided to return to the cryptoasset market and return to Transfero, where I identified a great opportunity for growth. The company has grown exponentially, and it is fantastic to follow it and be part of this development. In a short time in the company, my work was recognized. I received the proposal to assume the Head of the Transfero Prime business unit, which focuses on helping the public with higher purchasing power navigate the cryptoasset investments environment.
Could you tell us more about your routine in this position?
Victoria Schulz – When I received the invitation to take over this area, I was very excited, even though I knew it would be a great professional challenge, accompanied by a considerable increase in responsibility and demands. My first mission was to make a diagnosis of the area. We resized the team and opened some vacancies, mainly for the commercial team.
My routine is very dynamic. I have several meetings during the day, both internal, to align the different teams and external, with clients. So many initiatives are happening simultaneously, new ideas and projects!
I confess that there are such busy times, and I feel so involved in what I am doing that I wish I had more hours in the day! But I am not alone in this. Transfero has an incredible team of highly skilled employees, who I know I can count on and share the responsibilities. Seeing Prime and Transfero growing is wonderful, and participating and sharing every minor victory with the team motivates me the most!
What are the challenges of working in a segment that is still predominantly male?
Victoria Schulz – There are still many challenges for women in the financial market, and I believe this is due to the historical roots that still influence society and the labor market. Fortunately, female participation has been growing in this sector, which helps reduce more and more the differences between men and women.
One of the biggest challenges for women is to show that appearance does not influence competence. There are still men who believe that these two things do not go together. Furthermore, there is a daily challenge in overcoming all the stigmas created about the female universe, such as that women are fragile, emotional, and excessive. Although female participation in the financial market is increasing, there are still many challenges for women working in the sector. For Victoria Schulz, Head of Transfero Prime, the way to achieve it is not accepting any discrimination or any favoritism, but simply equal opportunities. There are women with these personalities traits, as well as men.
I do not accept that or seek special treatment that would favor me, nor any discrimination that would harm my professional path. That’s how I deal with it. I simply want and seek to have the same opportunities.
Regarding the cryptoasset market, I believe that making choices and not depending on anyone, and here I don’t even mean just a partner, but banks, governments, and any intermediary is the most valuable thing one can want. This industry allows you this freedom. Financial opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of gender.
To what do you attribute your professional success?
Victoria Schulz – Working has always had a significant meaning in my life. I was raised in a mostly German family, and I believe I have absorbed many values from this culture, such as a sense of responsibility and the pursuit of independence.
The determining factors in reaching my current position were resilience, attitude, responsibility, and the will to grow. I always try to give my best in everything I do. I am ambitious, and I yearn for new challenges; when I am too comfortable in a position, I get discouraged. I need to be constantly learning new things and developing myself. I love to be thrilled, to have those butterflies in my stomach! This is the biggest sign that I’m on the right track.
