Erin Burke: From Beachside Hustle to Fintech Powerhouse
Erin Burke's career, shaped by an early immersion in financial literacy on New Zealand's coast, has taken an unexpected but impactful turn, leading her to a leadership role at global fintech platform Pepperstone. Now as Head of Procurement and Support, this game-changer embodies resilience and strategic acumen, advocating for women in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
From Beachside Hustle to Fintech Powerhouse
From early days behind the counter of a fish and chip shop, Erin's career path unexpectedly veered from government into finance, ultimately landing her in a leadership role at a global fintech platform like Pepperstone. She thrives in the high-speed environment of technology and client experience, embracing the "chaos" that comes with global operations. Now as Head of Procurement and Support for the entire company, her role demands significant negotiation, resilience, and the ability to maintain strong relationships with suppliers. Her approach to these challenging conversations is built on trust, allowing for direct and honest discussions that benefit all parties involved.
Working in historically male-dominated sectors like finance and tech, Erin acknowledges both the occasional advantages and persistent challenges. While she believes she has earned every role through skill and experience, she has also faced assumptions about her position, even being asked to get coffee despite being a senior leader. These experiences have taught her the crucial lesson of "taking up space." She firmly believes in her right to be at the table and to be heard, advocating for herself and teaching others to do the same, professionally and decisively.
Championing and Empowering Other Women
Erin is 100% committed to bringing other women along on their journeys to success. She actively role models assertive behaviours, encouraging younger women to speak out and ask questions in meetings. Her advice to women is clear: "Ask for what you deserve. We deserve to be there. We deserve to get paid what the role is worth." She emphasises the need to "be a bit brave," noting that asking for what you're worth or challenging assumptions in a professional manner leads to respect and results.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Forward Thinking
Erin values long-term relationships with partners like Logicalis, with whom she's worked for over five or six years. A notable project involved a four-month transition to the Microsoft productivity suite, a feat she describes as "almost unheard of" due to Logicalis's proactive engagement with Microsoft to tailor solutions. Looking ahead, Erin is keenly focused on the impact of AI in every product, rigorously evaluating its value and ensuring teams are enabled to utilise these transformative tools.
Watch Erin Burke shares more about her journey as a Game Changer.
