Featuring Person: Shazia Hammad
Designation: CEO
Organization: Xpert Digital
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we celebrate women leaders who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of industries across the globe. Among them is Shazia Hammad, a dynamic leader in the fintech and digital transformation space who continues to inspire through her vision, resilience, and commitment to innovation.
With a strong academic background in computer science from the University of Houston and leadership training from Harvard, Shazia has built a career at the intersection of technology, strategy, and business transformation. As part of the leadership at Xpert Digital, she has been instrumental in helping financial institutions embrace digital solutions that enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and drive long-term growth in an increasingly digital world.
Beyond her professional achievements, Shazia is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in leadership. She believes that empowering women and embracing diverse perspectives are essential for building stronger organizations and more inclusive technological solutions.
In this special Women’s Day feature, Shazia shares insights into her professional journey, the challenges and opportunities for women in technology and finance, and her message to aspiring women leaders around the world.
1. Can you briefly share your professional journey and what inspired you to lead Xpert Digital?
My professional journey has always been connected to technology, innovation, and leadership. Having a degree in Computer Science from the University of Houston and a diploma in leadership from Harvard helped shape my perspective on technology, business, and leadership.
After graduation, my first job was with a bank. I joined the Business Intelligence unit, where I worked closely with data and insights that supported important business decisions. At that time, most discussions in the banking industry were focused on growth through opening more branches.
Over time, the industry began to change. The real strategic shift away from branch-centric banking happened mainly after the 2010s, when smartphones and mobile apps made digital banking mainstream. Banks started realizing that future growth would depend more on digital channels rather than physical branches. The focus shifted toward increasing digital customers and improving digital experiences.
Through this experience, I saw how digital solutions could transform the way organizations operate and serve their customers. It also helped me understand the challenges companies face when trying to adopt new technologies.
Xpert Digital was formed in response to this growing need in the market. I was part of the founding team, and the idea fascinated me because the vision strongly resonated with me. I saw that many banks wanted to transform digitally but struggled to find the right partner to guide them through this journey. Xpert Digital was created to fill that gap—not just by providing technology solutions, but by helping banks rethink their processes, improve efficiency, and successfully navigate their digital transformation journey.
2. As a woman leading a digital transformation company, what unique perspectives do you bring to leadership?
As a woman leading a digital transformation company, one perspective I strongly value is the importance of diversity in leadership. Ultimately, the solutions we build—especially in banking—are used by people, and roughly half of those customers are women. When leadership teams are diverse, they bring different viewpoints and experiences, which helps organizations design products and services that better meet the needs of all users.
I believe that diversity leads to more thoughtful decision-making and ultimately improves the end-user experience. When different perspectives are part of the conversation, it encourages teams to think more broadly about usability, accessibility, and customer expectations.
Another perspective I bring as a woman leader is a strong focus on collaboration and empathy. Digital transformation is not just about technology—it’s about people, processes, and culture. Understanding how teams work, how customers interact with technology, and how organizations adapt to change is critical to making transformation successful.
For me, leadership is about creating an environment where diverse ideas are encouraged. When teams feel included and heard, they are more likely to build solutions that truly make an impact.
3. What challenges have you faced as a woman in the technology and financial services industry, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges has been that both the technology and financial services industries are still largely male-dominated. As a result, bringing a different perspective to leadership discussions sometimes requires more explanation and reasoning to ensure those viewpoints are understood and considered.
Another challenge women often face is the stereotype that they are too emotional or too soft to lead effectively. These perceptions can sometimes make it harder to establish authority or be taken seriously in leadership roles.
Over time, I learned that the best way to overcome these challenges is through consistency, performance, and confidence. By focusing on delivering results, building strong teams, and demonstrating strategic thinking, you gradually earn trust and credibility.
I also believe it is important to stay authentic in your leadership style rather than trying to fit into traditional expectations. Strong leadership can take many forms, and qualities like empathy, collaboration, and resilience can actually make teams stronger and more effective.
While challenges do exist, I also see progress. More organizations are recognizing the value of diverse leadership, and I believe we will continue to see more women stepping into leadership roles across technology and financial services.
5. In your view, how can the fintech and digital banking industry create more opportunities for women leaders?
In the past, we have often seen women gravitate more toward industries such as healthcare and education. One possible reason is that traditional roles in technology and banking were often perceived as highly technical, operational, or routine.
However, this perception is changing rapidly. With the rise of digital banking and fintech, the focus has shifted much more toward customer experience, innovation, and creative problem-solving. This transformation has opened new opportunities for women to contribute in meaningful ways—whether through designing better digital experiences, understanding customer needs, or leading innovation initiatives.
To create more opportunities for women leaders, organizations need to actively promote diversity and inclusion. This includes creating supportive work environments, providing mentorship and leadership development programs, and ensuring that women have equal opportunities to grow into decision-making roles.
It is also important for organizations to highlight successful women leaders as role models. When women see others leading and succeeding in these industries, it inspires confidence and encourages more women to pursue leadership paths in technology and banking.
7. How important is mentorship and support networks for women aspiring to build careers in technology and finance?
Mentorship and support networks are extremely important for women aspiring to build careers in technology and finance. In my own journey, this was something I personally experienced. Because there are relatively fewer women in executive roles, most of my professional networks were built with male colleagues and mentors. While those relationships were very valuable and supportive, the experiences of women in the workplace can sometimes be different.
Women often face unique challenges while progressing in their careers, including cultural expectations and balancing multiple responsibilities. Because of this, having mentors or role models who understand those experiences can be incredibly helpful.
I believe we need to continue building stronger networks and communities where women can learn from each other, support one another, and share their experiences. Visible role models are also very important—they not only provide guidance but also inspire the next generation of women to pursue leadership roles in technology and finance.
9. On the occasion of Women’s Day, what message would you like to share with aspiring women leaders around the world?
On the occasion of Women’s Day, my message to aspiring women leaders is to first believe in yourself and trust the process. Any meaningful journey will come with challenges, moments of doubt, and obstacles along the way. These experiences are a natural part of growth.
What is important is to stay confident in your abilities and remain passionate about what you do. When you trust yourself and stay committed to your goals, challenges become opportunities to learn and grow. With confidence, resilience, and passion, anything is possible.