A Catalyst For Change And A Powerful Advocate For Women
Dr. Karen Wendt
President
A Catalyst For Change And A Powerful Advocate For Women
Dr. Karen Wendt
President
SwissFinTechLadies
As the world grapples with climate urgency, social inequities, and a growing demand for ethical innovation, the future of finance can no longer be built on profit alone. It requires leaders who think systemically, act courageously, and anchor every decision in purpose. Dr. Karen Wendt is one such leader — a catalyst for change in an industry long overdue for reinvention. With a career spanning global banks like Deutsche Bank, HypoVereinsbank, and UniCredit, she has transformed risk into opportunity and finance into a tool for regeneration. Today, as President of SwissFinTechLadies and CEO of Eccos Impact GmbH, she empowers women to become angel investors, startups to scale with sustainability at their core, and institutions to align capital with conscience. Beyond the boardroom, she mentors, lectures, writes, and builds ecosystems that turn values into ventures. Her work is not just about investing in markets — it’s about investing in a better future. In an exclusive conversation with TradeFlock, Dr. Wendt opens up about her journey, the barriers she’s broken, and the vision driving her forward.
What key milestones have shaped your leadership journey?
My professional journey began in the high-pressure world of investment banking, at a time when women were few and the word “sustainability” barely existed in the financial vocabulary. Over the next two decades, I worked to integrate extra-financial risk management frameworks into the sector, eventually receiving the Financial Times Sustainability Award in 2007 — a moment that shifted everything for me. It confirmed a belief I still hold today: “Finance can be a force for transformation, if we choose to embed ethics and purpose into its core.” That belief led me to found Eccos Impact GmbH, where I now serve as CEO, and to take on the role of editor for the Springer book series Sustainable Finance. These platforms allowed me to integrate the 7 Capitals model into my work — bringing equal weight to social, human, natural, intellectual, manufactured, and spiritual capital, alongside financial capital. It’s a holistic approach that transforms how we think about value and decision-making. As co-founder and now President of SwissFinTechLadies, I focus on building ecosystems where women, underrepresented voices, and ethical innovators are not just included, but empowered. I believe leadership isn’t about control — it’s about orchestration. “It’s about guiding systems toward regeneration and inclusive wealth, across all seven forms of capital.”
What current initiative excites you most, and why?
Right now, I’m most excited about the Female Angel Investing Programme we launched at SwissFinTechLadies. It’s designed to help women step into the world of private investing — many for the very first time — with confidence, clarity, and community. What makes it powerful is how it blends financial know-how with purpose. These women aren’t just writing checks — they’re backing bold ideas that reflect their values. They’re investing in companies that restore ecosystems, empower marginalized voices, and drive climate solutions. It’s not just about profit anymore. It’s about showing what purposeful capital can really do.
Breaking into traditional finance as a woman championing sustainability was no small feat. I was often the only woman in the room, advocating for sustainable practices that were seen as irrelevant.
What major challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Breaking into traditional finance as a woman championing sustainability was no small feat. I was often the only woman in the room, advocating for sustainable practices that were seen as irrelevant. I relied on persistence, data, and clear messaging to show their financial and ethical value. Another challenge was shifting institutional thinking to recognize the full value of the 7 Capitals. Encouraging banks to consider risks tied to natural and social capital required education, pilot projects, and aligning sustainability with core risk strategies.
How can technology and ethical finance drive change, and which innovations are you exploring?
When paired with ethics, technology becomes one of the most powerful tools for systemic change. At SwissFinTechLadies, we’re exploring innovations like blockchain, tokenization, and AI to democratize access to capital and information. For example, we’re working on security token offerings for green and social assets, helping small and mid-sized enterprises raise funds with integrity and transparency. We use the 7 Capitals lens to guide our thinking. It’s not just about what tech can earn, but what kind of capital it creates. Does it build trust? Support shared learning? Respect the planet? That’s the future we’re building toward — regenerative, humancentered, and tech-enabled.
What advice would you give future fintech leaders — especially women?
Start small and start now. You don’t need millions to become an investor — just the courage to begin, the curiosity to keep learning, and a strong community around you. Redefine success by embracing the full spectrum of the seven capitals, where financial return lives alongside wisdom, dignity, and lasting impact. Let your voice be heard, lead visibly, and become the role model you once looked for. Build diverse teams that draw strength from different sectors, disciplines, and cultures, because real resilience comes from inclusion. And above all, let your values guide you — ethical finance is not a contradiction, it is the direction the world is already moving toward.
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