Today, we are sharing the journey of new COO and Chief Development Officer of 100 Women in Finance, Kellan Brown, telling her previous fintech journey and how to inspire her to bring impact into 100 Women in Finance and 100WFinTech communities globally.
Kellan Brown
COO and Chief Development Officer, 100 Women in Finance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellanvanbrown/
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100WFinTech: Why did you get involved in the fintech space? What have you learned over this journey as a Chief Growth Officer/Investor/Board Member of Focal?
It all started over 20-years ago when I led my first business development team. I was given the freedom to build out a CRM (gratefully, with the help of a talented developer) that became the backbone of our strategy. We tracked every metric, behavior, and leading indicator, creating a data-driven culture that fueled a compound annual growth rate of 35% over eight years. It was exhilarating. That experience cemented my belief that technology, when used intentionally, is not just a support function, it’s a catalyst for systemic, scalable change.
Since then, I’ve leaned fully into that belief. I transitioned into the fintech space, leading growth for a retirement income planning startup and speaking on the powerful connection between tech, behavior, and outcomes. I’ve seen firsthand that the firms, and people who thrive are those who use technology not just to measure performance and culture, but to meaningfully shape it.
In 2024, I became an investor and advisory-board member at Focal, an AI-powered meeting assistant and back-office automation platform purpose-built for wealth management. Focal eliminates manual work before, during, and after meetings, saving advisors up to 50 hours per month – by automatically joining any Zoom, Teams, phone, or in-person meeting, transcribing the conversation in real time, and producing polished summaries, action items, agendas, and pre-/post-meeting emails. Deep integrations with Redtail, Wealthbox, Salesforce, and browser-based agents give Focal a 360° view of each client and enable it to automate entire back-office workflows including onboarding, compliance, and form filling.
I genuinely believe AI is poised to reshape not just finance, but every industry much like the internet did decades ago. The tools we adopt now will define how we live, work, and lead into the future. That’s why being part of Focal’s journey is such an energizing and natural extension of my own. It reflects everything I value: growth, technology, access, and building smarter systems that elevate people and performance.
How can those experiences inspire you to bring into 100WFinTech initiative in your new role as COO and Chief Development Officer at 100 Women in Finance?
My fintech journey has shown me that the future of finance will be written by those who embrace both innovation and inclusion. I joined 100 Women in Finance because of its mission to advance women at every stage of their career – but like every other firm I have joined, it is technology that helps us achieve our missions – and excel in them.
The 100WFinTech initiative has been built largely through the passion and dedication of the committee and volunteers. That speaks volumes about how deeply this work resonates. These women have created a Directory of over 300 female founders and fintech leaders, laying the foundation for women in finance to thrive.
Looking ahead, we’re focused on building a robust platform around this Directory, one that connects these leaders with investors, educators, and each other. We want to drive visibility at industry events, spark opportunity for investment, and create the kind of community that accelerates real outcomes – and yes, ones that we can measure.
100 Women in Finance isn’t just about investment professionals, it’s about all of us, across every corner of the financial industry, coming together to advance women. I can’t express how proud I am of what this group of women have done to support each other.
100WFinTech: What key messages do you want to share with our 100WFinTech community and the younger generation of women who want to follow a similar path?
Going back to helping build that CRM, I never set out to be “in tech.” But I learned how technology shaped the outcomes I needed to earn a seat at the table and how it helped me stand out. That experience taught me that understanding technology isn’t just an advantage; it’s a differentiator.
To the next generation: don’t be afraid to explore different corners of the industry. Test the waters. Lean into what sparks your curiosity. Your perspective isn’t just welcomed—it’s needed.
No matter your title or the company you work for, pay close attention to the systems and technologies helping you reach your goals. And if you spot a problem that needs solving, build the solution. And if you find yourself with questions, this is why we are here. 100 Women in Finance and 100WFinTech was built to share, shape, and support each one of you.