FinTekNews Celebrates #WomenInFintech – Meet Kelly Waltrich of Orion Advisor Solutions
Grow Intentionly
July 8, 2019
We’re pleased to present our latest installment in our feature series – “FintekNews Celebrates #WomenInFintech“. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Waltrich of Orion Advisor Solutions.Orion exists to help advisory professionals realize their vision for success. They achieve this mission by delivering best-in-class technology, investment services, and support solutions that empower each advisor to build their business on their own terms, through their three unique brands: Orion Advisor Tech, FTJFundChoice and CLS Investments.
NAME: Kelly Waltrich
TITLE: Chief Marketing Officer
COMPANY: Orion Advisor Solutions
WEB ADDRESS: www.orionadvisortech.com
1) What does your financial technology firm offer?
Orion provides innovative technology solutions for financial advisory firms. More importantly, we act as their partner, helping to improve their firm’s efficiency, strengthen their client relationships, and support their unique vision for growth. Our solutions include trading, billing, reporting, compliance, and client experience tools, as well as an open API that enables 100+ deep integrations with CRM tools, financial planning platforms, and more.
When I am explaining it to my family, I simply tell them that …our technology enables advisors to facilitate transparent and collaborative conversations with their clients to better help them achieve their financial goals.
2) What was the personal motivation for you to join your firm?
Company culture and the people were huge motivators for me. I’ve always looked to be part of companies that value an exceptional client experience above all else. This type of strategic focus not only ensures you’re innovating your offering to meet what your clients truly want and need–but it reinforces your marketing efforts with an army of clients who are willing to be advocates, promoters, and brand ambassadors.
Orion’s commitment to client experience spills over into the day-to-day work of the people who build our tech, support our advisors, lead our innovation and tell our brand’s story. I love the work I do, and I’ve found a team that I love to do it with.
3) As a business leader, do you feel any advantages/disadvantages in being female as you are 1) managing your business & team internally and 2) growing your business competitively?
Early in my career, I made the decision that my gender was never going to be something I used as a scapegoat for any struggles or as a rationalization for any of my success. Instead, I focused on plotting a plan with very specific steps for achieving my goal of leading marketing for a large, successful financial organization.
Along the way, I’ve also been lucky enough to work for male leaders who have supported my goals and prioritized diversity on their leadership teams, including Mike Durbin, Ed O’Brien, and now Eric Clarke.
4) Do you feel you are at a competitive advantage – or disadvantage – as a female fintech business leader– or neither?
In an interesting way, I feel like I’m at an advantage because unfortunately, there’s still a bit of a surprise element when women exhibit strong leadership capabilities — in other words, when we do our jobs. It shouldn’t be a surprise when we demonstrate these characteristics, but sometimes it still is.
5) Do you feel there are more women in financial technology leadership roles than in other business sectors? If so, why or why not?
When it comes to diversity in the workplace, I think overall, the fintech space is seemingly a little more modern and progressive than most other financial business sectors. But, while we do embrace women in leadership, there is always room to grow.
6) Do you think the trend will continue where we will see more women in leadership roles in fintechs (Yes/No) and why?
I think, yes… because I have great confidence the leaders across fintech, most of which I count as my friends — both men and women — to usher in the next generation of diverse industry leaders. And as a leader in my own company, I count myself among those responsible for creating a future that celebrates diversity of all kinds at every level of our organization.
