About Georgia

Ladies Talk Money: Hey there Georgia! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us :) Can you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you got to talking about money?

Georgia: Hey there! I suppose I didn’t really start talking about money until I began my career in product design. I got my start designing mobile apps for all sorts of clients, and with every new client I was thrown deep into their world and the problems they were trying to solve. I worked alongside people who saw opportunities to help others, and a lot of them just happened to be in the finance space. Many years (and apps) later and I’m still obsessed with solving problems that help others with their money, and now, I get to do that every day as a product designer at Up!

LTM: How would you characterise your relationship with money now, compared to what you learned about money growing up?

G: My relationship with money was very one-sided when I was growing up. It seemed like it was something you just had or didn’t have, it dictated your life and there was nothing you could do about it. But my relationship with it now is much more two-way and it’s something I’m regularly talking about, organising, and thinking about, just like any other part of my life. You work with it and it works with you!

LTM: So, you’re currently a Lead Product Designer at Up (faaaancy) - tell us a bit more about what that means and what you get up to, day to day, in your role?

G: Up is a digital bank that imagines how banking could be better for young Australians, and we design and build a banking app that does just that. My role as a Lead Product Designer is to create features that make managing money easy and fun, while also improving the financial wellbeing of our customers. In a typical week I could be generating new ideas with the team, problem solving how a feature works with the engineers, or crafting a small interaction for one of the screens.

“Money hasn’t always been the most accessible topic to just dive into, neither has it been encouraged as a regular topic of conversation among women. I think stereotypes feed a lot into this, but I see more and more young women taking an active interest in their finances now… it’s amazing to see!”

LTM: We saw that Up recently commissioned the largest ever money survey of Gen Z and Millennials, which revealed their sentiment towards their finances and savings, Australia’s cost of living crisis, and their overall money management habits. What did you think of the results? And how have they influenced the work you and your team are doing?

G: We had almost half of Gen Z say that they’re overspending and that it’s preventing them from reaching their financial goals. And that also, the rising cost of living crisis is the biggest blocker for Millennials, Gen X and Boomers when it comes to reaching their goals. These findings really resonated with me and my life and I’m sure many others would agree. Having a deep understanding of what is top of mind for our customers is so helpful and influences all our decision making. We use insights like these to know which problems we should tackle first and which features would provide the most value.

LTM: Up are well known for their innovative digital banking products/services that aim to support the financial wellness of their customers. We’re big fans of the philosophy behind Maybuy (Up’s ethical answer to predatory ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ schemes) and we hear you’ve also just launched your brand new money management system, Hi—Fi? Tell us about it!

G: For me, Maybuy and Hi—Fi are such quintessential Up features because they help address some of those real pain points that young people are experiencing with their money. Hi—Fi is our latest feature launch and it’s a simple, automated money management system that helps people get a clearer understanding, and better control, of their money. Basically, it takes all the best things about Up and combines them into a bloody cool experience, where you can reflect on your own relationship with money and see it improve over time. The system itself is super easy to set up and it makes sure bills are sorted and savings goals are on track, so that users know exactly how much they can spend on the things they enjoy.

LTM: How do you work to smash stereotypes about women and money in your world?

G: In the old-school banking world there’s unfortunately quite a lot of lingering stereotypes and assumptions about women, heteronormative relationships, and money. At Up we don’t have any of that, everyone has equal access to everything. Take our 2Up feature for example: it flips traditional joint accounts on its head, and makes tackling finances with a partner more equal. None of that ‘one person knows everything about your finances while the other is in the dark’ kind of thing – which historically, has always disadvantaged women.

LTM: What do you see as some of the major barriers faced by women and gender diverse people today, when it comes to achieving financial equality?

G: I think it’s a combination of lack of access, awareness, and interest. Money and personal finance hasn’t always been the most accessible topic to just dive into, neither has it been encouraged as a regular topic of conversation among women. I think stereotypes feed a lot into this, but I see more and more young women taking an active interest in their finances now and chatting openly about it with friends and peers, it’s amazing to see!

LTM: What’s the biggest money ‘faux pas’ you’ve made and how’d you fix it?

G: Undervaluing myself. Earlier in my career (and I still catch myself doing it now) I underquoted or downplayed my skills. I charged clients much less than I should have, or didn’t go for the promotion – it can be a tricky cycle to get out of and can really set you back financially. I’m still learning how to be better at this, but the key for me was to talk openly about money with my peers, and to make a commitment to just back myself.

LTM: And what about a great financial decision you've made?

G: To read, listen, talk, and just absorb as much info as possible about personal finances & managing money while I was still quite young and new to a regular income. This helped me feel more in control of my money and create a plan for it – much like Hi–Fi. This also meant I was able to explore investing pretty early on which, for something that benefits from time, I’m grateful I was able to get a head start on.

LTM: In your opinion, why is it important for women and gender diverse people to be talking more about money?

G: Different perspectives and representation is absolutely key to encourage more people to learn and engage with any new topic. But money in particular is so personal and and can be incredibly daunting, so removing the secrecy around it and hearing what other people are doing and how they are managing something that we all go through, makes it seem so much more commonplace and achievable.

LTM: What are some of your favourite tips to help women and gender diverse people feel more confident with their money?

G: Find a way to make your money and spending more visible! The more you’re across what is happening and play an active role in it, the less overwhelming it seems. Up is definitely one way to achieve that as it’s so easy to see where you’re spending and what commitments you have. But it can be as simple as paper statements and a couple highlighters. Just find a way to make it a part of your everyday life, then you’re in a great position to start making a plan for your money.

LTM: And lucky last - what are three words that come to mind for you when you think about money?

G: Utility, Opportunity, and Independence.

Other Ladies Talking Money is an interview series created by us (Ladies Talk Money) and is designed to profile some of the other incredible women and gender diverse people that are working to change money for the better. We don’t have any direct affiliation with those featured, nor do we recommend or endorse their services. We just happen to love what they do, and choose to show our appreciation through this series and by doing what we can to spread the word.

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Any finance info discussed in this seriously fab feature is general advice only. You should always consider your own personal circumstances before acting on it, or reach out to us if you’d like to discuss your individual needs.