Sheena Allen: Digital Innovation

  • Entrepreneurial Visionary: Sheena Allen is celebrated for her entrepreneurial prowess, having founded multiple successful ventures that have made a significant impact in their respective industries.
  • Dynamic Speaker: Renowned for her captivating presence and engaging storytelling, Sheena Allen is a sought-after speaker at events and conferences, where she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience, leaving audiences inspired and empowered.
  • Creative Architect: With a keen eye for design and innovation, Sheena Allen serves as a creative architect, shaping cutting-edge solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in technology, business, and beyond.
  • Trailblazing Leadership: Sheena Allen’s leadership in the entrepreneurial space serves as a beacon of inspiration, empowering others to embrace their creativity, take risks, and chart their own paths to success.

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: San Francisco, CA, USA
  • **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000

Keynote Topics

The age-old traditional banking system was not made for everyone. With over 2 billion people worldwide considered financially underserved and over half of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck and relying on predatory services like payday lenders and title loan services to try to make ends meet, financial inclusion has become a hot topic.

Sheena speaks on the problems ranging from no access to banks due to the increase of banking deserts, being unbanked due to lack of trust in banks or not being able to afford the fees associated with many banks, and millennials being coined the unbanked generation. Tech is now ready to have a significant impact on financial inclusion.

Sheena created her second startup, social fintech company CapWay, to tackle the issues with financial inclusion. Technology has a history of disrupting industries – from Uber to AirBnB.

It is now time technology and new leadership use technology to create access and opportunity for those who don’t fit the model designed by banks years and years ago.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I have this amazing idea for an app?”

Well, a lot of people do! Unfortunately, most people with the idea have no clue what the next step they should take and for those who think they know, they usually assume that means contacting a developer to start coding their idea into an app.

They completely skip over understanding the side of their app that should be well understood before ever reaching out to a developer.

  • Is this a free app or does it include in-app purchases?
  • What about UI/UX?
  • How many similar apps are already available?
  • Is this for iOS or Android or both?

There is so much to the mapping out of a mobile app that should be done before ever contacting a developer that is never done.

Key lessons from this talk include:

Don’t go directly from app idea to app development. That is like having a car (app idea) and tires (app developer), but with no gas (app strategy and mapping).
The entire app process – from idea all the way to deployment in the app store.
Understanding how the app stores work – Apple AppStore vs. Android
How to create a flow-chart
What to look for when searching for an app developer and what are the red flags you may be dealing with someone who won’t deliver.

Majority of all startups focus on getting an investment from a VC (venture capitalist) or angel investor. After all, it is the companies who are raising millions and millions of dollars that are being featured by the top media outlets in the world.

However, getting venture capital funding is not the right path for everyone. Many founders focus on raising money and lose focus on building their company or don’t always fully understand what it means to raise money. The reality is that for every investment a company takes, the company because less and less controlled by the founder or founding team.

Bootstrapping has become something that is overlooked. While each has its pros and cons, the media has put way more pros on getting an investment versus bootstrapping.

Sheena Allen bootstrapped her first startup, Sheena Allen Apps, to millions of app downloads while she has raised two rounds of funding for her second startup, CapWay. Sheena can attest to the pros and cons of each side.

Key lessons from this talk include:

  • The reality behind raising money – less control, pressure of getting returns, etc.
  • Other ways of raising funds outside of traditional venture capitalists
  • How to bootstrap as long as you can
  • Acknowledging if VC dollars are right for your business or is bootstrapping a more ideal path

Women and minorities are still fighting to be respected in the tech world. For a culture that has been dominated by the “bro-code” of mainly white men, having diversity in the room is becoming more and more of a demand with numbers showing that more diverse teams are more successful.

From lack of respect to lack of funding, being a minority in tech has been an uphill battle. Though small victories have been won, there is still a long way to go.

Sheena often has spoken about walking in rooms and realizing she has three strikes against her – she’s black, she’s a female, and she’s from Mississippi – a place a lot of the rest of the world think consists of only racists and poorly educated minorities.

If three strikes you’re out is supposed to be the standard, when speaking on woman and minorities in tech, Sheena talks motivate, provide resources, and provides a guide on how being a woman and minority is tech breaks the standard.

Years ago, athletes wanted to be rappers; rappers wanted to be athletes. In present day, both, plus actors and actresses, want to get into tech.

From rapper Chamillionaire to athletes like Stef Curry, those in pop culture are now wanting to be in tech. But who can blame them, especially when we see that pop culture has so much influence on the tech that we use daily.

Black Twitter is said to have kept Twitter alive in their darkest days, blogs like ShadeRoom have built million dollar businesses by taking advantage of social media, and artists can now skip trying to get a record label and go straight to the internet. Pop culture has infiltrated the tech space and that is not going to change anytime soon.

From rapping Drake’s lyrics from his song 6PM in New York, “We prolly be out in Silicon tryna get our billions on” to talking of how Beyonce shook the world by announcing her surprise album via Instagram to speaking on the false reality of social media, Sheena dives deep into the new relationship between tech and pop culture.

Sheena Allen is a visionary leader and celebrated keynote speaker in the realm of digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. As the founder and CEO of CapWay, a neobank designed to address economic inequities and foster financial literacy, Sheena’s groundbreaking work has revolutionized how technology can empower underserved communities. Her journey from growing up in […]

Sheena Allen is a visionary leader and celebrated keynote speaker in the realm of digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. As the founder and CEO of CapWay, a neobank designed to address economic inequities and foster financial literacy, Sheena’s groundbreaking work has revolutionized how technology can empower underserved communities. Her journey from growing up in rural Mississippi to becoming a tech entrepreneur at the forefront of financial technology has inspired countless individuals and organizations. Combining her personal experiences with her expertise in technology and business, Sheena offers audiences profound insights into the power of innovation to drive change and build inclusive solutions for a better future.

Sheena Allen | Digital Innovation

Expertise

Sheena Allen’s expertise lies at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and financial empowerment. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and entered the tech world with the creation of Sheena Allen Apps, a mobile app company she launched in 2011 with no prior coding experience. Her ability to identify gaps in the market and develop impactful solutions led to the rapid success of her apps, which garnered millions of downloads globally.

Sheena’s pivot into fintech with the founding of CapWay was driven by her personal understanding of financial disparities in rural America. Her unique background equips her with firsthand knowledge of systemic barriers and the innovative potential of technology to dismantle them. From speaking at prestigious conferences to advising organizations on equitable technology strategies, Sheena has become a leading authority in digital innovation and financial inclusion.

Experience

Sheena Allen’s qualifications in digital innovation stem from her decade-long journey as a tech entrepreneur and advocate for economic equity. She is recognized for her ability to turn challenges into opportunities, exemplified by her creation of Sheena Allen Apps with no prior technical training. Her apps, ranging from utility tools to financial solutions, have reached users in over 50 countries.

As the CEO of CapWay, Sheena has successfully combined her technological expertise with her mission to improve financial health. Under her leadership, CapWay has received national acclaim for its innovative approach to addressing systemic economic inequities. Sheena’s experiences navigating the tech industry as a self-taught Black woman entrepreneur further solidify her authority and relatability to diverse audiences.

Authority

Sheena Allen’s authority as a top digital innovation keynote speaker is reinforced by her groundbreaking achievements and influential thought leadership. She has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, CNBC, and other major publications for her impactful work in technology and financial services. Sheena has also served as a guest lecturer and panelist at esteemed institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, and Google, where she shares her insights on entrepreneurship and digital transformation.

Her work has earned numerous accolades, including recognition on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and Inc.’s “Female Founders 100.” These honors underscore her status as a trailblazer and trusted expert in her field. As a speaker, Sheena’s ability to combine technical expertise with a compelling narrative ensures that her presentations resonate deeply with audiences across industries.

Trustworthiness

Sheena Allen’s trustworthiness is evident through her commitment to creating meaningful change and fostering inclusive solutions. Her personal journey from rural Mississippi to becoming a tech entrepreneur underscores her authenticity and relatability. Sheena’s dedication to transparency and integrity in her work at CapWay demonstrates her unwavering focus on social impact and ethical leadership.

Sheena’s collaborations with leading organizations, coupled with the success of her ventures, further establish her credibility. Her clients and collaborators frequently praise her professionalism, innovative thinking, and ability to inspire actionable change. Sheena’s proven track record of empowering underserved communities through technology positions her as a trustworthy and reliable voice for any event.

Why Event Planners Should Book Sheena Allen

Sheena Allen is a must-book speaker for event planners looking to deliver impactful, thought-provoking sessions on digital innovation and social impact. Her presentations are tailored to diverse audiences, ensuring relevance and engagement for professionals in industries ranging from technology to finance to social entrepreneurship. Sheena’s ability to break down complex concepts into actionable insights leaves audiences informed, inspired, and empowered to take meaningful steps toward innovation and inclusion.

Audiences will leave Sheena’s sessions with a deeper understanding of how to leverage technology for social good, actionable strategies for fostering financial equity, and inspiration drawn from her journey as a self-taught entrepreneur. Event planners seeking to highlight themes of innovation, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership will find Sheena’s content to be perfectly aligned.

Sheena’s dynamic presentation style and ability to connect with audiences make her a standout choice for conferences, corporate events, and industry summits. Her unique blend of expertise, authority, and authenticity ensures that her sessions resonate long after the event has concluded.

Summary and Conclusion

Sheena Allen is a trailblazing entrepreneur and thought leader whose work exemplifies the transformative power of digital innovation and financial empowerment. From founding a global app company to revolutionizing financial inclusion with CapWay, Sheena’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and purpose. Her expertise, coupled with her authenticity and passion for social impact, makes her an invaluable resource for organizations seeking inspiration and actionable insights.

As a keynote speaker, Sheena Allen delivers transformative content that equips audiences with the tools and inspiration to embrace innovation and drive meaningful change. Her authority in the field and commitment to fostering inclusivity make her a trusted partner for event planners aiming to deliver exceptional experiences. Booking Sheena Allen ensures an unforgettable event filled with inspiration, education, and motivation.

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