In an era of relentless technological change, the role of women in shaping our future cannot be understated. One such woman is Dr. Efi Pylarinou, the Swiss‑based founder of Pylarinou Advisory, a globally respected thought leader in Fintech and Tech with an extensive Wall Street background. Recognized as a top influencer in finance, artificial intelligence, and data by Onalytica, Engatica, and Refinitiv, her insights are driving change and empowering organizations to harness emerging technologies for transformative impact.
Defying Norms, Bridging Worlds
“I strongly believe in building bridges between the old and the new economy. I am a lifetime learner, sharing my perspectives and supporting businesses in their digitalization,” Dr. Pylarinou says. A guiding light in an ever‑evolving landscape, her mission is to support businesses in navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – an era defined by rapid digitalization and technological innovation. She is a prolific content creator, author, and speaker working with brands like Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, Huawei, Checkout.com, Swissquote, ComplyAdvantage, ADDX, Finastra, Bitstamp, and Seba Bank. As a global B2B influencer, her work takes her to the heart of big tech and fintech companies worldwide. She creates and curates content that is not only informative but also inspirational, showcasing how these companies are solving challenges and innovating in a world marked by unparalleled change. “I support businesses in their transformation journeys. Change is multi‑dimensional and at an unprecedented pace, and it is a challenge for business people to keep up,” she says. “My role is to guide and empower them with insights and forward‑looking frameworks. All businesses will be affected by the sweeping and interconnected transformations that are underway. I help business people to realize the opportunities and deal with the challenges.”
Dr. Pylarinou is excited with the positive potential from the advancements in technologies, particularly those which are collaborative in their nature like Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. “Technologies are tools that we can choose to deploy in different ways. I strongly believe that we now have multiple technologies that are at their core collaborative, but it is our choices that can unlock their cumulative potential,” she explains. “We have several large‑scale Social and Economic challenges that need scalable approaches. I am hopeful that we will choose to use these advanced technologies of the 4IR to address these large‑scale challenges.”
Embracing the Future
Dr. Pylarinou’s work is not confined to the world of finance and technology alone. She is a vital cog in the broader innovation ecosystem – a speaker, author, advisor, curator, and collaborator who is always keen to learn, share, and inspire. Her knack for building meaningful connections and inspiring collaboration in a traditionally competitive industry has proven to be her hallmark.
This pioneer sees a future where technology will solve social and economic problems on a scale never seen before. Dr. Pylarinou envisions a world where advanced technologies will be leveraged in a more equitable and holistic way, focusing on managing communities, cities, governments, and other groups with common interests. She believes in the rise of Digital Communities of all sorts that are empowered to create impact as a community. She foresees that we will invent different ways of organizing and collaborating than the current ones.
Her excitement for the future stems from the possibilities offered by advanced technologies. “I’m extremely excited about the possibilities of using these advanced technologies to solve big social and economic challenges,” she says.
A Unique Journey
Dr. Pylarinou’s journey to her current position was anything but conventional. With a background in mathematics, an MBA, a Ph.D. in finance, and extensive Wall Street experience, she moved into the Fintech and Tech innovation sectors by leveraging digital tools to establish herself. Through constant reinvention, agility, and a passion for new ideas, she grew and became a thought leader in areas (Finance & Technology) dominated by men.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Dr. Pylarinou’s life vision has been her north star: Growth through Fun Exploration, backed by Intention and Integrity. “Black‑and‑white thinking is always misleading,” she advises. “You can become more than what you currently are. And more importantly, you will enjoy the growth and experiences of becoming. So, go for it.”
While she has found success in male‑dominated sectors, she recognizes that many challenges still exist for women in Tech and Finance. She encourages women to be more assertive, support one another, and leverage their unique perspectives to create change. “Unfortunately, both finance and technology are male‑dominated industries, and this continues in FinTech,” she acknowledges. “I’m saddened by the fact there aren’t enough women in board positions and not enough women that are funded. A lot of biases persist and are perpetuated in financial services even in innovative Digitally Native service providers that have disrupted the industry. We women need to continue our fight.” But she believes women can overcome these challenges by tapping into their feminine energy, thinking people‑centric rather than customer‑centric, and focusing on collaboration over competition. “Our aim should be to lead the next major phase of Societal & Economic change. New ways of collaborating and organizing with higher consciousness.”
Influencing Change
Dr. Pylarinou is more than just a thought leader. She is a trailblazer, driving change and encouraging businesses to embrace emerging technologies to shape a better world. Her contributions are not only empowering organizations but also inspiring women in their respective fields to break barriers and lead change.
Her story proves that with the right mindset and approach, we can harness the power of technology to shape a better, more equitable world. “Look for any opportunity to discover and highlight how a technology can be used to plant the seeds for a better world. Keep in mind also, that you can become more than what you currently are. Enjoy this journey, the growth, and the experiences of becoming.”
