Shannon Austin

Mixing Board Community Member

2023

Mixing Board is a community of brand and communications leaders that share knowledge with each other and organizations that can benefit from accessing members' expertise, experience and mentorship.

Investor

2023

Chief Communications Officer (CCO)

2023

Head of Global Communications

2019 - 2023

Head of Global Communications to the leading fintech venture capital firm investing in emerging markets, including India and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and MENA. Quona typically invests in startups that have promising solutions that advance financial inclusion. Have directly advised more than 40 global fintech startups through my work with Quona, including Indonesia's KoinWorks and JULO, Mexican neobank Klar, and South African SME lender Lulalend, among others. I also concepted, wrote, and co-produced Quona's "Heroes", "Fuel", and "Innovate the Everyday" videos.

GP/Advisor

2021

Partner

2018 - 2021

Partner in seed-stage venture capital firm (when it was called Financial Venture Studio, prior to its rebrand to "Restive" in October 2022) investing in US-based fintech startups. Personally advised more than 30 US-based companies on messaging and media during my active years with the firm. The FVS program helps seed-stage fintechs understand and mitigate regulatory, technical, operational, capital markets and communications risks, making them better bets for later-stage investors. FVS has made more than 45+ investments since its inception, and its portfolio of US-based investments includes Roger (acquired), Dave (went public), Digit (acquired by Oportun), Scratch, Sheltr (acquired by Hippo), Pillar (acquired by Acorns), Harvest (acquired by Acorns), Propel, Point, Joust (acquired by Zen Benefits) and more.

Business Mentor

2020

Volunteer mentor for Venture for Africa, working with women interested in fintech careers in Africa's most promising startups.

Amateur Human

2018 - 2018

Purposefully left a great job at CFSI in order to reconnect and refocus on my family before my children reached the age where they might decide their parents are no longer cool. Used a ton of frequent flyer miles and achieved maximum family closeness while reaching peak tourist status in countries we love.

Managing Director, Communications

2015 - 2018

Designed and led the marketing/communications efforts of the $30M Financial Solutions Lab before taking over all communications for nonprofit CFSI (now renamed Financial Health Network). Supported communications for more than 30 fintech startups in under four years. Created #FinHealthMatters Day.

Director, Global Marketing / Communications

2010 - 2015

Responsible for all marketing and communications efforts capitalizing on the company’s unique product portfolio and brand, from global product launches of 10-20 products per year to relationship development/management with leading journalists from consumer and Apple-specific spaces. Also led creative communication with an installed base of 250,000 customers, as well as the company's European brand expansion from 2012 to late 2014, more than doubling direct consumer sales in Europe.

Co-Founder, CEO

1996 - 2012

Co-founded bankjobs.com, the nation’s first online job board for the banking and financial services industry. During its history, Bankjobs.com served as both an electronic outplacement alternative and online recruiting resource to many of the nation’s top banks, including Citigroup, NationsBank/Bank of America, Wachovia, Regions Financial Corp., SunTrust, Bank One, and Wells Fargo.

Freelance Marketing / Communications Consulting

2004 - 2010

bSwift: Served as Marketing Director, created marketing campaigns geared toward HR professionals. (bSwift was later acquired by Aetna.) Chicago Filmmakers: Served as Media and Publicity Director for Reeling Film Festival. LocalEats: Strategic Communications for the Top 10 Travel App.