My name is Sheena Allen, and I'm a tech founder, international speaker, and advocate for financial inclusion. I grew up in Terry, Mississippi, a small town in a state that continues to rank among the highest for unbanked and underbanked populations in the United States. Financial exclusion wasn't just something I read or heard about from others. Instead, it was something that directly impacted much of my family and community members.
That experience has shaped the foundation of my work. Starting with an idea for a receipt app in 2016, I've spent nearly a decade building within the fintech space, creating products that sit at the intersection of technology and financial empowerment. Most notable was CapWay, a VC-backed digital banking platform focused on creating financial access and opportunities for financially underserved communities. Beyond just debit cards, CapWay also was a platform for financial education.
This year, I'm honored to continue this mission as part of the Interledger Foundation's Ambassador Program. My research project focuses on understanding the financial exclusion experienced by individuals across the Southern United States who are unbanked, underbanked, or otherwise overlooked by the financial system. Through grassroots, community-led workshops and interviews, I'm exploring the deeper systemic and behavioral barriers that prevent people from accessing and trusting financial tools.
Too often, research in this space is limited to surface-level statistics or conducted without meaningful community engagement. My approach prioritizes direct, trust-based conversations to uncover insights that rarely make it into mainstream reports. This includes looking at emotional, generational, and cultural factors, from survival mindsets to the impact of consumerism and social media on financial behavior.
I was introduced to the Interledger Foundation through last year's ambassador, Victoria Coker, who interviewed me for her documentary on the unbanked. After being invited to the summit and becoming more familiar with the overall work of the foundation, I realized how Interledger's mission of removing barriers and fostering financial access for all aligned with the work I was already deeply ingrained in doing.
Through this ambassadorship, I hope to contribute a clearer, more nuanced understanding of financial exclusion in the South (and beyond) and help shape the future of inclusive financial technologies. I believe the stories and solutions that emerge from this work can fuel meaningful innovation, not only for the United States but for financially underserved communities worldwide.
Top comments (0)