Beyond the Code: Why Alkami is Banking on Women to Win the Future

PLANO, TX – December 03, 2025 – When a financial technology firm like Alkami announces a keynote speaker for its annual conference, the industry typically expects a futurist, a venture capitalist, or a tech visionary. Instead, Alkami is placing a third-generation community banker and women’s advocate, Natalie Bartholomew, at the center of its flagship event, Alkami Co:lab 2026. This decision signals a strategic pivot that smart businesses are watching closely: the recognition that the future of financial innovation is inextricably linked to the diversity of the leaders who build it.

The announcement that Bartholomew, known nationally as 'The Girl Banker,' will headline the conference’s signature Women in Banking session is more than a nod to inclusivity. It represents the convergence of grassroots advocacy and corporate strategy, a powerful combination aimed at tackling one of the financial sector's most persistent challenges and unlocking its next wave of growth.

The Leadership Deficit and the 'Girl Banker' Movement

To understand the significance of Alkami's move, one must first grasp the landscape Natalie Bartholomew has been working to change. Despite women comprising over half of the U.S. banking workforce, their presence dwindles dramatically in the upper echelons of leadership. Recent studies paint a stark picture: women hold only 32% of officer-level positions (VP and above), and a mere 7.5% of U.S. banks are led by a female CEO. This isn't just a fairness issue; it's a strategic liability for an industry serving an increasingly diverse and female-driven client base.

It was within this context that Bartholomew launched 'The Girl Banker' platform in 2018. What began as a personal blog to share her experiences has since blossomed into a nationwide movement. Her platform now includes a popular podcast, extensive speaking engagements, and a private Facebook community of over 7,400 women in banking. This digital-era professional network provides a forum for mentorship, policy discussion, and mutual support, directly addressing the systemic challenges of bias and a lack of access to influential networks that have historically held women back.

Her upcoming session at Alkami Co:lab 2026 promises to deliver actionable strategies on building intentional networks, developing a personal brand, and the critical responsibility of mentorship. As Bartholomew stated, "The mission of The Girl Banker has always been about creating space for women to be seen, supported, and celebrated." By giving her a prime-time slot, Alkami is amplifying a voice that speaks directly to the industry's talent pipeline.

A Strategic Imperative, Not Just an Initiative

While many corporations engage in diversity and inclusion efforts, Alkami's approach appears more deeply embedded in its business strategy. Now in its fourth year, the Women in Banking session is described as a "cornerstone" of the Co:lab conference, evolving from a single event into a year-round initiative focused on engagement, networking, and growth.

This sustained investment stands in contrast to a fluctuating corporate landscape where some major companies have recently scaled back dedicated DEI programs. Alkami’s persistence suggests a belief that fostering female leadership is not a peripheral corporate social responsibility goal, but a core business driver. "Natalie's journey and the community she's built reflect what so many women in our industry experience," said Jennifer Cortez, chief marketing officer at Alkami. "She brings a relatable, authentic perspective that will really resonate with our audience."

The strategic importance of this focus is underscored by Alkami's own research. A recent report from the company, "First Beneficiaries: How Financial Institutions Can Serve Women Through Inherited Wealth," highlights the massive transfer of wealth to women and their rising role as primary financial decision-makers. The report emphasizes that these clients expect deep personalization and proactive digital engagement—a direct line to Alkami's core vision for the future of the industry.

Connecting Diversity to 'Anticipatory Banking'

Alkami has staked its future on a concept it calls 'Anticipatory Banking.' This vision goes beyond a mobile app that simply shows balances and transactions. It leverages integrated data and artificial intelligence to predict customer needs and proactively offer solutions, effectively digitizing the personal relationship that community bankers once cultivated face-to-face. The goal is to anticipate that a customer might need a car loan, a mortgage, or a certificate of deposit before they even start shopping around.

Herein lies the crucial link between Alkami's technology platform and its investment in women. To successfully anticipate the needs of a diverse population, a financial institution requires a leadership team with a diversity of lived experiences. An executive team that doesn't reflect its customer base will inevitably have blind spots, limiting its ability to design truly empathetic and effective digital experiences. By championing women in banking, Alkami is arguing that a more representative leadership team is better equipped to build the intuitive, proactive, and personalized tools that 'Anticipatory Banking' demands.

This approach positions diversity not as a quota to be met, but as a competitive advantage. Financial institutions that cultivate female talent are not only creating a more equitable workplace but are also building the internal capacity to better understand and serve a majority of their customers, particularly as women's economic power continues to grow.

Alkami Co:lab 2026, therefore, is being shaped into more than a showcase for the latest software. It is becoming a forum where the human element of banking is discussed with the same urgency as the technological one. By bringing a community-builder like Natalie Bartholomew to the main stage, Alkami is making a clear statement: the path to digital transformation is paved not only with sophisticated algorithms and unified platforms, but with the people who design, manage, and are ultimately served by them.