Joy Schoffler FintekNews is pleased to offer our weekly feature column “3 Questions”. Each week, we feature a thought leader within a unique sector of fintech and ask them to answer just 3 questions for our audience in their vernacular. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Joy Schoffler, principal of Leverage PR, a Caliber Corporate Advisers Company. An active technology leader, Joy is on the advisory board of SXSW Accelerator, AARP’s FinTech Accelerator, serves as Executive Chair of FinTech Professionals Association and is a mentor for the Yodlee Interactive Incubator. Joy additionally sat on the board of CFIRA for years working on JOBS Act implementation.
  NAME: Joy Schoffler TITLE: Principal COMPANY: Leverage PR, A Caliber Corporate Advisors Company WEB ADDRESS: www.leverage-pr.com How did you personally become involved in fintech? In my previous career, I was director of acquisitions for an investment firm. While in that role, I saw there was a need for technology that could solve many of the issues in the investment industry. After launching my public relations firm, Leverage PR, I started working with several FinTech brands specializing in everything from cyber security to banking and investment technology. The deeper I got working within FInTech helping to set strategy and watch their businesses grow, the more I feel in love. What is your role within your firm and what do you do there on any given day? I serve as a strategic advisor helping to set strategy and direction for our clients in the FinTech space. I additionally serve a very active role within the FinTech community I sit on the advisory board of AARP’s FinTech Accelerator, SXSW Accelerator helping with FinTech programming and identification of innovative FinTech brands, serve as the Executive Chair of FinTech Professionals Association and am a mentor for the Yodlee Interactive Incubator. I additionally spent years on the board of CFIRA, an advocacy organization working on JOBS Act implementation. With so many roles in the industry, a good part of my day is spent looking at where I can make connections from a media, events and business standpoint—which leads to great things for our clients. What do you believe the next major innovation in financial technology will be and why? While FinTech has made leaps and bounds in recent years, it's important to remember the industry is still in its early days. The way our children interact with their money will astound us. From my experience serving in roles at the FinTech Professionals Association and my advisory board positions at AARP and SXSW Accelerator, I am seeing new financial technologies come to market that are using big data and AI to change the way we interact with our money. Soon, we will shop with our voices and bank from home. From micro-imbedded wearables to voice technology that lets you shop from your personal devices — friction will be removed and security will be enhanced in a way that is likely to make the Jetsons look more like the Flintstones to future generations. (In addition), the demand for easy-to-use technology is spreading – even the most historically archaic industries are jumping on the bandwagon. Energy, real estate, insurance, and other sectors with a strong financial component are all experiencing their own FinTech revolutions, especially when it comes to capital formation. -------------- Joy Schoffler, principal of Leverage PR, a Caliber Corporate Advisers Company, is an internationally recognized author and speaker in the field of innovative marketing and communications strategy.