FinTech North Announce Exciting New Leeds Based Initiative – Pitch & Present Masterclass
We’re pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new initiative: our Pitch and Present Masterclass, a series of inclusive and highly collaborative workshops and events with aims to strengthen Leeds Tech, FinTech Financial and Professional Services entrepreneurial scene. At FinTech North, one of our core goals is to support the development of the sector in the North, and we believe this initiative will directly impact this agenda.
The Pitch and Present Masterclass is being delivered by FinTech North and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF.) In West Yorkshire, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority leads the implementation of the Fund as part of the Mayor’s ambition to make West Yorkshire the best place to work, learn and live.
Many individuals, especially those in early to mid-career stages, often lack the platform or confidence to present publicly despite their expertise. Public speaking and presentation are skills that all professionals use at some point in their careers, be internally during team meetings, company town halls, or externally, pitching to VC’s, speaking publicly at events on behalf of their organisation and so forth.
This issue limits the diversity of thought in the sector and hinders the professional growth of emerging leaders. We aim to address this problem by providing accessible and inclusive opportunities for participants to develop their speaking skills in a supportive, neutral environment. Additionally, by actively addressing the barriers to entry for women and diverse professionals in FinTech, Tech and FS, we create a unique space for growth and visibility that extends beyond traditional speaking engagements.
Our innovative approach focuses on empowering these underrepresented voices by offering a tailored public speaking programme that combines mentorship, peer-led workshops, and exposure at our flagship Leeds Conference. By the conclusion of the programme in March 2025, we aim to have cultivated a diverse group of skilled public speakers, contributing to the professional development of underrepresented entrepreneurs, and set the platform for the programme’s continued growth and expansion.
As part of the initiative, we are curating a cohort of mentors to provide support, guidance and advice to our participants. We’ve previously had interest from trusted members of our community who’ve played an active role in our events over the years in participating in a mentorship initiative and are keen to build on this interest in building a peer group of supportive leaders through our initiative. In addition to the support of trusted mentors, the participants will benefit from advice from public speaking and presentation coaches, and peer group sessions with fellow participants.
We are now looking for participants to take part in the programme, which we envisage to be a blend of physical and virtual sessions and an approximate time commitment of approximately 3.5-7.5+ hours across 10 weeks.
Interested in participating and refining your public speaking and presentation skills, with support from trusted experts? Reach out to us at info@fintechnorth.uk for more information.
