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Fewer than one in five C-suite positions in financial services are held by women globally, according to Deloitte. But Kim Snyder, founder and CEO of Roanoke-based banking software company KlariVis, defies the odds. After “many rewarding years in community banking,” a 2015 acquisition by BNC Bancorp displaced her from her job as chief financial officer for Valley Financial Corp. and Valley Bank. But that unexpected change steered her toward founding fintech KlariVis, which provides data analytics tools for community banks.
Snyder wears many hats at KlariVis, from raising capital to overseeing business operations.
“Stepping into this leadership position was unique, as it wasn’t an existing role I sought out but one that I created out of necessity,” Snyder says. Plus, “being a woman in fintech and banking requires creativity and resilience. Navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry, I’ve had to carve out a space where women can thrive.”
Outside KlariVis, Snyder shares her expertise as a board member for Verge, formerly known as the Valleys Innovation Council, which brings together local tech companies to identify regional priorities for the industry and generate funding for tech and biotech projects in Roanoke, the New River Valley and Lynchburg. She’s also served as an instructor for the Virginia Bankers Association’s Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management.
“If you’re passionate about fintech and banking, pursue your goals relentlessly,” Snyder says. “The industry needs more women leaders to drive progress and transformation.”