Know your Xinjas:
or your Vanessas…McNamara & Fierens
Vanessa McNamara -#earthyxinja – and Vanessa Fierens – #barefootxinja – have joined the Enablers team. They keep us on their (nude) toes with serious project management & business analysis expertise, and by confusing us by having the same name…..nb: they weren’t allowed to confer…..
You don’t need lots of people to build something great, you just need the right people.
Tell us what you do at Xinja
VM: I’m working on building the SAP Core Banking platform & helping build a fantastic team of Enablers
VF: I’m helping scope, define and making sure the $$ moves (in the core banking system…pending our getting our restricted banking licence of course)
What is your Xinja origin story?
VM: Lots of relevant experience!
VF: I’m a recovering “ex-big 4 bank” business analyst inspired by the Barefoot investor to help customers manage their finances.
What does a typical day look like for you?
VM: No two days are the same! I’m in a great position where I get to work with all areas of the business so that I understand how they delight our customers.
VF: Like many BAs my day is full of capturing requirements, writing user stories and process flows.
What are you most proud of working with Xinja?
VM: Our 10 golden rules, and what we are building here. I feel so energised and inspired by our leaders and our passion and care for our customers.
VF: Our leadership is very inspiring and truthful.
What have you learned in your time working at Xinja?
VM: Time flies. And it’s a load of fun.
VF: That you don’t need lots of people to build something great, you just need the right people.
What are you most looking forward to in the coming months?
VM:Getting my own Xinja card – can’t wait for the Android version!
VF: Our first go live and seeing the first payments flow on our new Core Banking system (pending securing the restricted ADI of course).
What technology are you most excited about?
VM: A confession here – as a technologist I’m not that excited by technology!! I think we are building a fantastic base and so I am helping ensure that we stay true to our technology vision and avoid building a stack that will result in a legacy ‘headache’ down the track.
VF: A.I. making banking simpler and more intuitive and predictive with my best interest at heart.
If you weren’t at Xinja, what would you be doing?
VM: I’ve always wanted to be an archeologist – I love history
VF: Holidaying in France
List 3 words to describe Xinja?
VM: Dynamic, amazing, integrity
VF: Dynamic, honest, fun
What is your Spirit Animal?
VM: A butterfly – has to be, given ‘Vanessa’ means butterfly!
VF: Seal
Weekend hobby:
VM: Being a Mum taxi – watching kids play a variety of sports, or instruments!
VF: Bootcamp 6:15am on a Saturday:)
Unexpected fact:
VM: I grew up on a farm in Coleambally, the rice capital of Australia!
VF: I have five year old twin girls.
Check out other members of the xinja team here.