Secret lives of Xinjas:
xinja reader Soumya
We think it’s important to really get to know our xinja work comrades; unpack what they’re really into – as you never know where that hobby/interest might come in handy when you’re designing and building a bank.
In this series, we bring you the secret lives of Xinjas; an exploration of what rocks their world.
“The trend I’m waiting to see is a move toward human-centred tech for social change”
What is your Xinja name and what do you do at Xinja?
I’m XinjaReader, and I help build and run the payments business so that each customer’s experience of making and receiving payments is beautiful.
What are you most proud of working at Xinja?
I’m proud I get to be part of an amazing team that is making history! I know that sounds cheesy but it’s totally true.
We hire Xinjas with a voracious learning mindset. What is the latest thing you’ve read, heard or seen that blew your mind?
Well I’m not called XinjaReader for nothing! Book wise: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnemann, David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell & Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine. Caroline Paul’s TED talk is brilliant: To raise brave girls, encourage adventure
What future technology or trend excites you the most?
Actually the trend I’m waiting to see is a move toward human-centred tech for social change. I like the projects coming from Catalpa, they use nudge behaviours for social good.
How would you describe your relationship with money?
I’m embarrassed to admit that I’d have to call myself somewhat careless. I’m not a huge spendthrift or shopaholic, so I use that as an excuse not to be more organised. I just wish for easier tools and visibility – now I get to watch my talented colleagues build them. (That’s more than one sentence but we’ll let it go 😉.)
Confession time – what do you waste money on?
Books that I just buy, and either don’t read for months (even years 😬) or could have quite easily borrowed from the library.
Halo time – what’s the best thing you’ve spent money on?
Holidays. I love travelling, even with the kids in tow!
If you weren’t at Xinja, what would you be doing?
Well. Probably a fairly decent, fairly stable payments job doing fairly routine payments things, while continually scrolling LinkedIn, dreaming about the possibilities.
What is your weekend hobby
Erm…..I don’t really have one of those (aside from reading). On the weekends I am an unpaid Uber (otherwise known as parent) taxi-ing kids from one activity to the next.
If you were to get a tattoo, what would it say or what would the image be?
No tattoos for me. Because a) I hope to keep changing, and tattoos are stuck in time and b) when I get old and wrinkly, they’ll look gross.
Check out other members of the xinja team here.