Luvleen Sidhu is the Chair, CEO and Founder of BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BMTX), one of America’s largest digital banking platforms. At the time of BM Technologies’ listing, Sidhu was the youngest female Founder and CEO to take a company public. She has been recognized by many awards, including being named one of PaymentsSource’s Most Influential Women in Payments: Next in 2021 and one Crain’s New York Business 2021 Notable Women on Wall Street. She is a member of YPO and is also passionate about mentoring women. Sidhu has been featured frequently in the media and speaks regularly at conferences, including LendIt Fintech USA 2021. She holds a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from Harvard College.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from 2021?

To be grateful for every challenge I face! I get to decide if I turn my challenges into opportunities or let them weigh me down. Choosing to find the opportunity in every challenge is a game-changer. Instead of battling how uncomfortable a challenge can make me feel—I embrace it! Challenges help me grow and as a result make me stronger to tackle what’s ahead. For example, in 2021 we were one of several banking partners slated to launch a new program in partnership with Google, which Google ultimately decided to wind down. As one can imagine, this was disappointing news to hear, but I knew BM Technologies (BMTX) was continuing to pursue various growth strategies and initiatives, and this would not impact our ability to generate meaningful revenue and EBITDA at that point and in the future. Also, more times than not, challenges open new windows of opportunity and force me to think differently to help me level up. When reflecting back, many obstacles I faced in 2021 were blessings in disguise and others, while difficult, allowed me to learn and grow personally or professionally.

How are you preparing for 2022?

I am preparing by actively being focused on what’s next for us in the fast-paced fintech space. 2022 is going to be an exciting year for BMTX! We recently celebrated our 1-year anniversary of going public (NYSE: BMTX) and announced a strategic merger with First Sound Bank in November to become a chartered fintech institution. That transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, so our team is working hard to ensure we successfully execute on that. Additionally, we're focused on enhancing our technology and expanding our products/services in line.

What advice would you give other female founders that are looking to create big success in 2022?

Stay focused and stay on course. Be ready and prepare for any new changes. Continue to grow and add new skills while learning from your environment. Appreciate the support you receive from your customers and don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed.

What’s your 2022 mantra?

Saying “I get to do x,” instead of “I have to do x.” It's a shift in mindset to feeling lucky and appreciative of having the opportunity to tackle what’s in front of me, rather than feeling only the weight of it all. It truly helps to make working through things more enjoyable and my days more satisfying overall.

To follow and connect:

https://www.facebook.com/LuvleenSidhuBMTX/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luvleensidhu

https://twitter.com/luvleensidhu