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If you’re a designer looking for work, where should you live? That depends entirely on the kind of designer you are. Fast Company crunched the data to show you where the opportunities really are.
Category:
E-Commerce
One stock recently impacted by a whirlwind of volatility is Blockthe fintech powerhouse behind Square, Cash App, Tidal Music, and more. The companys COO and CFO, Amrita Ahuja, shares how her team is using new AI tools to find opportunity amid disruption and reach customers left behind by traditional financial systems. Ahuja also shares lessons from the video game industry and discusses Gen Zs surprising approach to money management. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by Robert Safian, former editor-in-chief of Fast Company. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with todays top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. As a leader, when youre looking at all of this volatilitythe tariffs, consumer sentiment’s been unclear, the stock market’s been all over the place. You guys had a huge one-day drop in early May, and it quickly bounced back. How do you make sense of all these external factors? Yeah, our focus is on what we can control. And ultimately, the thing that we are laser-focused on for our business is product velocity. How quickly can we start small with something, launch something for our customers, and then test and iterate and learn so that ultimately, that something that we’ve launched scales into an important product? I’ll give you an example. Cash App Borrow, which is a product where our customers can get access to a line of credit, often $100, $200, that bridges them from paycheck to paycheck. We know so many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s a product that we launched about three years ago and have now scaled to serve 9 million actives with $15 billion in credit supply to our customers in a span of a couple short years. The more we can be out testing and launching product at a pace, the more we know we are ultimately delivering value to our customers, and the right things will happen from a stock perspective. Block is a financial services provider. You have Square, the point-of-sale system; the digital wallet Cash App, which you mentioned, which competes with Venmo and Robinhood; and a bunch of others. Then you’ve got the buy-now, pay-later leader Afterpay. You chair Square Financial Services, which is Block’s chartered bank. But you’ve said that in the fintech world, Block is only a little bit finthat comparatively, it’s more tech. Can you explain what you mean by that? What we think is unique about us is our ability as a technology company to completely change innovation in the space, such that we can help solve systemic issues across credit, payments, commerce, and banking. What that means ultimately is we use technologies like AI and machine learning and data science, and we use these technologies in a unique way, in a way that’s different from a traditional bank. We are able to underwrite those who are often frankly forgotten by the traditional financial ecosystems. Our Square Loans product has almost triple the rate of women-owned businesses that we underwrite. Fifty-eight percent of our loans go to women-owned businesses versus 20% for the industry average. For that Cash App Borrow product I was talking about, 70% of those actives, the 9 million actives that we underwrote, fell below 580 as a FICO score. That’s considered a poor FICO score, and yet 97% of repayments are made on time. And this is because we have unique access to data and these technology and tools which can help us uniquely underwrite this often forgotten customer base. Yeah. I mean, creditsometimes it’s been blamed for financial excesses. But access to credit is also, as you say, an advantage that’s not available to everyone. Do you have a philosophy between those polesbetween risk and opportunity? Or is what you’re saying is that the tech you have allows you to avoid that risk? That’s right. Let’s start with how do the current systems work? It works using inferior data, frankly. It’s more limited data. It’s outdated. Sometimes it’s inaccurate. And it ignores things like someone’s cash flows, the stability of your income, your savings rate, how money moves through your accounts, or how you use alternative forms of creditlike buy now, pay later, which we have in our ecosystem through Afterpay. We have a lot of these signals for our 57 million monthly actives on the Cash App side and for the 4 million small businesses on the Square side, and those, frankly, billions of transaction data points that we have on any given day paired with new technologies. And we intend to continue to be on the forefront of AI, machine learning, and data science to be able to empower more people into the economy. The combination of the superior data and the technologies is what we believe ultimately helps expand access. You have a financial background, but not in the financial services industry. Before Block, you were a video game developer at Activision. Are financial businesses and video games similar? Are there things that are similar about them? There are. There actually are some things that are similar, I will say. There are many things that are unique to each industry. Each industry is incredibly complex. You find that when big technology companies try to do gaming. They’ve taken over the world in many different ways, but they can’t always crack the nut on putting out a great game. Similarly, some of the largest technology companies have dabbled in fintech but haven’t been able to go as deep, so they’re both very nuanced and complex industries. I would say another similarity is that design really matters. Industrial design, the design of products, the interface of products, is absolutely mission-critical to a great game, and it’s absolutely mission-critical to the simplicity and accessibility of our products, be it on Square or Cash App. And then maybe the third thing that I would say is that when I was in gaming, at least the business models were rapidly changing from an intermediary distribution mechanism, like releasing a game once and then selling it through a retailer, to an always-on, direct-to-consumer connection. And similarly with banking, people don’t want to bank from 9 to 5, six days a week. They want 24/7 access to their money and the ability to, again, grow their financial livelihood, move their money around seamlessly. So, some similarities are there in that shift to an intermediary model or a slower model to an always-on, direct-to-consumer connection. Part of your target audience or your target customer base at Block are Gen Z folks. Did you learn things at Activision about Gen Z that has been useful? Are there things that businesses misunderstand about younger generations still? What we’ve learned is that Gen Z, millennial customers, aren’t going to do things the way their parents did. Some of our stats show that 63% of Gen Z customers have moved away from traditional credit cards, and over 80% are skeptical of them. Which means they’re not using a credit card to manage expenses; they’re using a debit card, but then layering on on a trnsaction-by-transaction basis. Or again, using tools like buy now, pay later, or Cash App Borrow, the means in which they’re managing their consistent cash flows. So that’s an example of how things are changing, and you’ve got to get up to speed with how the next generation of customers expects to manage their money.
Category:
E-Commerce
When my daughter was 2 years old, she declared she was going to be a doctor. At first, I chalked it up to toddler enthusiasm, but as the years passed, her certainty never wavered. At 7, she is still as sure as ever. Watching her confidence in her future is both heartwarming and, if Im honest, a little bewildering, because I never had that kind of clarity. While some people seem to know their path from the start, I didnt fully understand what I wanted to do with my life until I was almost 40. For years, I thought something was wrong with me for not having a clear, unwavering passion. But Ive come to see that questioning, evolving, and pivoting are not signs of failure; theyre part of growth. In fact, reexamining our careers in midlife is not just normalits a healthy and expected part of development. The idea that we should have everything figured out by our 30s (or even our 40s and beyond) is a myth that ignores how we evolve as people over time. So if youre feeling uncertain about what comes next, consider it an opportunity rather than a crisis. Why its normal to question your path in midlife Developmentally speaking, midlife is a natural time for reevaluation. Psychologist Erik Erikson identified this stage as one of generativity vs. stagnation, where people seek to create meaningful contributions in their work, families, and communities. This is a time when many individuals begin asking themselves questions like, “Is what I’m doing making a difference?” or “Am I spending my time in a way that truly matters to me?” These questions are not just existential musingsthey are signposts for change and growth. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} Beyond Erikson, adult development theorists such as Robert Kegan and Daniel Levinson have explored how our internal meaning-making systems evolve over time. Kegans theory of adult development suggests that we move through different stages of self-authorship, shifting from external definitions of success (such as societal expectations or familial approval) to a more internalized, self-directed sense of purpose. Similarly, Levinsons work on the seasons of life describes midlife as a period of transition where individuals reassess their careers, relationships, and priorities, often leading to transformative change. Many of us made career choices in our early 20sat a time when we had far less life experience. The work that once felt like the right fit may no longer align with who we are today. Perhaps we followed a career path out of practicality, societal expectations, or a narrow understanding of our own strengths. But as we gather more knowledge, experiences, and wisdom, it makes sense that our perspectives shift. Rather than seeing this questioning as a problem, we should recognize it as a signal that we are evolving. External factors can also play a role in prompting career reflection. Life changes such as becoming a parent, caring for aging parents, health challenges, or simply gaining a new perspective after years in the workforce can all lead to a reevaluation of priorities. The rise of remote work, the gig economy, and shifting industry demands mean that career paths today are less linear than they were for previous generations. What used to be considered a job for life has given way to a more dynamic, adaptable approach to work. What to do if youre seeking clarity If youre questioning your career path, here are some ways to explore your next steps with curiosity and intention: Revisit your values I will continue to shout this from the rooftops! Interrogate what truly matters to you at this stage of life. Are you craving more creativity, impact, autonomy, or balance? Often, when dissatisfaction creeps in, its because theres a misalignment between our values and our daily work. Take time to reflect on what is most important to you nownot what was important when you first started your career. Notice what energizes you Pay attention to the tasks or conversations that make you feel engaged and alive. What aspects of your current or past roles have brought you joy? Sometimes the clues to a fulfilling career change are already present in your daily life, waiting to be noticed. Journaling about your best work experiences can help identify patterns and strengths that you might want to build upon. Hire a coach This isnt a sales pitch. Im suggesting this, because I see firsthand how transformational coaching can be. A skilled coach can help you uncover patterns, challenge limiting beliefs, and create a vision for your next chapter that is aligned with who you are becoming. Coaching is not about giving you answersits about helping you ask better questions, gain clarity, and take action in a way that feels authentic to you. If youre feeling stuck, working with a coach can be an invaluable investment in your future. Experiment with small shifts You dont have to quit your job overnight to explore a new direction. Consider small experimentsvolunteering, taking a class, freelancing, or exploring side projects that align with your interests. These lower-risk explorations allow you to test new possibilities without the pressure of an immediate, all-in commitment. Talk to people who inspire you Reach out to those who are doing work that intrigues you. Informational interviews, networking conversations, or simply reconnecting with people whose careers you admire can provide insight and inspiration. Learning from others journeys can help clarify what resonates with you and what might be worth exploring further. Embrace the uncertainty Not knowing whats next can be uncomfortable, but its also a space where new possibilities emerge. Many people rush to find an answer simply to alleviate the discomfort of uncertainty, but allowing yourself time to explore can lead to more fulfilling choices in the long run. Trust that clarity will come through exploration and action, not just overthinking. The upside of not having it all figured out Rather than seeing midlife career questioning as a crisis, consider it a pivot pointan opportunity to align your work with the person youve become. The most fulfilling careers are not those we decide on once and never revisit, but those that evolve with us over time. Research shows that people who make intentional career changes in midlife often experience greater satisfaction and engagement in their work because they are acting in alignment with their authentic selves. So if you find yourself asking, What do I want to be when I grow up? at 36, 44, 51, or beyondcongratulations. Youreright on time. The best careers are not about having all the answers, but about staying open to the journey, embracing change, and allowing yourself to grow into new possibilities. Instead of fearing the question, welcome it. Its a sign that youre paying attention to what truly mattersand thats a powerful thing. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
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