CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 10 2024 8 raid was a great first workplace experience. It was a small tech firm creating solutions for the financial industry – and in the early ‘90s, this was the early days of Automated Trade Processing, where systems could connect directly to SWIFT and other financial messaging providers. These are things we take for granted now, but at the time it was cutting-edge technology, and developers were innovating and adapting to the challenges as they presented. This time at Braid was foundational in shaping Tradeshape into the successful global company it is today. Small teams and flexible working meant that creativity was harnessed, and burnout was rare. At Braid, Siobhain was learning about the industry, client business and trade settlements in a positive work environment, with supportive colleagues who wanted to see her succeed. In her years with Braid, Siobhain was not only immersed in all aspects of the business – from development to testing, from consulting to professional services – but also given the opportunity to travel, not only across Europe but to the US, with more client-facing responsibilities, allowing her to develop her skills in management roles. In 2000, Siobhain landed at a small startup called Heliograph. Here, she was given the opportunity to live in countries across the globe, working remotely not only in software development but in sales, meeting clients and implementing solutions. She was responsible for starting the US operation with two other colleagues, ensuring successful client implementations and guaranteeing good client references for future sales, as well as supporting several multi-million dollar deals for Heliograph in Europe, Asia, and North America. Siobhain was part of the team that built a small software business into a multimillion-dollar acquisition target within a short time. This gave her the confidence to branch out and in 2004 Siobhain moved back to Ireland and started Tradeshape. It was an adjustment going from a wellpaid job to running a business. Utilising contacts and finding clients, scrambling to meet bespoke needs and working to provide support services, Siobhain made it work and after several false starts, Tradeshape took off. Until Covid, many businesses did not sanction remote work and very few places had a remote working policy. The nature of Tradeshape and the role it plays globally Shaping the Future of Financial Software Recognised as our Most Influential CEO 2024 - ROI (Financial Software), Siobhain Hayden’s career began with her graduation from University College Cork in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts. After graduating, she moved to London and, following a short stint waiting tables, she was offered the opportunity to work for a tech startup called Braid. is predominantly remote, which meant that Siobhain would travel to meet clients regularly, often for weeks at a time. When the pandemic hit in 2020, there was a necessary shift towards remote working, and Tradeshape flourished, with clients realising the value in a company experienced in working remotely. In 2021, Tradeshape was in a position to expand, and the team grew, quickly tripling in size. Siobhain’s concept was to provide work for people who were available – allowing flexible working to fit around family life. Tradeshape now has seven software developers, a data analyst, as well as people working in marketing, accounts, and HR. It employs people returning to work after a break, and its female/male ratio is split evenly. Neurodiversity is a recognised strength in the company, as is harnessing skilled people who want to live and work outside major centres. These skilled workers do not want to commute, or move to find jobs, and therefore the company recognises the reciprocal need for one another. Some of its employees are based in Europe, and a company meeting every January ensures the chance to get together and map out the shared vision for the next year. Siobhain and her team found that this relaxed outlook encourages people to return to work, while feeling that they are valued and using their skills to the best of their ability. Giving employees the flexibility to earn, whilst still meeting their family responsibilities has meant that high levels of productivity – and a 32-hour working week means that staff have a healthy work/life balance. Siobhain’s vision has always been to create a working environment that puts employees first while meeting business needs, and she has curated a space that welcomes and supports employees, making them feel as though they are more than cogs in a machine. Looking to the future, Tradeshape is excited to extend its reach. The company offers an unparalleled level of expertise and over 75 years’ combined experience in the financial services sector, and it looks forward to remaining at the forefront of the technical advances it is seeing in this arena. B Company: Tradeshape Contact: Siobhain Hayden Website: www.tradeshape.com
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