Throughout the month of March, Finopotamus will celebrate Women’s History Month by featuring intriguing profiles and unique stories impacting the credit union and fintech industry. In the latest installment in our “Women in Technology” series, we visited with Prizeout’s Head of Sales Operations Teal Weaver.
By W.B. King
While studying finance at Texas Christian University, Teal Weaver decided to double her focus by adding a second major: business information systems. Upon graduating in 2019, she took an investment banking analyst position with Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
“I was so drawn to the combination of business and technology as it underpins so many industries and touches everything we do,” she told Finopotamus. “Although I was part of an industrials coverage group during my investment banking days, I had the opportunity to collaborate with our tech team in San Francisco, particularly during the surge of electric vehicle special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).”
The evolution of the auto industry, she shared, “significantly impacted” her work, sparking an interest in gaining “hands-on experience in the operational and strategic decision-making processes” at startups.
“This was top of mind for me as I entered my next role, which was at Prizeout,” said Weaver of the New York City-based ad-tech company that bills itself as turning payments into a tool for customer acquisition, retention, and loyalty. The company, which has 37 employees, 17 of whom are tech-facing, serves more than 45 financial institutions, including credit unions.
In 2020, she became director of revenue operations, followed by her current role, head of sales operations.
“Moving from investment banking into a tech startup, you can imagine that management styles and ideologies changed immensely for me. In investment banking, everything is structured and hierarchical to make sure the work is flawless - attention to detail and perfection is huge,” she said. “In a startup, it’s a completely different approach - imperfection and trying new things is nearly mandatory.”
Surrounded by Amazing Women
Along with observing the noted operational differences, Weaver has also seen more women in technology leadership roles—a trend, she said, that differentiates the fintech space.
“In banking, it was sometimes rare to see a woman at the top. But in the fintech and startup world, it’s a whole different story—I feel like I’m surrounded by amazing women,” she said, “At Prizeout, I work alongside some truly powerful and vibrant women. On top of that, I’m really proud that our credit union customers created a CUSO with a completely female-led board, made up of women from innovative and respected credit unions.”
Among Prizeout Partners CUSO members are Golden1 Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union, Michigan State Federal Credit Union, Stanford Federal Credit Union, and Interra Credit Union. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see women in positions of power and to learn from their expertise,” she added.
When reflecting on mentors, Weaver first looked to college pal and alumnus Anna Pelch who helped her secure an internship upon graduation.
“She became someone I looked up to right away as she was extremely approachable, knowledgeable and always had a positive attitude, which should not be overlooked when working long hours,” she said. “Toward the end of my time in banking, she recommended me for the Transaction and Investment Professionals board at Texas Christian University. This opportunity allowed me to mentor students looking to start a career in high finance, which was extremely rewarding.”
More recently, Prizeout CTO and co-founder Brendan Grove serves as her champion. “He’s always paved a path for me to succeed. I always admired the fact that he wouldn’t give me the solution because he knew I was capable, but allowed me to try things, fail and find the way on my own,” she told Finopotamus.
“This fostered my growth at Prizeout really quickly. He is one of the busiest people at Prizeout, but is never too busy to help,” she added. “I try to mirror both of their mentorship styles and be approachable but empowering with everyone I work with.”
Understanding Values and Priorities
When drawing the line between what products and services interest consumers and what is easily assembled, Weaver said a common phrase used at Prizeout is “curated not creepy.” Those three words pose two questions: How are brands and businesses navigating this balance, while leveraging personalization to drive revenue growth? And how can we distinguish between consumers who welcome a highly tailored experience versus those who prefer a more cautious approach?
“It’s fascinating to see the diverse strategies companies adopt to capitalize on this powerful trend. Also, with myself, as a consumer, learning where I may draw that line and how that line flexes across different industries I interact with.”
Initially coming from a big bank background, Weaver values how credit unions prioritize their community and mission. “They also place a high value on member experience since they are not for profit and owned by their members. Unlike other financial institutions, credit unions are extremely collaborative and truly want to see the whole industry succeed. They work together to advance collectively through CUSOs.”
Collaboration with fintechs, she added, allows credit unions to scale, attract younger audiences, grow digital offerings without overhauling legacy systems, and deliver personalized, data driven experiences.
“People, especially the younger generation, have different values and priorities around what they expect from their financial institutions, and credit unions need to have all the tools to meet them there,” Weaver told Finopotamus.