Anne Boden

Anne Boden is a 5-foot-tall Welshwoman with a no-nonsense attitude.

After decades climbing the corporate ladder (spanning Lloyds, RBS, and Allied Irish Banks) she grew tired of seeing banking stuck in the past.

The 2008 financial crisis had shaken the industry, but little had changed.

Anne envisioned something radical: a digital-only bank, built to empower customers with tools to take control of their finances.

She traded in her corporate safety net, sent out hundreds of cold emails, and began raising millions for her dream: Starling Bank.

It wasn’t easy. Investors doubted her. Co-founders left, taking her ideas to form Monzo. But Anne didn’t quit.

She built a new team and secured £48 million in funding (on a yacht, no less).

In 2016, Starling became one of the first UK digital banks to earn a banking license.

Today, Starling Bank serves millions, boasts 40% women in senior leadership, and has won multiple Best British Bank awards.

It’s profitable, growing, and redefining what banking can be.

Anne herself has pivoted yet again, stepping away from Starling’s CEO role in 2023 to focus on AI ventures.

Anne Boden’s story isn’t just about starting a bank.

It’s about starting over, defying expectations, and proving it’s never too late to build something extraordinary.