In this profile of WiSTEM C4 members, Heather Holmes, CEO and founder of Genivity, introduces her award-winning life-planning platform that better connects financial advisors to their clients’ medical history to better drive engagement, retention and growth.
Q: Tell us a little about your personal history and background.
When a close relative was hospitalized in 2010 and nearly died, I realized if my family had known about the specific health threats he was vulnerable to, they might’ve been able to prevent his health crisis or at least have a plan in place. That crisis sparked my belief that creating relationships early with the key people in my financial lives was critical so our family would have a place to turn to for help. What’s more, every family needs that.
I founded Genivity to help advisors and their clients understand how the family’s health risks and overall wellness can impact a financial plan. By helping advisors connect the dots between health risks, care costs and life goals, Genivity brings the family together in a multi-generational life-based plan. Prior to founding Genivity, I led global market development strategy for a multinational medical device company. Working in India and China inspired me to explore ways to provide simple yet reliable health information and solutions that were fun and engaging for families. I am also a tireless wanderer, and have lived, worked and played across 6 of the 7 continents and am hoping to get to the final one, Antarctica, sometime in 2018.
Q: Tell us a little about your company. What’s your elevator pitch?
A: Financial advisors are in serious trouble and are losing clients at an alarming rate. 70-percent of widows fire their advisor after their husband’s death and 90-percent of adult children change advisors at the time of inheritance because of poorly developed relationships with the family’s financial professional. Genivity is an A.I, SaaS platform for financial professionals that helps them engage clients and retain next generation heirs through life-stage, health risk and care costs planning.
Q: How did you come to join the WiSTEM cohort?
A: I first heard about WiSTEM from a member of a past cohort who thought I would be a good fit for the program. At that time, I started to do some of my own research on the program and realized that it aligned well with the goals I have both personally and professionally. The idea of joining a supportive group of women with the same tech-minded business focus and goals was refreshing and inspiring.
Q: Give us a little insight into your perspective on diversity in the tech community. Why is it important? What do you hope to see?
A: For us, it’s important to see more women making strides in the predominately male tech spaces because nearly all innovation impacts all genders, so we cannot simply silo the innovation itself nor the decision-making onto one gender. I hope to see companies encourage female innovators to branch out into the tech space by supporting them with access to resources that they may not normally have and to ignite creativity for women in tech by providing outlets for innovation.
Fourteen businesses made up the fourth cohort of WiSTEM, which is 1871’s innovative and customized program designed to accelerate and cultivate opportunities for women in technology. The 14 women-owned companies began the 12-week program beginning in March and participated in a showcase event where they pitched to investors, business leaders and supporters.
For more information follow Heather on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn