Ualett, the fast-growing fintech platform serving 1099 workers, has appointed Samantha Yoder as its new Vice President of Product at an exciting moment for the company. Ualett recently secured a $150 million debt facility that will accelerate product innovation and expand the platform’s impact.
The company now supports more than 525,000 users, offering cash advances based on real-time income data instead of traditional credit scores. From rideshare drivers to housekeepers and truckers, Ualett is expanding financial access for independent and gig workers who are often underserved by conventional banking systems.
In this Q&A, Samantha Yoder reflects on the challenges she has faced, her advice for women in fintech, and what comes next for Ualett’s mission-driven product team.
Samantha Yoder’s Journey
Q&A with Samantha Yoder
What inspired you to join the fintech startup Ualett?
I immediately resonated with Ualett’s mission. I’ve seen firsthand how, when people are given the right financial tools and a sense of empowerment, their lives can change. They can build stability, gain confidence, and create new possibilities for themselves and their families.
Gig workers are some of the hardest-working individuals in our economy, yet they’re often left out of traditional financial systems. Ualett is addressing that gap head-on. What stood out to me was how deeply the team believes in building products that are not just functional, but rooted in real human needs and everyday realities.
“The timing also felt right in my career. I wanted to help shape financial products from the ground up, where innovation directly translates into real-world impact.”
The timing also felt right in my career. I wanted to help shape financial products from the ground up, where innovation directly translates into real-world impact. Joining Ualett means contributing to something that supports growth, independence, and upward mobility for millions of workers.
What’s the bravest decision you’ve made in your career so far?
The bravest decision I’ve made was choosing to be uncomfortable on purpose. I left a role where I knew exactly how to succeed and moved into one that required building, experimenting, and operating in ambiguity every day.
“Startups demand conviction; you’re not just executing a roadmap, you’re writing it.“
Startups demand conviction; you’re not just executing a roadmap, you’re writing it. Taking that leap meant trusting my judgment and leading without all the answers. It shifted me from maintaining what exists to creating what’s possible. That leap is pushing me to expand my skillset in real time — to navigate ambiguity with confidence, stay focused on what matters, and build with a clear sense of why the work is important.
What’s a non-negotiable in your routine that keeps you focused?
Uninterrupted time with my family and quality rest are non-negotiable for me. I’ve learned that I do my best thinking and leading when I protect my energy and my presence. I’m an early-to-bed, early-to-rise person, and that quiet time in the morning helps me stay centered before the day accelerates. Creating space to step back, reconnect, and recharge allows me to show up clearer, calmer, and more creative in my work.
What has been your biggest challenge as a woman in fintech?
My career in transaction banking has taught me to value precision, structure, thoroughness, and well-governed processes. Stepping into fintech required a shift: the pace is faster, decisions are made with less information, and progress often comes from testing rather than perfect planning.
Alongside that adjustment, one of my personal challenges has been finding my voice in the room. I often understood the problem and the path forward, but I didn’t always have the confidence to speak up.
“I’ve had to learn to trust my perspective, share my point of view earlier, and not wait for everything to feel polished before contributing.“
I’ve had to learn to trust my perspective, share my point of view earlier, and not wait for everything to feel polished before contributing. That shift has been key, strengthening how I lead, collaborate, and make decisions in fast-moving environments.
What advice would you give to other women leading in fintech?
Lead in a way that encourages contribution and growth, both for yourself and for the people around you. Your voice matters, and one of the most impactful things you can do is create space where others feel confident using theirs too.
“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, listening with intention, and inviting diverse perspectives into the discussion.“
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, listening with intention, and inviting diverse perspectives into the discussion. Fintech moves fast, and the best solutions come from teams that feel safe to think openly, experiment, and learn together. When you build an environment where every voice is heard and valued, you don’t just strengthen the product, you strengthen the people building it.
How do you define success?
“Success isn’t just measured by revenue or growth metrics — those are outcomes, not the meaning. For me, success is about the real impact our products have in the daily lives of gig workers.“
Success isn’t just measured by revenue or growth metrics — those are outcomes, not the meaning. For me, success is about the real impact our products have in the daily lives of gig workers. When someone feels more stable, more confident, or better equipped to support their family because of the tools we’ve built, that’s success. It’s also reflected in the trust our users place in us. Trust is earned one interaction, one decision, one feature at a time. If our work helps create upward momentum for the 1099 workforce, then we are succeeding in the way that truly matters.
What’s next for you and your team at Ualett?
We’re focused on expanding the suite of financial tools available to the 1099 workforce in ways that support stability, opportunity, and long-term financial growth. Improving the user experience, and continuing to design with real people and real needs at the center. We’re also investing in features that help gig workers and build upward mobility over time. The goal is to continue building a financial platform that supports workers throughout the entire lifecycle of their journey, not just in the moments of need, but in moments of growth.
What’s your favorite book or podcast right now?
I’ve been reading Invincible: My Journey from Fan to Team Captain, and what resonates with me most is the reminder that talent can come from anywhere, and that belief, access, and opportunity are often the real differentiators. The story is about someone who wasn’t expected to succeed, who didn’t have the traditional path or early validation, but who kept showing up, stayed committed, and took the shot, even when the odds were stacked against him.
Sports has always shaped how I think: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and you grow by stepping into spaces that challenge you. Leadership, product, and financial access all follow the same principle: once someone has the chance to try, to build, to move forward, they can change their entire trajectory. And one opportunity can be the turning point.
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