I’m Aaliyah, a growth marketing creative turned aspiring product manager with a passion for making financial systems more accessible. Growing up as a first-gen immigrant, I learned early on how complex financial systems can be—especially for underserved communities. This inspired me to launch First Gen Finances, a Substack where I break down personal finance and fintech fundamentals to help others like me navigate these challenges.

Professionally, I’ve spent the last eight years working with startups and scaling brands like TikTok (circa 2019), Tebra (a now-unicorn SaaS company), Breathwrk, and MyyShop. In these roles, I’ve worn many hats: leading content strategy, managing digital marketing campaigns, and building influencer relations. These experiences taught me how to operationalize creative ideas, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver measurable results—skills that are essential for product management.

Now, I’m channeling that expertise into fintech. My journey to homeownership as a first-gen immigrant with limited resources deepened my understanding of financial systems and inspired me to help build products that empower underserved communities. I’m eager to leverage my strategic mindset, data-driven approach, and creative problem-solving skills to drive innovation in fintech.

When I’m not geeking out over fintech, you can find me painting on canvases (and sometimes walls) or hunting for the best coffee shop. I’m an avid enthusiast of food, pop culture, films, and memes—because life’s too short not to enjoy the little things.

If you’re working on something meaningful in fintech or just want to chat about the latest meme trends, shoot me an email or a message. Let’s set up a coffee chat—and don’t forget to attach your favorite gif!