At the ComplyAdvantage Fintea Chats, Jodie Gayet explains who she is and why she’s at the Catalyst event and describes herself as a lived-experience speaker and an advocate focused on financial crime and the harms linked to gambling addiction.
She’s attending as part of her work with Just for Good, using her personal journey to help organisations better understand risk, behaviour and prevention. Asked about her biggest takeaway so far, she points to the sheer level of innovation in the room and the sense that financial crime is evolving quickly, both in terms of threats and solutions.
The heart of the conversation is Gayet’s story and she speaks candidly about developing a gambling addiction at a young age, working within banks and building societies, and ultimately turning to fraud and theft to fund that addiction which led to prison. Gayet has made a conscious decision to do something constructive with her experience, using it to help companies identify weaknesses in controls, culture and regulation. Her message is clear: people aren’t born bad, but trauma, addiction and poor support can push individuals onto destructive paths.
When asked about audience reactions to her talks, Gayet is refreshingly honest and admits she often arrives nervous, worried about judgment. The response, however, has been overwhelmingly positive with people appreciate her openness and the fact she’s focused on accountability and doing better, rather than excuses.
Gayet closes with advice for anyone who might be heading down a similar road as mental health and addiction, she says, thrive in silence and speaking up, asking for help and admitting there’s a problem can change everything. Left unaddressed, addiction only tightens its grip and her message to the industry, and to individuals, is simple but powerful: early support matters, and prevention starts with listening.
