Valerie Lothian: from Finance & Psychology to Tech Founder

Social media handle(s): website, LinkedIn & X

A few words about me:

I’m the Founder of Focusivity, where we combine financial literacy, cultural sensitivity, and tech to create AI-powered stress relief and mentoring solutions for the construction industry and beyond.

I'm a passionate advocate for mental and financial well-being, with many years’ experience in stress management, leadership training, and cultural integration. What people may not expect is that I’ve gradually transitioned into tech by working with AI-driven solutions for workplace well-being, blending human insight with innovation.

I love music, laughing, fine dining, mentoring, and calm nature walks, especially after a day of consulting. I also have a knack for bringing order to chaos, whether it's a messy spreadsheet or an overwhelmed leadership team.

Are there any professional experiences you've had that are quite unexpected compared to what you do nowadays?

Whilst progressing my career in finance, I explored my creative side by being an extra in movies. I was filmed in a scene as an office worker with Hollywood A-Listers such as Jude Law and Natalie Portman in the movie called ‘Closer’.

Is your background more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or non-STEM related?

Definitely more non-STEM. My roots are in finance, human psychology, counselling, and training/mentoring, what many might call the “soft skills.” But ironically, those skills have been crucial in the foundational designing of meaningful tech products that serve real human needs.

Where did your professional journey start?

It began with a passion for helping people, initially when a close friend attempted suicide and turned to me for help, progressing to face-to-face and online support. Over time, I realised the gaps in financial well-being services, especially for culturally diverse workers. That’s what sparked my deeper dive into scalable solutions and eventually, tech.

How did you get into tech and what motivated you?

As mentioned in the previous question, my journey into tech started with a problem. Also, stress and financial hardship were costing companies dearly, and traditional methods weren’t scaling. I knew we needed something smarter, more adaptive.

Have you experienced any 'career in tech' challenges / stereotypes?

No.

"Don’t count yourself out. You don’t need to be a coder to be in tech. Be a storyteller, problem-solver, empathetic leader. Start with the problem you care about solving and tech will meet you there."

What you wish you knew before getting started in tech...

I wish I knew how valuable my non-tech skills were as I underestimated how much demand there is for empathy, communication, and domain expertise in using/building tech solutions.

What has been your biggest 'wow!' moment related to working in tech so far?

Seeing our AI-powered stress relief tools supported by a major UK construction firm knowing it could help their workers, was a huge moment. Turning lived experience into digital impact felt surreal.

Also, creating my video that promoted an opportunity to own a share of Elon Musk's SpaceX company

What do you like / not like about working in tech?

I love the speed of innovation and the opportunity to make a global impact. I don’t like the jargon, it can be unnecessarily intimidating to those from non-tech backgrounds. I’m all for making tech more human and inclusive.

"I wish I knew how valuable my non-tech skills were as I underestimated how much demand there is for empathy, communication, and domain expertise in using/building tech solutions."

What's been your favourite / most memorable / funniest 'career in tech' moment so far?

My favourite is knowing that my financial stress relief service is recognised to be a valuable solution to those who recognise its benefits, and welcome implementing the solutions provided.

And to wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to give to others interested in a career in tech?

Don’t count yourself out. You don’t need to be a coder to be in tech. Be a storyteller, problem-solver, empathetic leader. Start with the problem you care about solving and tech will meet you there.