Skating Toward Fintech on ‘Harlem Ice’

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For nearly three decades, Harlem has been home to hundreds of young ice skaters practicing and perfecting their two-foot spins, lunges, and jumps. And after watching Harlem Ice, the new docuseries that premiered on Disney+ this month, it would be hard to pass Riverbank State Park’s ice rink and not think of the young skaters in training. The show features an appearance by Daria Forde ’20, who recalls how repeatedly falling down and getting back up helped give her the dexterity to navigate a career in fintech.

Being part of the documentary was a huge honor,” she says. “It’s exciting to see the program grow and to witness how it continues to shape young women.”

Forde was honored with fellow skater and Barnard alumna Alicia Hall Moran ’95 at the last gala fundraiser held for Figure Skating in Harlem, the organization featured in the series. It was the first of many women’s spaces that helped Forde foster self-confidence, including Miss Porter’s School and Barnard, where she pursued a degree in computer science. She says the College allowed her to continue to develop in STEM while pursuing creative endeavors, like taking classes in West African dance with adjunct lecturer Maguette Camara. These courses helped her stay connected to her body and creativity amid the demands of tech-focused studies, she says.

“My background in STEM and tech complements the skills I developed as an athlete,” she explains. “Both require discipline, focus, and an understanding of structure — whether that’s a coding algorithm or a routine on the ice.”

Forde began skating at age 4 and continued for seven years. Figure Skating in Harlem also provided mentorship and academic support, which was buttressed by support at home.

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“My mom was always a huge advocate for me to pursue creative outlets,” she shares. “She wanted me to do something like figure skating, and this gave me a platform."

Once there, she encountered a cohort of young women from a variety socioeconomic backgrounds who supported one another and made her feel at home.

“I am a daughter of immigrants from the Caribbean and South America,” she says. “My grandmother came here with my mom and her siblings in the 70s. She worked really hard to become a nurse at Mount Sinai after being a midwife in Guyana.

The story of her grandmother’s resilience and her family’s commitment to education left a lasting impact. Today, Forde is a product manager at Bread Financial — a tech-forward finance services company — where she works on the team led by Barnard trustee Jyoti Menon ’01. Outside her job, she is also dedicated to giving back: She chairs the organization’s alumnae board, is on the Young Patrons Circle at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and has taught at Girls Who Code.

“Having the opportunity to study at Barnard and then work at some of the top tech companies has been a dream come true, but I will never forget my roots,” she says. “I want to continue to be that role model for girls who are growing up in Harlem and aspire to attend an institution like Barnard College.”