The Payments Leaders Show

The More You Adapt, The Luckier You Become. In this episode I sit down with global business leader Ian McLernon to explore what it really takes to build a career that evolves, adapts, and thrives in today’s uncertain world. Ian’s career journey is anything but linear. From early roles in retail and marketing to leading global luxury businesses across London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York, he...

This episode was a little different. I was not the host asking the questions I was in the hot seat. Communications strategist and stellar wordsmith Matt Pears turned the tables and put me through "The Career Decision Room": a set of powerful questions designed to uncover the 5 blind spots that quietly shape and limit our careers. What emerged was not just a conversation. It was a series of uncomfo...

Candice Pressinger - Director of Customer Data Security, Elavon Europe talks to Adrian Evans. Key learnings: The "False Positive" commercial gap Candice reveals a staggering statistic: while global fraud costs the industry approximately $300 billion , the cost of "false positives" (legitimate transactions blocked by over-zealous security) is double that at $600 billion . Furthermore, 50% of custom...

In this episode of The Payments Leader Show, I was joined by Sulabh Agarwal, Global Head of Payments at Accenture, for an insightful conversation about the future of the payments industry and the forces shaping it between now and 2028. Sulabh shares his personal journey into payments, from credit cards and analytics at Capital One to more than two decades at Accenture, where payments has remained...

I had one of the most meaningful human conversations I have recorded to date with Dan Swift, CEO and founder of Numentum. What started as a discussion about leadership, enterprise sales, and technology quickly became a deeply human exploration of what actually drives long‑term success in business and in life. Dan shared his journey candidly, from launching major initiatives at companies like Linke...

In this episode I am joined by Willem Wellinghoff in a thoughtful and grounded conversation on leadership, curiosity, trust, and the future of payments. Willem shares his unconventional “squiggly” career journey from law into fintech and payments, emphasising that meaningful careers are rarely linear. A recurring theme throughout the discussion is curiosity which Willem describes as essential not...

Candice Pressinger - Director of Customer Data Security, Elavon Europe talks to Adrian Evans. Key learnings: Security and innovation are complementary There is a common misconception that security slows down innovation. Candice reframes this, arguing that they are not opposites but partners. Effective security is actually a "growth lever" that reduces friction and costs, enabling businesses to inn...

In this powerful and insightful conversation, former hostage and crisis negotiator Nicky Perfect and I explored the art of communication, emotional intelligence, and human connection under pressure. Drawing on decades of frontline experience, Nicky reveals what truly drives effective conversations whether in life‑or‑death situations or everyday leadership. Nicky unpacked the value of deep listenin...

In this inspiring conversation, we explore an unconventional career journey that proves success is rarely linear and often far more interesting when it isn’t. From the very beginning, Ray’s story shows what’s possible when passion, purpose, and perseverance intersect. Balancing family life, night school, and growing responsibilities in a demanding business environment, he demonstrates how barriers...

Had a compelling conversation, with Cian Fitzpatrick Dylan Fitzpatrick . We explored how the payments industry has transformed from a cost centre into a genuine source of competitive advantage. What emerged throughout the discussion is a consistent theme: human connection. Whether onboarding clients or building long term partnerships, trust remains the foundation of every successful relationship....

Our conversation revolved around the power of curiosity, sincerity, and adding value. These guiding principles provide the foundation for building a meaningful career. Stefano’s natural curiosity about people and the world around him becomes the fuel for forming genuine, trust-based relationships. Rather than networking for personal gain, he approaches others with sincerity and reciprocity, creati...

What a fascinating conversation, made even richer by an effortless, grounded style. In this episode, we explore five powerful themes that emerged from Divya's journey and leadership philosophy. First, we uncover her unwavering commitment to doing the right thing and giving her best in every moment, a value set that forms the bedrock of how she leads and makes decisions. Next we explored Divya's ev...

Esme Wilson, Private Equity VP, Pollen Street Capital and Philip Harding, Commercial Director, Cashflows talk with Adrian Evans. There can be some confusion about how private equity firms and portfolio companies interact. If the roles are not clearly defined, it can lead to an unproductive dynamic. In our latest podcast discussion with Esme Wilson, Private Equity VP at Pollen Street Capital and Ph...

Clive Smith joined Adrian Evans on The Payments Leaders Show to talk about healthy organisational effectiveness. Clive brings a rare blend of sharp insight and deep humanity to the way teams perform and cultures evolve. They covered: How maximising curiosity is the only way to minimise internal politics. Why sending an email isn’t the same as creating clarity. When to take nodding heads in the boa...

Esme Wilson, Private Equity VP, Pollen Street Capital and Philip Harding, Commercial Director, Cashflows talk with Adrian Evans.

Srini Chandrasekharan https://www.linkedin.com/in/schandrasekharan/

Cien Solon www.linkedin.com/in/ciensolon/ A compelling conversation about how launchlemonade is making AI accessible and practical for businesses by putting human needs first and using it as an amplifier rather than a replacement for human capabilities.

Srini Chandrasekharan https://www.linkedin.com/in/schandrasekharan/

Anant Patel - CEO, Fabrick UK www.linkedin.com/in/anant-patel-0608066/ & Keith Douglas - CEO, Vocalink Limited www.linkedin.com/in/keithrdouglas/ Key learnings: Trust is efficient. Collaboration is most effective when you trust yourself, your wider team and your network.  Think beyond today. Get past them and us, it's actually we. Having a shared vision and goal is critical. Fraud threate...

Anant Patel - CEO, Fabrick UK www.linkedin.com/in/anant-patel-0608066/ & Keith Douglas - CEO, Vocalink Limited www.linkedin.com/in/keithrdouglas/ Key takeaways: Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge. Behaviours drive culture, culture drives results. To thrive in our industry building trust across the eco-system is vital, as is being open, curio...

Pete Wickes www.linkedin.com/in/pete-wickes-a04b3912/ Key takeaways: Invest in people. Financial results don't come by luck. Ask good questions. Be curiously competent. Kindness matters. You have to do hard things as a leader, but you can always do them in a kind way. Be intentional. Take personal responsibility for your career development. Be kind. If your kindness rubs off onto others, we’ll all...

Shachar Bialick - Founder, CEO Curve www.linkedin.com/in/shacharbialick/ Key takeaways: Harness data. Using customer data creates a better experience. Future developments could include offering personal CFO services. Set clear expectations. If there is no impact, it's a cultural problem. And if it's a cultural problem, it's a problem with leadership. Leaders need to set clear expectations. Build t...

Steve Hoban - CEO Attenda www.linkedin.com/in/stevehoban/ Key takeaways: Payments is exciting. The unattended marketplace is undergoing rapid innovation, with developments beyond our current imagination. Learn from mistakes. Create a safe space to have honest conversations and take time to reflect on past mistakes. Consumers need choice. Not all Payments need to be frictionless. Tell stories. Atte...

Michael Harty - Founder Owner The Card & Payments Awards www.linkedin.com/in/michael-harty-7ba3541/ Key takeaways: Awards inspire others, it’s much more about recognition than celebration. Independent judging is vital as industry recognition really means something. Any collaboration you can do is for the betterment of the industry. Be positive. Instead of looking at what you shouldn't do, look...

Sara Savidge - CEO Fexco International Payments www.linkedin.com/in/sarasavidge/ Key takeaways: Leadership starts with self leadership which begins with self care. Historically, payment providers had a solution and consumers had to fit in, now they deliver solutions based on customer needs. Everyone you work with, gives you an opportunity for growth and development. Sponsorship is vital for career...