Leaders In Payments

Jonathan O'Connor brings a unique global perspective to the payments landscape as Division President of Third-Party Payments at Synovus, the oldest bank in Georgia. His journey from Dublin, Ireland to becoming a key player in Atlanta's "Transaction Alley" reveals how traditional banking and cutting-edge fintech can create powerful synergies. At Synovus, community remains the co...

Jared Ronski, Co-founder and President of Payarc , takes us behind the scenes of how modern payment technology is empowering independent sales agents and merchants alike. The conversation reveals Payarc 's unique approach to partner relationships, where "growth through alignment" isn't just a catchy phrase but a business philosophy that has kept agents loyal since the company&a...

Pat Moye, Executive Director of Product Innovation at Deluxe , unveils the surprising reality of accounts receivable departments still trapped in manual processes despite technological advances elsewhere in business. As he aptly points out, AR professionals often describe themselves as "cash detectives," spending valuable time hunting down payment information across disconnected systems...

Zac Schneiderman shares a deeply personal journey from political science student to VP of ISV at Payarc , where he's become a driving force behind the company's innovative approach to payment integration for software platforms. What does it take to build successful partnerships in the fast-evolving payments ecosystem? For Schneiderman, it begins with understanding what software companies...

Ever wonder what it takes to transform a basement startup into a global payments powerhouse processing over a quarter trillion dollars annually? In this fascinating conversation, Taylor Lauber, CEO of Shift4 , reveals the remarkable journey that's taken the company from a small payment processor to an innovative force reimagining commerce across 75 countries worldwide. Taylor's own path...

Stepping into the world of small business banking requires a fresh perspective, and that's exactly what Eyal Lifshitz brought when he founded Bluevine twelve years ago. Having watched his father run a physical therapy practice, Eyal witnessed firsthand the financial challenges small business owners face daily. Today, as Bluevine 's CEO, he's transformed that understanding into a rev...

We’re proud to kick off our four-part Modern Finance series with a conversation with Deluxe 's Yogs Jayaprakasam, SVP, Chief Technology & Digital Officer.  AI isn't just changing treasury - it's completely reimagining how financial teams operate, transforming them from back-office functions into strategic business advisors. Yogs Jayaprakasam reveals how treasury departments are...

What happens when you combine lightning-fast payments with sophisticated identity verification? James Neville, CEO of Yaspa , reveals how his company is transforming financial transactions by connecting these two critical elements. Yaspa stands at the cutting edge of real-time payment processing, offering the fastest account-to-account transfers across Europe with expansion plans for the US market...

From her journey through marketing roles at large payments companies to building out the marketing function at Paysafe , Alisa Barber, CMO reveals the continuous learning and adaptation required to thrive in the rapidly evolving payments landscape. Her leadership philosophy centers on providing clear direction while creating space for team members to shine, emphasizing that growth comes not from s...

 “This episode contains explicit language and may not be suitable for all audiences.”  The journey from developer to co-CEO of a global payments provider isn't for the faint of heart. Monika Liikamaa knows this firsthand. As the co-founder of Enfuce , she's built a company that processes cards for 24 million cardholders worldwide, pioneering cloud-native solutions when the industry thoug...

Redefining leadership requires authenticity, cross-functional collaboration, and a willingness to embrace non-linear career paths. Kari Wilhelm, SVP of Data Strategy and Commercialization at Worldpay , embodies these principles as she navigates the complex intersection of payments technology and data innovation. In this fascinating conversation, Kari reveals how her unconventional journey from eco...

The payments landscape is undergoing dramatic transformation, demanding new approaches to leadership and innovation. Karen Xu, Chief Financial Officer for North America at Ingenico , brings a fresh perspective on navigating this evolution while balancing personal and professional priorities. Growing up in Shanghai's French Concession sparked Karen's curiosity to explore the world, eventu...

Aglika Dotcheva's journey from organizing student strikes in post-communist Bulgaria to becoming CFO of Riskified is a masterclass in resilience and adaptive leadership. With just $3,000 in her pocket and dreams of a better future, Agi arrived in New York, eventually studying at Columbia University before finding her path in fintech. What makes Agi's story particularly compelling is how...

What happens when bold career moves and authentic leadership philosophy unite? Just ask Outhay Lovan, Chief People Strategy Officer at VizyPay , who transformed from LinkedIn observer to executive leader by taking an unconventional path that started with "stalking" the company online. In this captivating conversation for Women Leaders in Payments month, Outhay reveals her remarkable jour...

From humble beginnings as a mathematics student in India to overseeing Citi 's payments operations across 94 countries, Debopama Sen's 29-year journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring leaders. Her perspective on leadership is refreshingly practical: find the signal amidst the noise, articulate a clear strategic vision, and focus on helping your team excel. "It shouldn't be...

"The ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities is on a different level with working mothers," observes Lena Hackelöer, CEO and founder of Brite Payments , during our illuminating Women Leaders in Payments episode. Five years after launching her company focused on account-to-account payments in Europe, Lena brings fresh perspectives on leadership, innovation, and diversity in the...

What happens when your work drains rather than energizes you? For Ahalya Vijay, VP of Product Operations at Worldpay , this realization sparked a pivotal career transformation from consulting to product leadership in payments. In this illuminating conversation for Women Leaders in Payments month, Ahalya shares her global journey from Singapore to the crossroads of product and technology transforma...

Andie Hill's career defies traditional paths. From searching newspaper classifieds to becoming Executive Vice President of Agent Sales at Payroc , her journey illustrates how authenticity and relationship-building create leadership success in the payments industry. "Being relevant and authentic" defines modern leadership for Hill. Throughout our conversation, she dismantles the myth...

Maggie O'Toole's remarkable journey from arriving in Chicago from Poland with just $300 to becoming Chief Client Officer at Dash Solutions exemplifies the power of mindset and determination in creating extraordinary outcomes. Her story serves as both inspiration and blueprint for anyone looking to make their mark in the payments industry. With disarming candor, Maggie shares the formativ...

Discover the evolution of leadership in the payments industry through the lens of someone who's lived it. Sheffali Welsh, Chief Operating Officer of The Clearing House , brings a unique perspective shaped by her unconventional journey from cognitive science studies to overseeing operations for America's only private payment network operator. The payments landscape demands a special kind...

What happens when the primary users of an industry's products aren't well-represented in its leadership? Serena Smith, Chief Client Officer at i2c , tackles this fundamental question in a fascinating exploration of women's influence in the payments ecosystem. The stark reality? Women drive 85% of consumer purchases across categories but hold only 27% of C-suite positions in financia...

Billi Jo Wright's unconventional journey from working in her uncle's sheet metal factory to executive leadership in payments spans nearly three decades and offers powerful lessons about persistence, adaptability, and betting on yourself. Without a college degree but armed with boundless curiosity, Billi Jo navigated through various roles across issuing and acquiring before finding her pa...

What happens when you build direct connections to over 350 real-time banks and wallets worldwide? You create what Thunes CEO Floris de Kort calls "the smart superhighway to move money around the world." The limitations of traditional cross-border payments are all too familiar for businesses operating globally. SWIFT transfers take days, lack transparency, come with hefty fees, and stop c...

Step into the world of payment innovation with Pierre Aurel, Chief Product Officer, and Norman Frankel, Chief Growth Officer at Stanchion Payments as they demystify SoftPOS technology - the revolutionary software turning ordinary smartphones into powerful payment terminals. SoftPOS fundamentally transforms how merchants accept payments, enabling any NFC-capable Android or iOS device to process con...

What happens when you combine the merchant benefits of pay-by-bank transactions with the consumer rewards typically reserved for credit cards? Matt Brennan, CEO of Spire , reveals how their groundbreaking approach is transforming everyday payments across America. Brennan walks us through Spire 's innovative branded payment solution that powers merchant-specific programs like Shell's &quo...