In this first episode of Tea for Two, and Two for Tea. I sit down with Vassilina Walford to explore payments from a treasury perspective. We discuss the limits of multi-acquiring, the overlooked role of finance in retail payments, the rise of the Chief Payment Officer, and how luxury brands are rethinking payments as a strategic enabler—not just a backend process. A thoughtful insider take on the complexities behind the checkout.
Be indulgent, on this first episode, i did some curious editing but don't be shocked, I had to choose the best pieces of this long and elaborated conversation with Vassilina.
A big shout out to Podcast studio in Lausanne: https://www.wetalk-studio.com/
Link on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Spillttp/membership
Link on my blog: https://spillthetp.com/spill-the-tea-the-blog/
Link on my Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangraison/
Link on my Linked'in Newsletter "Spill the tea - La Crème de la Crème" : https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7280961977936482305/
Link to Vassilina LInked'in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilina-lapteva-walford/
Link to Payment Vibes expertise : https://paymentvibes.com/
Episode breakdown:
⏱ 00:00 — Episode Intro
I introduce the vision behind Tea for Two and Two for Tea — a podcast to spill real insights into payments, far from the marketing noise. He sets the tone: independent, curious, and a bit cheeky. Guest of honour: Vassalina Walford, former Richemont treasurer turned payment consultant.
⏱ 03:45 — Treasury as a Background
Vassilina shares how she entered payments by investigating credit card fees. Coming from treasury, she brings a different lens — focused on cost, cash flow, and strategic oversight rather than tech or UX.
⏱ 10:34 — The Multi-Acquiring Strategy
A candid conversation on the risks and rewards of multi-acquiring. Vassilina challenges the standard playbook and advocates for a balanced, selective approach rooted in redundancy, not complexity.