Leaders In Payments – Details, episodes & analysis

Curious about how to build a fintech business that champions financial inclusivity? Join us for a captivating conversation with Pat Napoli from Appressa, where we explore his remarkable journey from New Jersey to making waves in the payments industry. Pat shares how Appressa supports consumers who’ve been declined by prime banks, helping them secure credit cards through near prime and subprime banks. Discover how Appressa's innovative technology, paired with their strategic partnership with Prove, works to rehabilitate credit scores for millions of Americans, making a significant impact on the issue of credit card declines.

Get inspired by Pat’s deep commitment to community service and his passion for inner-city education, exemplified by his involvement with St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, NJ. Together with his partner, Chris Mettler, Pat draws on experiences from MBNA and other renowned financial institutions to create a tech-driven solution for those with non-prime credit scores. As we wrap up, Pat offers invaluable advice for aspiring fintech professionals, underscoring the growing importance of data science in the rapidly evolving payments landscape. Don’t miss this insightful episode, packed with trends, strategies, and personal stories.

Curious about how loyalty points might soon replace cash and credit at your favorite stores? Join us as we sit down with Jonathan Silver, CEO of Engage People, and Len Covello, CTO of the same company, to unravel the groundbreaking "Pay With Points" technology. Discover how this innovative system transforms loyalty program points into a versatile payment method, making checkout smoother for members and more profitable for retailers. Jonathan and Len shed light on the significant advantages this offers to loyalty programs, members, and merchants alike, and discuss the compelling business case behind this game-changing payment option. They also share revealing insights from a recent consumer survey, showcasing the high demand for loyalty currency amidst the economic downturn and why points are seen as more stable compared to buy now, pay later plans and cryptocurrencies.

But we're not stopping there. We also explore the future horizons of loyalty points in various retail landscapes—from gas stations to grocery stores and small businesses. Jonathan and Len reveal how major brands are successfully rolling out pay-with-points systems and the vision of loyalty points becoming an integral part of everyday transactions. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the fascinating future of loyalty points in payments!

Carly Brush's career trajectory is nothing short of inspirational, a true testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and mentorship. In this enlightening podcast episode, Carly Brush, SVP of Human Capital Management at DailyPay, delves deep into her fascinating journey from an aspiring fashion designer to a key leader in the fintech industry. Her story is one of navigating through professional hurdles, leveraging mentorship, and constantly stepping out of her comfort zone to achieve growth.

Carly's story isn't just about success—it's about the growth that comes from challenges and the invaluable role of mentorship. She provides candid insights into overcoming professional hurdles, including a pivotal project failure at DoorDash, and underscores the importance of stepping out of comfort zones. Carly also offers practical advice for young women eyeing a career in fintech, emphasizing collaboration, continuous learning, and the satisfaction of working with dedicated colleagues. Tune in to gain inspiration and actionable wisdom from Carly Brush as she discusses her remarkable career and contributions to the fintech landscape.

In this episode I had the opportunity to sit down with payments industry legend: O.B. Rawls. O.B. shared his fascinating journey from growing up on a farm in North Carolina to holding leading roles at big corporations such as Bank of America, Hypercom, and FiServ. Today, O.B is a partner at Wellesley Hill Financial, a boutique investment bank serving the $30-80 million deal size segment.

We discuss the verticalization of the industry and the value of offering services outside of just payments. According to O.B. the future of the payments and fintech industries is undoubtedly exciting and it requires constant learning, adaptation, and a focus on delivering value to succeed.

OB emphasizes the importance of being kind, helpful, and a good person – qualities that have guided him throughout his career. His perspective on the industry was enriched by his experiences, making his advice particularly invaluable for those starting out in the payments industry.

And finally, we talked about O.B.'s hobbies, which include gardening, wine, and a bourbon collection. I couldn’t think of a better guest to have on this milestone episode and am grateful to continue to learn from O.B. and call him a friend. 

Have you ever wondered how the future of underwriting and onboarding looks in the payments industry? Prepare to be enlightened as we sit down with Darryl Cumming, the Director of Product Management for Agreement Express (an NMI company). Our conversation unfolds the significance of automated underwriting and the value of Agreement Express, touching upon its functionality, typical customers and the exciting prospects for the product.

During our discussion, we delve into Scan X, a revolutionary product that enriches the onboarding process. We learn how this tool automates merchant decisions, customizes risk recommendations and provides vital risk model performance analytics. Whether you're a greenhorn or a seasoned underwriter, the detailed reporting and performance analytics of Scan X are a treasure trove of guidance and efficiency.

We then discuss compliance and fraud protection - an issue every payments business must contend with. Uncover the potential costs your business may face without adequate protective measures. As we spotlight partner tools like KYC Site Scan and IRIS CRM (an NMI company), you'll see how Scan X helps businesses save and bridges the gap between sales and risk management. To finish our conversation, we explore Monitor X, a post-merchant approval solution that safeguards merchants in your portfolio. 

Tune in for valuable insights into the world of underwriting and onboarding.

Ever wondered how a small idea could turn into a revolution? Get ready to be inspired by Ruben Galindo, CEO of Airtm. This is not just another success story – it's a tale of passion for justice and financial decentralization, from the heart of Mexico City to the tech-hub of San Francisco. Ruben shares an intriguing insight into the birth of Airtm, its transition to blockchain technology, and the audacious goal to become the Web3 PayPal of the future. 

Embrace the concept of an 'open money mentality'. Listen as Ruben narrates the impact of this groundbreaking approach on the cross-border payment industry and the significance of trust and brand building in fostering prosperity with large-scale enterprises. You will learn how Airtm is leading the way for digital entrepreneurs in the global south to access their earnings effortlessly. So, get set, because this episode is sure to broaden your horizons on the world of payments and digital entrepreneurship.

The world of merchant services management is evolving at an impressive pace, thanks to innovations like IRIS CRM. In this episode of our podcast, we were joined by Jaron Ruckman, Product Manager for IRIS CRM, for an insightful conversation about how this revolutionary product is reshaping the industry.

IRIS, a product owned by NMI, is a comprehensive merchant services management solution that integrates with top processors and cultivates close-knit client relationships. For ISOs, banks, and ISVs, IRIS offers the benefit of enhanced visibility and accountability. It also provides an infinite data retention policy, which is a crucial feature for maintaining a complete and accessible record of all customer interactions and transactions.

We also decipher the complexities of residual reporting and demonstrate the tools you need to streamline split calculations. For businesses that are not utilizing a comprehensive tool like IRIS, the process of managing merchant services can be tedious and error prone. The use of disparate systems and manual processes can result in inefficiencies and inaccuracies. IRIS solves these issues by offering a single, integrated solution that manages the entire life cycle of merchant services.

In summary, IRIS a game-changing tool in the realm of merchant services management. Its comprehensive features and functionalities, coupled with its ability to integrate with top processors, make it a must-have tool for any business in the industry. Tune into our podcast for a more detailed exploration of IRIS and its myriad of benefits.

Prepare to meet David Lambert, the charismatic CEO of Paycross. Exuding a passion for payments, he's at the helm of this groundbreaking payment orchestration technology platform. We delve into his journey to the top; a journey fueled by personal and professional ambitions. Discover the unique features of Paycross as Lambert unravels the intricacies of payment orchestration and how it's revolutionizing card processing and cross-border transactions.

In the second half, get ready for an unexpected twist as we discuss Lambert's love for Japanese whiskey. Lambert's approach to payments is as nuanced and comprehensive as his taste in whiskey. Listen as he shares Paycross's strategy to serve underserved niche markets and their commitment to becoming indispensable to merchants by offering multifaceted payment solutions. The competitive payments industry is a game of agility and innovation. Tune in to learn from an industry expert about the future of payments and how to stay ahead of the curve.

In this episode we take a deep dive into the world of high-value, complex B2B payments with our guest, Andrew Hawkins, CEO UK & Europe for ShieldPay. He's here to show us how ShieldPay is revolutionizing the payments industry with solutions aimed at reducing manual processes and risk. Hear about his exciting journey, from dabbling in technology in his early years to becoming the CEO of a leading fintech company. As you listen, you'll learn about the innovative services they offer, including enabling mergers and acquisitions and capital markets, and how they aim to continue growing and progressing.

But that's not all! We also venture into the thrilling future of payments and financial services. Imagine a world where payments are less visible and seamlessly integrated into our daily lives - from a simple Apple tap to pay to EV car charging. We explore the impending decentralization and disaggregation of financial services, and the potential of technologies enabling tokenization, digital identity, and smart contracts. Get your gears grinding as we discuss the implications of the PSD3 regulations in Europe and the evolving role of data in the next generation of financial services. This episode is a goldmine for anyone interested in understanding and staying ahead in the ever-evolving world of payments and fintech.

My next guest for our Women Leaders in Payments series has both an entrepreneur and facilitator spirit, being born into a family of self-starters and go-getters that depended on their entrepreneurial ventures for their foundation. KeyBank Senior Leader, Commercial Payments Carol Wang started her career in marketing but her intrigue with payments quickly changed her trajectory.

One of Carol’s roles at KeyBank is to lead the Solutions Engineering Team – a dedicated department that provides end-to-end technical payment services. Why did Carol choose KeyBank? In a nutshell, she perceived the capacity to build her career the way she wanted to within the infrastructure of a large organization.

As for her guiding principles, there’s one tried and true principle that has been with her throughout her entire career, and one that has adapted as her career has matured. Regarding the tried and true one, Carol emphasizes the importance of looking at who you’re going to work with and for versus just focusing on the job itself. And the other? Having an opportunity that will allow you to make a scalable difference.  

We also discuss her most eye-opening career moments – including a corporate case study she participated in that had some pretty interesting results regarding the typical male and female response. Don’t miss it!