International Women’s Day 2024 highlights the contributions and impact of women across industries worldwide, including the dynamic payments sector. Paysecure marked the occasion by hosting a roundtable discussion with our female leaders. Through sharing their experiences and perspectives on navigating and excelling in payments and fintech, they hope to pave the way for change.
Recognising progress this International Women’s Day and navigating challenges
Paysecure’s female leaders, including Viktoriia Degtiarova (CCO & Co-founder), Andrada Gheorghiu (Account Management Director), and Julie Thanapalan (Business Development Director), reflected on the opportunities and hurdles women face in payments.
During their International Women’s Day 2024 discussion, they emphasised that while the industry has historically been male-dominated, Paysecure fosters an inclusive culture where talent and dedication determine success. By promoting gender diversity and mentorship, we actively support women in leadership roles across payments.
Key points discussed across the session included:
- Balancing career and personal life while thriving in high-pressure roles.
- Overcoming implicit biases and navigating male-dominated environments.
- Leveraging resilience, self-confidence, and strategic networking to build influence.
“I am juggling the roles of a businesswoman and mother, navigating dual responsibilities. Despite the hurdles, there are many opportunities to thrive in both domains. I find immense fulfillment in being both a businesswoman and mother and wouldn’t trade this for anything.” said Viktoriia, highlighting the balance many women leaders maintain.
Andrada added, “Many organisations are actively striving to foster more inclusive workplaces, where the contributions of women are acknowledged and valued. I’ve noticed an increasing presence of women in leadership roles, and Paysecure is one of these organisations.”
Julie noted, “From my personal standpoint, this day represents a time to reflect on my journey, the challenges I’ve overcome, and the successes I’ve achieved in my career. Women from diverse backgrounds often find themselves underrepresented, making the journey toward success particularly challenging.”
At Paysecure, these principles underpin our leadership approach. We guide our teams to deliver innovative payment solutions while empowering individuals to grow professionally.
Facing and overcoming industry biases
Like many sectors, payments has historically been male-dominated, and moments of bias still occur. Viktoriia shared a memorable experience where she felt overlooked in a meeting, describing it as “a stark reminder that some still struggle to accept women as capable business partners.”
Julie echoed this sentiment, recalling that earlier in her career she often felt the need to prove her expertise more rigorously than male peers.
Yet these experiences have not defined their paths; instead they have reinforced the importance of resilience. As Andrada put it, perseverance and strategic thinking enable anyone to establish themselves as a respected leader, regardless of gender.
At Paysecure, fostering an environment where talent and impact matter most is seen as essential, not only for employee growth but also for delivering innovative solutions to clients navigating complex payment challenges.
Leadership, vision, and building for the future from International Women’s Day 2024 and beyond
In discussions around International Women’s Day 2024, conversation naturally turned to leadership and what it means to build a company with purpose.
Viktoriia spoke about the ambition behind Paysecure to create a payments business grounded in product excellence and real problem-solving. “Our vision is clear: to become the payment company of the world, prioritising product excellence, innovation, and addressing genuine payment-related issues.”
Trust emerged as another cornerstone. Andrada emphasised that clear communication and managing expectations are fundamental to strong client relationships, especially in an industry where reliability and confidence are critical. “Clear communication and effective management of expectations foster robust, mutually beneficial relationships. In payments, user trust is pivotal to success”, shared Andrada.
Julie highlighted the power of community. She shared that building professional networks and learning from others opens doors to new opportunities and perspectives. This is something that has played a significant role in her own career.
These insights reflect a broader belief that inclusive leadership not only strengthens teams but also drives better outcomes for customers and partners.
Prioritising wellbeing and resilience
Sustaining a career in a high-pressure industry requires intentional focus on wellbeing. Viktoriia shared that maintaining mental clarity comes from a mix of physical activity, mindfulness, and carving out time to reset, even experimenting with unconventional techniques.
Viktoriia candidly shared her stress-management techniques: “I engage in sports, schedule time with a personal assistant, practice meditation, and even experiment with unconventional methods like standing on nails for relaxation. It helps maintain mental clarity.”
Julie highlighted conventional self-care: “Establishing clear boundaries between professional and personal life, meditation, exercise, and relaxation are cornerstones of my routine. Taking care of your health is crucial to overall wellbeing.”
Paysecure recognises that a healthy, supported team delivers stronger performance. Our focus on wellbeing ensures leaders, particularly women, can innovate and perform at their best.
A message to aspiring payments and fintech international women
When asked what guidance they would offer to women entering the industry, the message was consistent: be confident, stay curious, and invest in your growth.
Julie encouraged aspiring professionals not to shy away from leadership opportunities. While Viktoriia stressed the importance of becoming deeply knowledgeable, building strong relationships, and maintaining the grit needed to succeed.
“To all women aspiring to thrive in the payments industry I would say: become experts in your chosen field, continuously seek opportunities for learning and growth, and invest in building strong relationships. Cultivate grit, hustle, and a relentless commitment to execution as your three best companions.”, Viktoriia Degtiarova.
Their advice reflects a shared belief that the future of payments will be shaped by diverse voices. Empowering more women to step forward is key to driving progress.
Looking ahead
The discussion reinforced that meaningful change happens through everyday actions; mentoring colleagues, championing inclusion, and continuing to challenge assumptions.
As the payments landscape evolves, it is Paysecure’s commitment to foster an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and innovation can flourish, helping shape a more inclusive future for the industry.
For more information about Paysecure’s team or to look at opportunities to join the organisation, please visit our careers page.
