Great UnExpectations Fuel Forty Under 40 Forward
We asked the 2022 ETA Forty Under 40 cohort, “What’s the most exciting or unexpected moment presented so far in your career?” and we uncovered some surprising answers. While the pandemic and the pace of change topped the list in terms of the number of responses, career highlights, relationships and being recognized also capped the chart. Here is a sampling of what these industry leaders had to say.
Dustin White, Global Head of Risk Analytics & Platforms
“One of the most rewarding experiences of my career has been our efforts to help our Ukrainian colleagues over the last month. My team has been partnering closely with Visa’s Global Security and regional teams to help keep our colleagues safe. I am grateful to be a part of this critical effort.”
Kimberly Rebello, Director of Operations and Partner Success, Payscout
“A few months ago, I received an invitation to be a part of Forbes Councils which gave me the chance to a) connect with international business leaders and b) use my voice on a global platform to contribute positive change in society. With having more and more female voices representing the world’s most widely visited business website, it allows us to continue to empower future generations of professional women.”
Preet Patel, Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing, North American Bancard
“Covid era payments. It goes without saying the toll the pandemic has taken on every one of us has been immense. It has personally touched every person in a different way. As we start to see the light at the end of this dark three-year tunnel, the one fact is clearer than ever, resiliency matters.
Through resilience and transformation, our industry is changing faster than ever. Consolidation amongst the various key players, large amounts of capital being injected into technological advancement, and the caliber of the people we work with every day. Covid has accelerated what we knew was going to happen, and it’s a fantastic industry to be a part of!”
Liz Pike, CEO, Green Rhino
GreenRhino Recruitment being awarded the Diversity Helping Hand award at Wnet’s Leadership Summit in 2021. Our firm has had a focus on diversity, inclusion, and career pathing for the past five years. It’s fantastic to see how Associations, nonprofits and payments organizations are working together to further inclusion.”
Joseph Daddona, Senior Vice President, Operations, Shift4 Payments
“One of the most exhilarating moments in my career was seeing our leadership team ring the bell at the NYSE when our company went public. This was an awe-inspiring milestone, being part of the team since 2007.”
Brittany Allen, Trust and Safety Architect, Sift
“That I have this career at all! Like almost everyone in fraud prevention, I did not go to school for this. In college I studied history and German with the goal of becoming a high school teacher; instead, I landed in Trust & Safety, where my day-to-day includes identifying fraud rings, contributing to international law enforcement investigations, and doing media interviews. In the most accurate sense of the word, there’s literally no way I could have predicted this career for myself when I graduated.
Adam Oberman, President, Payroc
“Growing Payroc into a 700-employee organization and creating 700 new jobs for families all while doing it with my family. We started Payroc 20 years ago on a family basis and worked hard every day to supply for our families and now we can give back to others that want and need the same thing. That is by far the most exciting thing to me that has happened in my career – creating those job opportunities for others to have.”
Chrystal McCorkle, Client Services Specialist, Global Payments
“The most unexpected and exciting moment of my career is this one – being selected and recognized in ETA’s 2022 Forty Under 40 class!
Victor Garcia Pineda, Technical Product Manager, SignaPay
“The pandemic has been the most unexpected moment in my career. It gave me an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and asses how to make a difference through adversity. At SignaPay our moto is “Empowering People through Payments” and we had to do just that. Empower businesses through hardship and provide them with the best tools to navigate through difficult times.”
Jennifer Cunningham, Director of Sales, First American by Deluxe
“This one is tricky. I keep going back to a quote I found somewhere and fell in love with. ‘A sale is not something you pursue. It’s something that happens when you are immersed in your customer.’ For me, it’s all about building relationships with people and finding the best way to serve them.”