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Wnet Unveils 2019 Leadership Summit Keynote Speakers and Session Lineup

Wednesday, August 07, 2019 — 12:56:24 (EDT)

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Aug. 7, 2019 –The Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet) today announced speakers and topics to be presented at the 2019 Wnet Leadership Summit - "Leading in a Changing World.” Hundreds of participants — including rising stars, senior executives and male advocates — are expected to attend the two-day event in Atlanta, the nation’s payment hub. Event registration and early-bird incentives are available at bit.ly/WnetSummit2019.

Register now to take advantage of the early-bird Wnet Leadership Summit registration discount available until August 28, 2019.

“We are excited about this year’s Wnet Leadership Summit, which will be our largest event of the year. Hundreds of leaders across the industry will meet to discuss domestic and global leadership trends. By attending, you will also hear from executives paving the way to create more creative and profitable organizations by improving gender diversity within their companies and our industry,” said Carol Grunberg, Wnet President, and Vice President and Executive Officer, Northwestern Mutual.

Keynotes by Leading Payment and Fintech Executives

This year’s keynote presentations will focus on the 2019 Summit theme, "Leading in a Changing World,” to highlight the incredible impact that networking, mentoring and leadership growth opportunities have on women and the men that advocate for them throughout the payments industry. Keynote sessions and speakers include:

“Thriving and Surviving in a Changing Culture” presented by Osama Bedier, CEO of Poynt, a digital payments veteran with a deep passion for improving lives through technology. He has spent decades pioneering consumer internet, e-commerce and payments services, including leadership roles at Google’s Wallet & Payments group, and PayPal. “Failing Up” presented by Anu Shultes, CEO, Lendup, an experienced fintech and consumer-focused payments innovator and leader with a passion for bringing innovative financial products to market. “Challenge Yourself” presented by Colleen Taylor, Executive Vice President, New Payment Flows, MasterCard, one of PaymentsSource's Most Influential Women in Payments of 2019 and a leader in driving volume growth from business to business, government, and new economy sources.

Research Findings on Improving Women’s Leadership and Gender Diversity

Grace Klopcic, Partner, McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, will present the results of its state of women in corporate America research. Through a partnership with McKinsey, Wnet members at payments companies participated in this year’s annual McKinsey and LeanIn.Org “Women in the Workplace” research study.

Sessions to Focus on “Leading in a Changing World”

The Wnet Leadership Summit will include one and a half days of networking and presentations by some of the most successful leaders in payments. The Wnet Leadership Summit will offer multiple panel and breakout sessions on transformational leadership topics including a “Card Brand Career Panel;” “Diversity Delivers;” “Embrace Disruption;” “Learn by Doing;” “Mix It Up with Special Guests” and “Your Turn to Lead.”

Executives and industry experts speaking at the conference sessions include:

Joe Carella, Assistant Dean of Executive Education in the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, and a Wnet Advisor to the Board Theresa Gongora, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance, TSYS, and Wnet Past President Sheila Gunby, Director, Public Sector U.S. Market Development, Mastercard Grace Klopcic, Partner, McKinsey & Company Cynthia F. Knowles, Vice President and Head of Business Administration, Integrated Financial Solutions (IFS), FIS, and a member of Wnet’s Board of Advisors Amy Parsons, Senior Vice President, Global Acceptance, Discover Serena Smith, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Treasury Management & Payment Strategy, Texas Capital Bank, and a member of Wnet’s Board of Directors Jennifer Tramontana, President and Founder, The Fletcher Group Robin Trickel, Vice President, Industry Engagement, American Express Global Network Services business Mary Uslander, Senior Vice President, Head of Commercialization and Client Experience, First Data Amy Zirkle, Interim CEO, Electronic Transactions Association (ETA)

“Attendees have the opportunity to network with some of the most successful executive leaders, both women and men, in the payments and fintech industries,” said Wnet Executive Director Lisl Dutterer. “In the Summit keynotes and panels, speakers will share experiences and advice specifically designed to help attendees' professional development, regardless of where they are on their career paths, and enable them to surge past industry stereotypes and corporate expectations."

Wnet would like to give special thanks to its 2019 Wnet Leadership Summit sponsors and media partners. For more information about the conference, sponsorships or registration, visit, please visit the event site or register directly by visiting bit.ly/WnetSummit2019 .

About the Women's Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet)

The Women's Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet) is the premier professional organization for women in payments and the men that advocate for them; providing personal enrichment no matter what stage members are in their careers. The organization provides world-class national and regional programming, fosters networking and promotes mentoring to help members achieve greater personal success, influence and professional parity. Founded in 2005, Wnet is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization serving thousands of women in payments annually. For more information about national and regional events and programming, or to become a member, please visit www.wnetonline.org .

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Source: Company press release.