Voices in Fintech: Lisa Sung

We celebrate our leaders daily, but March stands out in significance as Women’s History Month, with the 8th of March honoring International Women’s Day. Adding to the excitement is team Australia’s win in the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and as the official fintech infrastructure partner of the International Cricket Council, we’re proud of the female change-makers changing the game in cricket and fintech.

Standing by Nium’s values of Simply. Better. Together., we’re excited to share our final guest for the Voices in Fintech series–Lisa Sung, V.P. of Business Development and Head of Sales, North Asia. An accomplished payments industry veteran, Lisa discusses how she’s helping emerging talent thrive in the payments industry.

Q. What has been your most memorable professional milestone at Nium?

It started before I joined Nium, when I connected with Prajit and discussed the position they were looking to fill. Over the conversation, I felt lucky to learn more about Nium’s story and the opportunity to build the team for North Asia.

This was a unique experience; I realized this was a relatively greenfield market for Nium. Imagine you are running the business with room for a lot of adventure like an entrepreneur, but at the same time, you are backed by the company and team players to support you in your goals.

Q. What can be done to make fintech a more inclusive space for emerging women leaders?

Fintech companies can help drive change by making diversity and inclusion a priority. Whether by implementing policies that promote work-life balance or proactively creating more diverse teams, there should be a strong emphasis on equality and balanced representation in the workplace.

Networking and community-building can also be powerful tools for driving change. By creating professional communities for women in payments to be mentored, we can help grow connections, share resources, and support the upskilling of women to ensure they thrive in this competitive industry.

Q. What advice would you give to women looking to elevate their careers in the payments space?

I advise staying informed; keep up with the latest trends and advancements in this highly dynamic payments industry. Try to attend conferences and networking events and prioritize participating in online forums to stay informed and connected with influential leaders.

Secondly, develop your skills; fintech is constantly evolving, so it’s essential to continuously develop your knowledge and enhance your core talents. Take courses, attend workshops, and seek out opportunities to gain experience in areas that interest you to carve out a skill set that differentiates you from your peers.

Q. How are you driving change for women at Nium to help overcome industry challenges?

I believe in the power of networking and the impact it delivers to help break away from outdated norms. I am dedicated to building relationships with peers, mentors, and industry leaders to open doors and make introductions for new female leaders building their careers in fintech.

Also, I promote events and dialogues to match our team members to their career goals and interests; this helps drive their confidence and ambition to succeed in fintech.

Q. How do you define a productive week at Nium?

Nium values teamwork and collaboration. A productive week would involve team members generating new ideas and problem-solving approaches. This involves opportunities for learning and growth, whether through attending training sessions, sharing knowledge with colleagues, or experimenting with new tools and techniques.