Fintech
Leading a large fintech: Stephanie Ferris
An audit manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers early in his career, Ferris started in banking at Fifth Third Bank, then moved to Vantiv in financial planning and analysis – his first step into fintech.
She eventually became CFO and was named the most influential woman in payments. Vantiv purchased WorldPay, which FIS subsequently acquired in 2019. Ferris, who had been WorldPay’s CFO, remained with FIS when he sold WorldPay. She was named CEO in 2022.
Ferris advises junior employees to think about what appeals to them in their work and look for growth opportunities to do those things. “You have to find the things you like to do in your job,” Ferris said. “If you really enjoy what you are doing, then you will do it better.”
This isn’t to say that everything about a job has to be perfect; you might end up working in a less-than-ideal place or for a boss you don’t like, “but if you’re in for a big reward, then you have to be willing to take a big risk,” she said.
Taking risks — and accepting that failure is a possibility — was also important as Ferris rose through the ranks, he said. At one point at Vantiv, to achieve her goal of becoming CFO, she was offered the opportunity to become general manager of a business unit, something she had never done before. If she gave up her finance role, the company would fill it, so she couldn’t go back, but the new job represented a step out of the accepted path for a finance executive.
“I had to have enough confidence to believe in myself and be able to do the job,” she said.
Listening is also key, Ferris said, as is observing others’ management styles and what they do to grow a company: “Find out what their superpower is and what your superpower is.”