FinTech Magazine April 2024 | Page 58

MASTERCARD
to place at least 1,000 women in their respective enterprises .
“ It has a multiplier impact , which I think is really important ,” says Ajmal . “ When you train a set of women in creating their personal brand , you ’ re also ensuring they give something back to other women and it becomes a cycle . This is something I ’ m very passionate about . As a mother of a daughter , I ’ ve been able to give choices to her that I didn ’ t have . It ’ s important for me to uplift women and make them believe in their dreams .”

“ As a mother of a daughter I ’ ve been able to give choices to her that I didn ’ t have ”

AMNAH AJMAL EVP MARKET DEVELOPMENT , EEMEA , MASTERCARD
Helping fintechs to grow and scale Ajmal ’ s personal take is that a strategy of innovation must always be based on collaboration .
“ I always say no-one can innovate alone in today ’ s world ,” she emphasises . “ We have to make sure we ’ re partnering with different players of the ecosystem .”
Fintech is , evidently , a crucial part of the modern-day ecosystem , especially for a payments powerhouse like Mastercard .
Ajmal reveals there are two primary ways in which the organisation is partnering with fintech companies , helping them to grow and scale along the way .
She explains : “ When I meet clients , be it the region ’ s largest retailer , a payment service provider or an airline , they ’ re looking for a specific problem to be solved , but we as Mastercard may not have all the assets and capabilities to provide the solution .
“ So , we co-create solutions with fintech companies and , because we adhere to compliance , data security and privacy standards , the fintech benefits from our expertise and receives access to the distribution network of our clients .
58 April 2024