Laura McGuigan

I attribute a lot of my success to resilience, relationships, and being willing to keep learning. I’ve never been someone who believes you have to know everything to be successful, but I do believe you have to be willing to ask questions, work hard, surround yourself with smart people, and keep showing up.

My career has also taught me that relationships matter just as much as results. Whether I’m working with a customer, leading a team, or collaborating internally, I genuinely care about the people on the other side of the conversation. That has helped me build trust throughout my career.

And personally, becoming a mom has probably shaped me more than anything. My children have given me a completely different definition of success. I want them to see that you can build a career you’re proud of, overcome difficult seasons, and still lead with kindness.

Don’t be afraid to be the person in the room who asks the question. Early in your career, it can feel like everyone else knows more than you do. The reality is that the strongest leaders are usually the ones who stay curious.

Some of the biggest growth in my career has come from being willing to say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out,’ and then following through. You don’t have to be the smartest person in every room. Surround yourself with talented people, learn from them, and never let ego get in the way of growth.

I’ve spent about a decade in the payments industry and I’m still learning every day. I actually think that mindset is part of what makes someone a strong leader.

Take up space before you feel completely ready. Speak up in the meeting, ask the question, apply for the position, share the idea. Don't wait for that voice in your head telling you that you need a little more experience or confidence first to disappear. Stay yourself, because qualities like empathy help build trust and relationships.

I would also tell young women to find people who genuinely want to see them succeed. Mentors and strong leaders can change the trajectory of your career, but you also have to advocate for yourself. Your work can speak for you, but sometimes you have to speak for your work, too.

Payments is evolving incredibly quickly, and customers expect technology to be seamless, secure and flexible. The biggest opportunity is helping businesses navigate that complexity without making it feel complex to them, redefining customer relationships to be proactive and strategic partnerships where innovation combines with good customer service.

Integrity, empathy, resilience, and showing up for people. Those values really cross over between my professional and personal life.

At work, I want the people on my team and the customers I support to know that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I believe in being honest even when the conversation is difficult, treating people with respect, and remembering that there is always a person behind the title or the email.

At home, I try to teach my children those same things. Life isn’t always going to go according to plan, and success doesn’t mean never struggling. Sometimes success is getting back up, adapting, and continuing to build a life you’re proud of.

Ultimately, I want my kids to grow up knowing that you can be ambitious and kind, independent and compassionate, strong and still incredibly human.