BigPay 

Committed to our vision, our people and our customers. Rising to the challenge everyday.

Always happy to help,
Let's grow! 💪💙💪

Chief Product Officer

Chapter 3: Path to Profitability. 

Set Product culture, structures, and product operating model that allow us to improve Product Efficiency across 5+ squads in order to transition to scale up mode and reach profitability. 

Co-Led our Embedded Finance solution with one of our superstar PMs. 

Trained and coached the Product team.

Principal, Product Ways of Working

Chapter 2: Growth at All Cost. 

Led key strategic initiatives including Payout Payments APIs, Engagement and Gamification, Ministry of Finance initiatives for financial inclusion, 

Set the Product foundations for Thailand Market Expansion.

Product Lead

Chapter 1: From Zero to One. 

Built BigPay Product from scratch to multiple Geos and Business Lines, including Payments, Analytics & Remittances, across Singapore and Malaysia reaching 1 Million downloads. 

Built a strong Product and Design team of twelve and the foundations of BigPays Product Culture and Processes across the organization.

Head of Product

Purpose Driven Fintech

I speak with Founders, CEOs, and CPOs to understand the challenges of our industry and how to better build products and FinTechs with impact across customers, colleagues and profitability

I release new episodes every Tuesday and you can listen or watch in YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite platform

Reach out to be part of the pod

Podcast Host 

PayEd - Education in Payments

Advisory Board Member

Connecting the dots in FinTech...

APAC Newsletter Contributor & News Curator

Tandem Bank

Consultant, CEO Office

Service Design Delivery Manager, CEO Office

- First member of the Banking Products team. Employee num. 18th. 
- Led credit cards design and implementation from zero to pilot launch

Product Manager, Banking Products

barclaycard

Product and Propsositions Manager Small Business Cards

Existing Customer Manager Small Business Cards

Visa

Global Client Sales Account Manager, CEMEA

Banco del Ahorro Nacional y Servicios Financieros BANSEFI

Product Development Manager

Empowering FinTech Product Leaders to navigate complexity with purpose, passion, and impactful conversations for inclusive financial well-being I Join to connect, learn, and lead the industry forward.🚀

Hello 👋 I’m a hands-on product leader with a proven track record of building and scaling digital banking solutions across multiple geographies.  I am mission driven (because money has been a pain point, and it didn’t have to be like that).

I thrive at the intersection of a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture, customer centricity, and solving real problems with actual impact.

*Results Oriented*

At BigPay, one of Southeast Asia's largest NeoBanks, I’ve helped steer our product through three critical phases: Zero to One, Growth at All Costs, and now, sustainable Path to Profitability - growing the customer base to over 1.37 million users. We are known mainly as a travel solution and increasingly becoming a day to day app. 

My expertise spans from product design, delivery and growth, team building, and driving the cultural shift and ways of working necessary to go from startup to scaleup. 

At Tandem Bank, I helped build from scratch, and worked with Tandem's CEO on strategic initiatives and Board management. 

*Achievements & Impact*

1. Product Growth & Innovation: 

Led the development of credit cards, BigPay’s prepaid card with its app, remittances, a payments API, an embedded finance solution for airasia, and engagement initiatives to meet evolving needs.

2. Strategic Planning: 

Collaborated with the CEO and ExCo to shape product strategy, aligning squads on growth, innovation goals, OKRs, and resource planning.

3. Expansion: 

Launched BigPay’s product in Malaysia, Singapore, and empowered teams to launch in Thailand. 

4. Cultural Transformation: 

Established a strong Product Operating Model, guiding BigPay’s shift from startup to scaleup.

5. Team Building: 

Recruited and mentored a high-performing product and design team, setting a scalable foundation.

*Knowledge Sharing*

I host the Purpose Driven FinTech podcast, where I interview FinTech Founders, CEOs, and leaders on how to build differentiated FinTech products that drive 10x impact. We cover customer needs, solving pain points, and leadership insights.

I’m keen to explore:
- Incorporating AI into existing workflows
- Building AI-powered products
- Staying at the forefront of AI innovations

I’m recognized as one of Singapore’s #Fintech65 Product Leaders and Women in FinTech, I’ve spoken at Money2020, and am an active mentor for women in Fintech and new to FinTech.

*Let’s Connect*
 
If you’re a leader, founder, or innovator passionate about transforming FinTech and driving real impact—I’d love to chat!

We can ideate, collaborate, podcast, mentor & coach.

Monica

Monica Millares 🎙️

Primus Capital LLP

Chief Executive Officer, Primus Education LLP 

Deputy CEO and Chief Business Development Officer

International School of Economics KAZGUU - ISE KAZGUU

Part-time Senior Lecturer in International Economics for International Relations students

Senior Lecturer

INVEST KAZAKHSTAN

“KAZAKH INVEST” National Company” JSC is authorized to implement measures of State support for Industrial and Innovative activities in attracting investment in the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as export development and promotion. It has a wide network of its representatives abroad.
"KAZAKH INVEST" National Company" JSC provides a full range of services to support investment projects from idea to implementation on the principle of "one-stop shop". 
KAZAKH INVEST will pay an important role in establishing links between local companies and foreign investors, performing functions after project maintenance and coordination. Examples of such measures will include linkages and the development of databases of multinational companies (MNCs) and local suppliers, the joint development of vendor development programs, and the promotion of broader reforms, often in cooperation with other government agencies.

Managing Director

Ministry for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Deputy Director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Department

Head, Division of One Stop Shop for investors

Chief Expert, Investment Policy Division

Investment Committee, Ministry for Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Chief Expert

Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Expert

Embassy of Kazakhstan to Singapore

Assistant Consul

Halyk Bank

SME Crediting Manager

Asel is a distinguished expert in international relations, marketing, and communications, with a strong foundation in strategic management, policy-making, and education management. Since 2011, she has excelled in the public and quasi-public sectors, specializing in investment policy and the promotion of foreign direct investment. Asel's adeptness in high-stakes negotiations and her strategic acumen have consistently driven successful outcomes.

After earning her MBA from the Asia School of Business—a prestigious collaboration between Malaysian Bank Negara and MIT Sloan—Asel transitioned into transnational education management. In this role, she has spearheaded projects that brought renowned secondary and higher education institutions to Kazakhstan, significantly enhancing the country's educational landscape. Additionally, Asel has enriched the academic experience by teaching and mentoring students, preparing them for successful careers.

Asel Yevdokimova-Sugurbayeva

taplio

The Battle

Monica Millares 🎙️

Asel Yevdokimova-Sugurbayeva

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