Strategic Co-Pilot for B2B Tech & Fintech Founders | I Help You Scale Without Chaos | AI & Data Delivery at Radsody

I am a fintech founder turned Independent Non-Executive Director, working with boards, founders, and investors navigating growth in regulated and high-velocity environments.

Over 15+ years, I have built and scaled fintech and SaaS businesses across the UK, Europe, and MENA — from early-stage startups to regulated financial institutions. My experience spans digital banking, payments, embedded finance, and financial infrastructure, with a strong focus on translating strategy into durable execution.

I currently serve as an Independent Non-Executive Director and board advisor to fintechs and financial institutions, bringing an operator’s perspective to governance, risk, and growth decisions.

Current and recent roles include:
- IFC-nominated Independent Director, TBC Bank Uzbekistan
- Fintech Advisory Board Member, PayU
- Executive Board Director, Fiat Republic

Earlier in my career, I was a founder and operator:
- Founding team member at HelloFresh (NYSE: HFG)
- Launched and scaled the UK arm of digital bank Fidor, supporting its sale to Groupe BPCE
- Co-founded and scaled a regulated payments platform (Fiat Republic)
- Led revenue growth in multi-million-dollar B2B SaaS businesses

I am also the co-author of Embedded Finance (Wiley, 2022).

In the boardroom, I help teams bring clarity to complexity and turn strategy into scalable outcomes.

Sophie Guibaud 👾

First day at IMD for the Mastering Board Governance programme, and genuinely excited to be here.

Didier Cossin defines Governance as 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬.

In real life, those decisions need to be made with incomplete information, competing priorities, and real consequences.

The best directors I know never stop sharpening that skill. The landscape - AI, ESG, regulation, stakeholder expectations - is shifting faster than ever.

So here I am. Taking notes, in a room full of people who take this responsibility seriously.

That's exactly where I want to be.

Sophie Guibaud

Independent Non-Executive Director & Board Advisor | Financial Services

There’s a moment in board discussions where everything has been analysed.

The numbers work. The deck is coherent. The downside has been modelled.

And still, something either sits right… or it doesn’t.

People call that “gut feeling.”

At board level, it isn’t instinct. It’s compressed experience.

It comes from reading the full pack.
From understanding how the business actually makes money.
From knowing your own biases.
From not needing to win the room.

Ego is expensive in governance.

The intuition that matters is pattern recognition + preparation + integrity, especially when pressure builds, and consensus feels convenient.

That feeling isn’t emotion.

It’s what’s left after you’ve done the work.

I recently joined the 100 Women In Finance's 100WFinTech Directory as part of the #100WFinTech Global Initiative.

As fintech matures, the conversation is shifting from pure innovation to questions of governance, risk, capital discipline and long-term value creation. 

Communities that bring together senior operators, investors and board members across financial services are increasingly important in shaping that evolution.

I was on the Fintech Insider podcast this week to dig into something many of us have noticed but not quite put together the way the team at 11:FS has done: the banking battlefield hasn't just evolved, it's gone vertical.

The original Banking Battlefield they framed back then was genuinely useful when it was created. 

But the battlefield it describes? That's not the one we're fighting on anymore.

So we took the time this week to revisit it.

The challengers who everyone wrote off are now posting billion-pound profits, helping write the rules for the next generation of payments infrastructure, and finally getting their UK banking licence (congrats Revolut!).

The real competitive pressure has shifted underground. It's no longer about who has the best app. It's about who controls the infrastructure underneath.

Primacy gets you the customer. Infrastructure keeps them.

We should also be honest: incumbents got a break. High interest rates bought them time: margins recovered, pressure eased, transformation felt less urgent.

That window is closing.

And most incumbents are finding transformation harder than expected.

Not because the will isn't there, it is.

But because the constraint was never really the technology. It's culture and governance, and that starts at the board.

You cannot navigate this battlefield without commercial and product expertise at the top. Not just risk and compliance - though that matters - but people who genuinely understand what it means to compete in this environment.

Without that, transformation is just expensive theatre.

Have a listen, would love to know what resonates 👇
🎧 https://lnkd.in/gcPZ5nGf

Financial services boards are packed with experience. But is it the right kind?

Having spent much of my career working with fintech operators and now spending more time in financial services governance, the difference in operating perspectives is striking.

Across the industry, many bank and payments boardrooms are rich in decades of risk, regulatory, and traditional banking expertise. That experience is invaluable and necessary.

But when career paths around the table look too similar, it can quietly shape how the future is evaluated.

Meanwhile, the industry itself is being reshaped by digital platforms, fintech operators, and entirely new customer expectations.

This is where board skills mapping matters.

When boards honestly assess the expertise around the table against where the institution needs to go (not just where it has been), the gaps often become clear.

Innovation.
Growth.
Digital transformation.
Customer experience.
Technology-led operating models.

These capabilities are still less common around many financial services board tables.

What someone with a fintech or startup operating background brings to a board isn’t disruption for its own sake. It’s a different lens.

In practice, that perspective often changes the questions that get asked in the boardroom.

• 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. In high-growth environments, slow decisions don’t just cost time, they cost relevance.
• 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Fintech operators are often used to framing decisions through the lens of the end-to-end customer journey.
 • 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Innovation requires bets that won’t all pay off.

The financial institutions that will lead the next decade are already expanding the range of operating experience around the table.

Because boards don’t just govern the present.

Does the expertise around the table reflect where the institution has been, or where it needs to go?

The Bancolombia outage last week has reopened an important conversation, one that goes well beyond a single institution.

When payments move in real time, interdependence increases, and fragility surfaces faster.

This isn't about blame but about architecture.

A few things stand out from a board governance perspective:

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲. 
Uptime is trust, not only an IT metric. For customers, it's whether salaries arrive. For boards, operational resilience deserves the same seriousness as capital and liquidity.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬. 
Core systems. Cloud providers. Vendors. Instant rails. We tend to assess risk at the institutional level, but increasingly, the real exposure sits in the interconnections.

𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 
What happens if a major participant in a real-time rail is down for 72 hours? How is liquidity managed? Who coordinates communication? How is contagion contained? Resilience is not a framework. It's a rehearsed capability.

And the stack is expanding.

Stablecoins now operate as parallel settlement layers. They add optionality, particularly cross-border, but introduce new concentration points at issuer and protocol level.

Risk doesn't disappear. It migrates.

The question for boards and regulators is no longer simply: "Is our institution resilient?"

It's: "Is the stack resilient?"
Institution. Rail. Vendor. Issuer. Protocol.

Digital finance will never be risk-free. Resilience must be designed, not assumed. And at the board level, design is governance.

The recent debate in Colombia, highlighted by Marcel van Oost and sparked by comments from Marcela Torres of Nubank Colombia, points to a broader systemic issue.

Open article: Nu Flags Systemic Risk After Bancolombia Hits Bre-B Rails by connectingthedotsinfin.tech

Nu Flags Systemic Risk After Bancolombia Hits Bre-B Rails

Marketing l Banking l Payment l Fintech l SaaS l Card Issuing Processing l Sustainability - Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Powerlist 2023 I Board Member MENA Fintech Association

Nadia is a seasoned marketing expert with a passion for fintech.

As the Global Head of Marketing at Paymentology, Nadia works towards one objective, supporting the vision of the company to become the leader in global payment processing and issuing services for banks, fintechs and telcos. She leads the marketing and market expansion teams to excel and succeed in their mission. She experiments with AI for marketing and business development applications, setting the path for AI-first, marketing-driven organisations that deliver tangible results.

Prior to joining Paymentology, Nadia was the Global Marketing Director of BPC (Banking Payment Context), a leading payment provider that serves over 350 financial institutions in 100 countries. Nadia supported the company’s growth along with the creation of sub-brands such as 
•	Radar Payments – a newly created European payment processor, 
•	O-City – a payment solution for smart cities and their mass transit,
•	Safal Fasal – an SME marketplace dedicated to support farmers in India, to get access to finance, tools and buyers. 
The company successfully reached 100 M USD in 2020 up from 88 M USD in 2019.

Nadia always chose to join fintech organisations in their foundation or scale up stage taking the challenge of building brands from the ground up. Through agile marketing practices, Nadia tests and tries various marketing tactics to ensure company’s KPIs are exceeded.

Prior to joining BPC, Nadia spent 3 years at Fidor, a german neobank and fintech as the Global CMO for fintech expansion. This role led her to work on highly innovative neobank concepts. She worked over 9 years for CR2, an omnichannel banking player headquartered in Ireland, leading their communications and marketing strategy across emerging markets. 

While working in Paris, Nadia was the youngest employee at AEMS, a joint venture between Euronext and Atos, where she helped set up the corporate communications and marketing department. The company developed trading, clearing and settlement solutions for stock exchanges worldwide, growing successfully from Brazil to Malaysia before being acquired by New York Stock Exchange - NYSE Technologies.

Nadia was graduated in e-marketing at the time of the dot.com boom. She also holds a master in marketing and advertising from ISEG and CESCI. She is fluent in english, french and spanish.

Nadia Benaissa

The month of giving back! 🌙✨ Yesterday, we joined forces with SmartLife Foundation and the incredible Halimaa Tanviera to distribute 200+ Iftar meals to inspiring women from our communities. 

This initiative is part of our #ChangingLives programme, through which we support social, environmental, and educational associations around the world. 

I’m incredibly proud of everyone from Paymentology and friends who contributed their time, energy, and heart to make this happen. 💛 We’re excited to continue this partnership with Smartlife and look forward to supporting your financial education programme next!

Hassan Khan Bishnu Priya Bhutra Ashar Ali Yasir Shafique Amu Maluleka Margit Gulyas

#GivingBack #Community #Ramadan #ChangingLives

Marketing l Banking l Payment l Fintech l SaaS l Sustainability l Top 30 Most influential fintech marketers l Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Powerlist 2024 I Board Member MENA Fintech Association

Yesterday, our Dubai team had the honor of joining a local outreach program dedicated to the hardworking individuals who move far from their homes and families to build a better future.

We spent time with SmartLife Foundation, an organisation that goes far beyond immediate relief. They provide a vital lifeline for expat workers, many of whom arrive from rural areas, by helping them navigate the complexities of a new life in the city.
By prioritising financial empowerment, health awareness, and emotional resilience, they ensure these men and women can transition into their new roles with the respect and tools they deserve.

It is truly inspiring to see organisations so deeply committed to creating a meaningful and lasting impact within the community.

A huge thank you to the team for joining this initiative!

Ramadan Kareem to all. 🌙 

Bishnu Priya Bhutra Amu Maluleka Nadia Benaissa Hassan Khan Nauman Hassan Ashar Ali Ali Zaidi Yasir Shafique 
#ChangingLives #Payments #Dubai #PaymentologyCommunities

The MENA FINTECH ASSOCIATION is launching its Young Entrepreneurs Committee, a bold new programme for the next generation of founders and operators redefining the future of payments in MENA. From high-impact roundtables to curated peer exchanges, this is where next-gen payments leaders connect, share real-world insights, swap practical growth hacks, and build the relationships that actually move the needle. 

This initiative is led by Ayesha Ahmed from Mastercard and supported by the SHIFT Payments Working group co-chairs Akshay Chopra and Clyde Rosanowski. 

The inaugural session is happening next week - 18th February at 3:30pm in📍 Dubai Media City.

Register now as space is limited: https://luma.com/e8th60i6

The MENA FINTECH ASSOCIATION is launching a new Young Entrepreneurs in Payments subcommittee under the SHIFT Payments Working Group 🚀

The inaugural session, chaired by Ayesha Ahmed, analyst at Mastercard will take place on 18th February at 3:30pm in📍 Dubai Media City.

This interactive roundtable is designed for the next generation of founders and operators shaping the future of payments in MENA. Expect practical insights, real discussion, and meaningful connections.

⚠️ Limited seats to keep the session high quality and interactive.

RSVP Now: https://luma.com/e8th60i6

Interested in becoming a member? Join us now https://lnkd.in/dQSw2Bes

For more information, reach out to us at marketing@mena-fintech.org

Nameer Khan | Nadia Benaissa | Akshay Chopra | Clyde Rosanowski | Zain Umer | Christine A. | Mo Ali Yusuf | Serena Sebastiani | Nihal Abughattas | Sophie Guibaud | Abdelali Zahi | Ronit Ghose | Amélie Arras | Gaurav Dhar | Altaf Ahmed | Gaurav Sachddeva |  


#MENA #Fintech #Payments #Entrepreneurs #YoungProfessionals #DigitalAssets #B2B #Leadership

If you're building a new payment proposition for the Thai market, this is a must-read... Thailand’s card market is booming with over 94 million cards in circulation, the opportunity for fintechs, banks, and digital innovators is significant. But navigating the regulatory landscape, understanding domestic infrastructure like the Thai Payment Network (TPN), and selecting the right local partners can be complex without the right guidance.

We’ve partnered with Flagship Advisory Partners to create a practical guide covering what you really need to consider when launching a card programme in Thailand.

📘 Inside the guide:
✔ A breakdown of Thailand’s market size and growth trends across debit, credit, prepaid, and commercial cards
 ✔ Clear guidance on regulatory pathways, compliance expectations, and licensing models
 ✔ Insights into local infrastructure and the payments value chain
 ✔ Operating models and partnership strategies tailored to the Thai ecosystem
 ✔ A practical launch roadmap with execution best practices

If Thailand is on your expansion roadmap, this will help you approach it with clarity and confidence.

👉 Download your copy and start mapping your entry into one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic payments markets. 

Link in the comments 👇

#Payments #Fintech #CardIssuing #Thailand #DigitalBanking #Innovation #GoToMarket #Paymentology #APAC

#Berliners Here we come this Thursday 19th February! Join Paymentology and The Payments Association EU for an evening of networking with industry peers including banks, fintechs, consultants, telcos, and payments leaders from across the ecosystem. Follow the link to register https://bit.ly/4rYNnFW

#Berlin #Germany #Payments #Networking #Event

Vice-Chairman & General Manager at The Payments Association EU

#LAST #CALL to join us in Berlin on Thursday!
Register here: https://bit.ly/4rYNnFW
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with your peers in #payments at ZOE Bar in the heart of the German capital, sponsored by Paymentology
Nadia Benaissa Becky Sales Julie Sutton Ignacio Gironella Merino

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Nadia Benaissa

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The Battle

Sophie Guibaud 👾

Nadia Benaissa

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Sophie Guibaud 👾's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNadia Benaissa's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreSophie Guibaud 👾's LinkedIn Performance