PayTech Women 20 Years Later

The PTW community helps women break through barriers to achieve career goals in the payments industry.

Tiny ideas that are against the norm can take on a life of their own, leading to systemic change.

Just ask Holli Targan, Diane Faro, Mary Gerdts, and Linda Perry, four women who came together to talk about starting an organization for women in the payments industry. Their vision? A community to provide education and professional growth opportunities, offer a mentoring platform, and create a national network of peers and friends.

That vision has morphed into a professional payments-association powerhouse with more than 5,500 members across 250-plus companies.

PayTech Women began as the Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet). It emerged as a platform for women to connect in a payments world dominated by men. As its networking and leadership-development offerings grew, so did the association. Today, PTW serves a diverse community of women, and the men who advocate for them, from across the financial-services ecosystem.

When this association needed buy-in and public support to succeed, several senior executives stepped up, including Paul Garcia, Ed Labry, Bob Carr, and Pamela Joseph. “Although women have held key positions and made significant contributions in the payments industry, 20 years ago there wasn’t a formal support network,” says Garcia. “So, when Diane, Linda, Holli, and Mary created Wnet, we were proud to be early supporters. The organization today is going strong!”

Labry commented, “Years ago, a small group of talented, successful women had a goal to teach and inspire other women in the payments space. I have seen firsthand how it shaped my daughter into a successful leader. Thank you for letting me be a small part of it.”

Corporate entities like Visa, Jaffe Raitt Law (now Taft Law), Post Integrations, and First Data (now part of Fiserv) also provided critical support.

Why It Makes a Difference

PayTech Women, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, serves professional women in the payments industry. This distinguishing factor makes it accessible for women to join and benefit, no matter where they are in their careers—and with or without corporate sponsorship.

Its goal is simple. It is to actively support and champion women’s professional growth and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Instead of simply talking, PTW serves as a catalyst for change, offering a supportive network of global female role models, mentorship opportunities, and ongoing career-development resources.

PTW’s tagline, “Rise, Thrive, and Connect,” permeates everything the group offers, including the annual Leadership Summit, the Executive Academy, local chapters, webinars, and the new ConneX Cohorts program, offering consistent engagement and intensive skill-building opportunities.

With volunteer leaders from across the industry, PTW also helps businesses empower female employees through an encouraging network of peers and mentors. This comprehensive system encompasses hands-on learning opportunities, preparing women at all career levels for increased responsibilities and leadership positions.

Who We Are Today

The growing, diverse PTW community currently comprises 5,500 members, hailing from startups to Fortune 100s, with 41% being senior leaders (15+ years of experience), 12% mid-level professionals (10 to14 years), and an ever-growing number of up-and-comers. Our membership is expanding to students and retirees, providing even more support for women on the fringes of payments.

This growth is stimulated by challenging the status quo, fostering an inclusive environment, and supporting corporate partners in training and retaining valuable employees. “PayTech Women elevates your brand, supports women’s advancement, and strengthens the payments network overall,” said PTW president Polly Van Duser, senior professional in human resources and vice president, talent acquisition, at One Inc.

“Joining prominent PTW corporate partners, like FIS, Fiserv, Global Payments, JPMorgan, Discover, Bank of America, Visa, and Mastercard, aligns your company with an organization at the forefront of fostering diversity and inclusivity,” remarked PTW past president Kelly Beatty, chief performance officer and head of global solutions at FIS.

PTW chief executive Wendy Holliday, M.Ed. and a certified association executive, believes PayTech Women is more than an organization. It’s a confidence amplifier, a supportive family propelling its members into fulfilling careers. Partnering with PTW, she adds, is an investment in tangible, positive change for employees, shaping the industry’s future and fostering a boundary-breaking community.

What Our Members Are Saying

To truly understand PTW’s essence, turn to its members and their experiences.

From the pioneering founders to longstanding members and rising stars, each individual contributes to the energy and community that define PayTech Women.

PTW Board member Dr. Gail Burgos, chief executive and founder, BCG Inc., notes that “as a proud member of PayTech Women for over a decade, I’ve experienced firsthand the empowering impact of [its] educational programs, networking opportunities, mentorship and events, which have played a crucial role in advancing women in the fintech industry.”

Adds PTW board director Laura Gibson-Lamothe, executive director at the Georgia FinTech Academy: “In my five years with PayTech Women, I’ve connected with peers from other companies, which allowed me to gain valuable perspectives and experiences to move my career forward in a short time. PTW has become my lifecycle companion, supporting me throughout my professional journey and helping me empower the next generation of fintech professionals.”

As PayTech Women gets ready to celebrate 20 years of empowerment, it stands as an ever-evolving force in the financial sector. Investing in the future, alongside PayTech Women, fills me with anticipation and purpose, knowing that, together, we are shaping a more inclusive, vibrant, and educated payments world for generations to come.”

—Rebecca Walden is chief marketing officer at Corvia