Kartik B. Athreya is director of research and head of the Research and Statistics Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Athreya has served in economic research leadership roles for over 10 years and has over two decades of experience as an economist within the Federal Reserve System. As director of research and head of the Research and Statistics Group, he is responsible for overseeing the New York Fed’s research and policy analysis in the areas of financial intermediation, financial stability, household and public policy, and monetary policy. He is also responsible for managing the collection of financial and bank structure data within the Data and Statistics Function.Prior to joining the New York Fed, Athreya was executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, where he led economic research, regional analysis, and community outreach efforts. He also served as a senior member of the leadership team and advised the Bank’s president on matters related to monetary policy, banking, and financial markets.Athreya’s research interests are in macroeconomics and consumer finance. His current research is focused on measuring economic risks to individuals and households, and understanding their importance for household investment decisions and financial distress. Athreya’s work has been published in a variety of academic journals, including the Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Monetary Economics, American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, and International Economic Review. He has taught doctoral courses at the University of Virginia, and previously served as an associate editor at the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control. He is the author of Big Ideas in Macroeconomics: A Nontechnical View (2013, MIT Press).Athreya earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Iowa, and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Iowa State University.

Mary Joseph is senior vice president of strategic investments at Citi, where she drives global investments in fintech and B2B SaaS startups for treasury and trade solutions. Previously, Mary honed her expertise in fintech M&A advisory within Citi’s Investment Banking group, and as an investor at Green House Capital, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage fintechs across Africa and the Middle East. Throughout her career spanning diverse roles and geographies, Mary has championed the growth and empowerment of early-stage companies reshaping the global fintech landscape, with a particular emphasis on emerging markets.

Aria Kavyani is, a New York based, senior leader in the payments and fintech space, currently serving as SVP at Citizens Bank. He oversees commercial card sales and account management, helping businesses modernize their payment ecosystems. With prior roles at J.P. Morgan, Marqeta and SVB, Aria brings deep expertise in B2B payments, embedded finance, and digital transformation.

Aditya Mehra is a seasoned software architect, AI/ML expert, and global tech speaker with over 17 years of experience in building enterprise-scale solutions for Banks and financial institutions.He is a cofounder and CTO of a Web3-based startup, leading innovation at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and finance.Aditya holds several patents and has authored 15+ publications in reputed journals on AI/ML and cloud computing.He is Senior IEEE member and a frequent speaker at conferences across the globe.A strong advocate for inclusive tech, he teaches English and computer science free of cost to underrepresented communities—including Afghan girls, refugees, and students in low-income regions.Through his work with several non profits and his global outreach efforts, Aditya is dedicated to shaping a diverse, ethical, and accessible tech future.

Sophia Bantanidis is an Analyst in the Future of Finance team within the Institute covering the key trends, technologies and market developments that shape the future of financial services. She joined Citi in 2016 as the Head of Regulatory Strategy and Policy for Innovation and has held various positions at 2 financial services regulators in the UK and France (the FCA and La Commission Bancaire in Paris), numerous banks and an asset management firm.In April 2021 she was awarded Greek International Woman of the Year in Finance and is on the Women in FinTech Powerlist for 5 consecutive years. She enjoys mentoring start-ups and was on the advisory board of Nifty World NFT (a non-fungible token business) and P.S. Online Styling (digital fashion) both female led start-ups.She speaks 5 languages, has a degree in Law and German Law from University College London and the University of Cologne and a Master’s degree in European Business from ESCP Europe.

Lizzie leads the Commercial Banking Commercial Card product solutions, serving the Middle Market and corporate clients, from pre-profit startups to $2B-sized corporations. She has spent most of her career in strategy, consulting for Fortune 100 clients to venture-backed startups. She has led teams to define go-to-market strategies, create operating models, and ideate customer-centric offerings, among other functions. She received her MBA from Chicago Booth, and has been selected as one of 30 women future leaders in payments by Money 20/20 in 2021 and for ETA Transact’s Forty under 40 leaders of the payments industry in 2023.

Paul Krumholz is the HSBC US Head of Product Management, NA Commercial Cards. Prior to joining HSBC in 2019, Paul held similar roles for Citi starting in 2012. As well as a background in B2B products such as Purchasing Card and Virtual Card, he has expertise in supplier enablement/supplier enrollment for B2B Card programs. Prior to Citi, Paul had a career as an officer in the United States Navy.

Amy Horack is a Director at Bank of America within the Global Payment Solutions organization. She leads the Global Travel Card team in launching and enhancing travel solutions that help our clients support their employees while maintaining their spend policies and reaching internal goals. In her role, Amy collaborates with partners in all areas of the bank to create solutions that are forward thinking and globally applicable. Amy credits her non-linear career path for her ability to think outside of the box and lead with compassion. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and spent many years as a corporate and social event planner before joining the world of banking. Since joining Bank of America, she has been focused on helping our clients adopt solutions that improve their efficiency, protect them from fraud and delight their cardholders.

Maria is the head of commercial card at FNBO, where she leads a dynamic team dedicated to optimizing commercial payments programs for organizations seeking to streamline their accounts payables processes, reduce risk and maximize cash flow. With a focus on creating a best-in-class customer experience, Maria collaborates closely with her team and FNBO professionals who share her commitment to excellence. Her approach is client-centric, ensuring that each engagement is tailored to meet the unique needs of FNBO’s diverse customer base. Maria’s expertise extends to portfolio management, where she oversees the strategic growth and sustainability of commercial payments portfolios, ensuring they align with the evolving needs of the market and FNBO’s clients. Before assuming her current role, Maria served as the head of account management at FNBO, where she honed her skills in client relationship management, portfolio oversight and delivering a successful commercial card strategy. Her extensive experience also includes roles overseeing supplier recruitment, strategy, and partnerships at leading financial institutions, where she was responsible for driving supplier engagement and creating mutually beneficial partnerships. Early in her career, Maria gained valuable experience in human resources and account payable, which has equipped her with a deep understanding of business operations and the ability to engage with clients of all sizes effectively. She holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and is an active member of professional organizations such as NAPCP, AFP, and IOFM. Outside of work, Maria is passionate about spending quality time with her friends and family. She cherishes moments with loved ones. Maria also has a love for travel and enjoys capturing the beauty of new destinations through her camera lens.

Paul is a Managing Director and leads the merchant services business that supports the Commercial and Corporate Banking segments for Wells Fargo. He has responsibility for all aspects of the business segment, including financial performance, business development and relationship management.

Paul has been with Wells Fargo since 1998 in a variety of roles in the treasury and merchant services businesses.

Paul has his Master’s in Business Administration from Wake Forest University and Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University. He is also a Certified Treasury Professional and Certified Payments Professional.

Joining Commerce Bank in 2013, Jason brings almost 20 years of experience in the invoice process and payment industry. In his role, Jason manages a team of solution consultants and also consults with clients in various industries to determine where efficiencies would be gained and cost savings realized in their accounts payable process. Jason is able to analyze the current AP process while establishing strategic goals and outlining the steps and best practices required to automate processes within AP. He also arms businesses with comprehensive ROI justifications through inclusive payments strategies.

Stephanie Wilczewski is a Director and Senior Product Manager responsible for B2B Payables Fintech Partnership Strategy and New Initiatives within Bank of America’s Global Payment Solutions group. In this role, she spearheads the delivery of innovative solutions from ideation through to full go-to-market launch for the Intelligent Payables product suite. At Bank of America, Stephanie has also managed AP Automation Solutions, including launching an invoice to payment automation product for middle market clients. Prior to joining the bank, she worked at a Procure-to-Pay fintech in a variety of roles supporting bank-channel partnerships. Stephanie is tapped for her expertise on: fintechs and competitive landscape, the value of invoice automation as a launching pad for payments discussions, and consulting clients on rethinking how they manage their payments strategy. With her passion to share knowledge and develop those around her, Stephanie is sought after for sales and product trainings, client meetings, and industry webinars. Bridging the gap between business and technology, along with her commitment to innovation and client satisfaction, has been a driving force throughout her career.Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Alabama and received a certificate from Harvard’s Management Development Program. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and two children.

Rajeev Jayaraman is the head of commercial card products at Fifth Third Bank where he primarily focuses on product management and technology development. Prior to Fifth Third, he worked in a variety of corporate strategy and product strategy roles at J.P. Morgan, Silicon Valley Bank, and Amount.

With over 30 years of experience and industry leadership in commercial payments, Tammy Trilli leads FNBO’s Commercial Payments Organization, providing holistic payments capabilities for business customers. She is proud to call FNBO home and appreciates the opportunity to support local communities by helping businesses achieve superior financial results through client-led solutions. Tammy serves on FNBO’s Board of Directors and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Board of Directors who provide insight on local economic conditions and advises and counsels the Federal Reserve Bank branch executives. She also serves on the board of directors for the American Cancer Society of Omaha and supports the Paytech Women organization by serving on their steering committees, is active in the Presidential Mentorship program and is a Founding Board Member for Boys Team Charity, Ahwatukee, AZ.

Tony leads the Columbia Bank Commercial Card sales, support, and supplier enablement teams as well as the bank’s 3rd party sales partners, such as Worldpay and Elan. Tony came to Columbia Bank through the Sterling Bank merger in 2014 and has been with the combined companies since 2004 leading and growing the bank’s card-based payments business. Tony began his career in 1992 with West One Bank and has held various roles at US Bank, Wells Fargo, and local community banks and has 25+ years of experience in payments, cards, and acquiring business lines. A graduate of University of Oregon, Northwest Intermediate Banking School, and the ABA School of Bankcard Management, Tony lives in Portland Oregon with his wife has 3 daughters. He serves many volunteer roles and is an avid Oregon Ducks fan.

Responsible for BBVA Commercial Cards solutions strategy enabling local, regional and global enterprises to homogeneously manage the expenses made with commercial cards in Europe & Latam. Sergio has 15+ years experience in Payments Systems, first in Spain (consumer issuing, acquiring and innovation) and since 2012 in global positions focused on commercial cards. Sergio has a Master Degree in Computer Science from Deusto University (Spain) and Aalborg University (Denmark). He also has a Executive MBA from Esade Business School (Spain).

Holly Tennent is a senior product manager responsible for B2B Payables Product Sales Strategy & Growth at Bank of America focusing on shaping the B2B card and payables solutions strategy including fintech partnerships, client enhancements, and supplier experience. Prior to
her current role, Holly spearheaded a strategic initiative to reshape the Virtual Payables solution and Supplier Enablement structure to drive significant growth. Prior to joining BofA, she spent nine years at Bottomline Technologies, most recently in a solutions consultant
capacity supporting BofA where she assisted clients with the functional and technical aspects of the Paymode-X solution. Holly believes in building lasting relationships and trusted partnerships, shown through her attention to detail and ongoing focus on the client experience.

I was thinking of giving a presentation, or doing a presentation with Barb Carpenter and sitting on a panel.

Dulguun Batbold is a senior economist at Visa’s Business & Economic Insights team where he specializes in developing innovative ways of leveraging payment transaction data in economic and business analysis. Prior to joining Visa, Batbold worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, studying the regional economy of the Ninth Federal Reserve District, and the shale energy activity in North Dakota in particular. Batbold’s professional experience also included work at multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and IMF. Batbold has an undergraduate degree in finance and economics from the University of Maryland and completed his PhD at the University of Minnesota.

Sébastien Delasnerie, a senior executive in the B2B payment arena, is the global head of corporate card programs at Mastercard. He is responsible for developing, expanding and executing the B2B Corporate Card commercialization strategy for Mastercard. Leveraging 24 years of banking experience, Sébastien has consistently applied a client-centric strategic vision to articulate and deliver high impact revenue and profitability objectives. He holds a record of shaping and executing multiple high growth strategies and successfully leading cross-functional teams through transformational initiatives. Previously, Sébastien led the North America Commercial Cards business at Citi.

Dean Leavitt is the founder and CEO of Boost Payment Solutions, the only acquirer in the United States focused exclusively on the business-to-business electronic payments. Dean is a well-respected veteran of the electronic payments industry with nearly 25 years of experience in various leadership roles at both public and private companies. Dean has received numerous awards from his industry peers and is often asked to speak at industry events. Dean currently serves on the advisory board of Commercial Payments International, having previously served two terms on the board of directors of the Electronic Transaction Association. Dean holds a B.A. with high honors from Emory University, where he served on the college’s Alumni Board of Trustees from 2002-2008.

Laura has more than 10 years of experience in commercial payments and more than 15 years in the business travel industry. Currently Director, commercial payment products for Discover Network and Diners Club International, Laura leads a team of six product managers delivering a portfolio of solutions including Virtual Card Number, Corporate Card, SMB, File Services and MIS Reporting. Innovation and market insight are at the core of Laura’s approach. Passionate about staying ahead of emerging trends to drive product strategy, Laura is driven by identifying new opportunities, translating insights, and breaking down complex products into simplified solutions, all with a focus on new product ideation and strategy. Laura holds a Master of Arts degree from New Mexico State University in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Intercultural Communication and is currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jørgen Christian Juul is the CEO and founder of the Danish fintech scale-up Cardlay. Based in Odense and Copenhagen, Cardlay has disrupted the fintech industry by enabling both SMEs and some of the largest financial institutions and technology corporations in the world with solutions for digital innovation and growth.

Cardlay’s modular spend management platform enables banks, tech companies, fleet and mobility providers to launch digital corporate payment solutions seamlessly on top of existing offerings, allowing companies to streamline ways of working with full control. As a founder and CEO of Cardlay, Juul has served in this role since Cardlay was founded in 2016. Juul leads the company’s overall growth and revenue strategies and brings over 30 years of experience in business development, marketing, sales, and revenue growth. He started his first business in 1987 and has since started 13 businesses. In 2014, Juul sold his latest company Wallmob, a mobile omnichannel Point of Sale (POS) for the retail industry, to the Norwegian IT-giant Visma.

Ben Beery is Vice President of VCS Emerging Solutions at Visa, where he leads efforts to transform complex client challenges into scalable, revenue-generating solutions. A seasoned business and technology executive, Ben brings deep expertise in product strategy, go-to-market execution, and hands-on delivery. He is currently responsible for driving Visa’s vision across B2B Fraud and Risk, B2B Agentic Commerce, and Issuer Processor strategy, while also overseeing a global client and partner solutioning team.
Since joining Visa in 2007, Ben has held leadership roles across technology, debit and prepaid processing, client services, acceptance, and global product. His diverse background has made him a trusted advisor to clients and a valued internal partner. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Marcos is an innovative leader, with more than 25 years’ experience leading Commercial payment solutions, product development strategies and business development teams.

He also has great international experience having worked in global and regional positions in the US, Europe, and Brazil.

Ross Withers is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer at Inlogik, a global leader in commercial card and expense management solutions. With over 25 years of experience spanning software development, product innovation, and executive leadership, Ross has been instrumental in shaping platforms that empower banks and finance teams worldwide. He combines deep technical expertise with commercial insight to deliver secure, high-performing solutions that streamline operations, enhance compliance, and unlock new efficiencies for clients. His leadership drives innovation, strengthens customer partnerships, and ensures Inlogik remains at the forefront of financial technology.

Brian Marx has been part of the Visa team since December of 2019 and is the Sr. Director of Products and Solutions for B2B Acceptance.

In his current capacity, Brian is accountable for the vision, development and implementation of key Visa platforms that focus on improving the merchant card acceptance experience.

Prior to joining Visa, Brian spent 20 years with American Express serving in various product, sales and leadership roles across both the merchant acquiring and issuing businesses.

Brian has deep expertise in the order to cash discipline and addressing well known merchant pain points through technology and automation.

Frank founded Windward Strategy, Inc. in 2020 to provide strategy consulting and M&A advisory in B2B payments. Windward works with networks, banks, fintechs, PEs, and corporates to achieve their B2B payments objectives.