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The Politics of Partnership

Navigating the path to partnership excellence

Listen now The Politics of PartnershipNavigating the path to partnership excellence

In this episode

Building strong partnerships takes a lot of work, Joe Samuel from VISA talks about being fearless, looking for open doors, and keeping a learning mindset. Listen in for tips on avoiding misfit partnerships, what it takes to league with giants, and how your management team dynamics can influence partner decisions.

Key talking points:

  • Joe Samuel’s unexpected journey from aspiring banker to tech influencer in Washington DC.
  • The importance of diversity in partners and finding common ground for future-proof business strategies.
  • The key qualities big players like VISA look for in fintech partners.
  • Practical tips on avoiding partnership misfits and the continuous effort post-agreement in the collaboration marathon.

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Meet the guest

Joe Samuel

Head of Issuer Processor Partnerships, Europe

Joe is VP and Head of Processor Partnerships, Europe at Visa. Leading business development teams, he forges partnerships with 3rd party issuers, program managers, and tech organizations. With Visa for 7 years, he launched this role in London in 2020, overseeing Europe and CEMEA. Previously, he was VP of Processor Partnerships in the U.S., managing relationships across processors, issuers, and payment networks. With a decade at First Data Corporation, he served as global head of public affairs and co-led a team reshaping the U.S. Go-To-Market strategy in response to regulatory changes. Earlier, he managed business development for a tech startup and worked in the U.S. Congress.

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Joe Samuel visa

Meet the host

Meet the host

Denise Johansson is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Enfuce, the first fintech in the world to put payment processing in the public cloud. Denise is a dynamic female innovator and leader with almost 20 years of experience in the payment industry.

Denise, whose expertise has been recognised by several initiatives including InspiringFifty, has helped numerous European fintechs and financial institutions enter new markets quickly with safe, secure, and scalable card products. She is committed to encouraging more women into fintech, inspiring them to set bold goals and work towards them.

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