In the rapidly evolving landscape of fintech, leadership plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and navigating complex challenges. Shiri Schneider, Chief Technology Officer at PayU GPO, stands out as a beacon of expertise and inspiration, with over 18 years of experience in the hi-tech industry. Her visionary approach and deep domain knowledge have propelled her to the forefront of the sector, shaping the success of PayU GPO and setting new standards for excellence in fintech leadership.
Shiri has been honored with a cover story feature in CIO Women Leaders, a globally renowned magazine circulating in over 157 countries. This special edition celebrates “Top 10 Women Leaders Leading the FinTech in 2024”, showcasing Shiri’s exceptional leadership and innovation in the fintech landscape. Welcome to this extraordinary glimpse into Shiri’s journey and insights – explore the highlights of her interview below.
At the heart of Shiri’s leadership philosophy lies a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. She emphasizes the importance of extending leadership to heads of engineering teams across regions, fostering trust and empowering local leaders to drive success within their respective teams. “Effective leadership is not something that is done by one person; it is a team effort,” says Shiri. By embracing a distributed leadership approach, she ensures continuity and resonance with diverse teams, driving organizational success through collective effort and collaboration.
Shiri’s commitment to fostering growth extends beyond leadership to encompass mentorship and career development. At PayU GPO, she has spearheaded the establishment of a framework for engineers’ career development, centered around five core values. This framework provides engineers with a roadmap for advancement, emphasizing behaviors and skills necessary for progression within the organization. “A promotion isn’t necessarily about how you move from one position to the next; it’s about continually improving and adopting the behavior required to succeed at the next level,” explains Shiri. Through structured assessments and goal-setting sessions, engineers are empowered to shape their professional journey and realize their full potential within the organization.
Innovation lies at the heart of PayU GPO’s success, and Shiri is at the forefront of driving innovation within the organization. She identifies three avenues for innovation: introducing significant new ideas into products, developing and implementing new technologies, and fostering innovation through activities like hackathons. By embracing a balanced approach to innovation, Shiri ensures that PayU GPO remains at the cutting edge of fintech, driving continuous improvement and adaptation in daily operations. “It is in the every day that we are seeing innovation,” affirms Shiri, highlighting the importance of fostering a culture where creativity is encouraged at all levels of the organization.
In the ever-changing landscape of fintech, staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. Shiri understands the importance of continuous learning and adaptation, leveraging podcasts and other resources to stay updated on emerging technologies and industry trends. Through initiatives like Developer Experience (DevEx), she aims to enhance productivity and drive efficiency within her team, ensuring that PayU GPO remains agile and responsive to evolving market conditions. “Agility is already a commodity,” notes Shiri. “What’s at the heart of it is productivity and delivering products on a quicker timescale.” By prioritizing the developer experience and embracing agility, Shiri is positioning PayU GPO for long-term success in an ever-changing fintech landscape.
Shiri Schneider’s leadership at PayU GPO exemplifies the transformative power of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning in the fintech industry. Through her visionary approach and commitment to excellence, she is driving change and shaping the future of finance one innovation at a time. As we celebrate her accomplishments and leadership, let us be inspired to embrace collaboration, foster creativity, and embrace continuous learning in our own endeavors. Together, we can shape a brighter, more inclusive future for fintech, driven by innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
Read the full interview with Shiri Schneider in CIO magazine to learn more about her vision for global payment infrastructure and the transformative power of innovation in fintech leadership.