Event Details

Be inspired by women making waves in the Canada payments industry and beyond. Join us at the 2024 Symposium! Our theme for this year is "Women Leading the Generative Era".


Our keynotes, panels, and break-out sessions will help strengthen your skills while keeping you on top of industry trends. Hear from women leaders on a variety of subjects including current payments issues and initiatives, fintech, and leadership. You'll also have the opportunity to network with women at all levels and with diverse backgrounds in payment and fintech. This is a must-attend event for any woman who's serious about accelerating her career in the payments industry.


The Women in Payments symposium is a unique event that provides perspectives from key women leaders in payments, supports diversity and gender parity, and includes topics impacting all aspects of the payments ecosystem. The format includes keynote addresses, executive panel discussions, career development breakout sessions and networking breaks. This forum is an unparalleled opportunity that is empowering, current and immediately relevant to any woman pursuing a career in payments.

Sep 24 & 25, 2024 (EDT)

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Arcadian Court
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Agenda

  • Networking Break/ Main Foyer
    13:15 - 13:45REGISTRATION
    15:45 - 16:15NETWORKING BREAK
    Fireside Chat / LOFT 5
    15:00 - 15:45BUILDING BRIDGES: COMMUNITY, EQUITY, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
    Join us for a candid chat on thriving through bridging community, resilience, and authentic leadership. Learn how resilience, authenticity, and community-building shape career success in high-performing workplaces. Gain insights on leveraging personal strengths and advocating for gender equity and inclusivity. Listen to personal stories of fostering diversity to build a more inclusive and empowered payments community.
    16:15 - 17:00BUILDING YOUR TRIBE - WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
    This session will discuss our unique experiences, highlighting leadership and career opportunities for women in payments. The panel will reflect on their own career paths and what the future looks like for careers in payments. The discussion will also emphasize the power of finding your own tribe of women who push boundaries and thrive on the art of the possible through community building, coffee chats, networking, mentoring, and sponsorship.
    Workshop / LOFT 3 & 4
    15:00 - 15:45THE JOURNEY TO DIGITAL IDENTITY
    As we propel into an increasingly digital era, the significance of secure and inclusive digital identities in the payments landscape cannot be overstated. However, achieving universal access to digital identity remains a challenge, particularly in ensuring completeness and accuracy across diverse client types globally. This workshop endeavors to explore the journey to digital identity, the growing influence on consumer trends on corporate digital identity, and the value of innovation and digitization of clients in the payment and financial services ecosystem.
    16:15 - 17:00MASTERCARD SPONSORED SESSION WORKSHOP
    Main Stage/Arcadian Court
    13:45 - 13:55WELCOME REMARKS
    13:55 - 14:05OPENING REMARKS
    14:05 - 14:15OPENING KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
    14:15 - 14:45OPENING KEYNOTE
    18:00 - 18:05WELCOME REMARKS
    18:05 - 18:10OPENING REMARKS
    18:10 - 19:10AWARDS DINNER
    19:10 - 19:15AWARDS KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
    19:15 - 19:45AWARDS KEYNOTE
    19:45 - 21:00AWARDS PRESENTATION
    Panel / LOFT 1 & 2
    15:00 - 15:45LEADERSHIP IN 2025: THRIVING AMID WORKFORCE EVOLUTION
    By 2025, over 25% of the workforce will be Gen Z, posing new challenges and opportunities. Leaders must learn to navigate multi-generational dynamics, tackle return to office challenges, deliver tough news, and foster connections. Discover essential soft skills for payments executives, current hiring insights, innovative retention strategies, and the impact of fintech and payments innovation on executive recruitment and talent strategies. This session is a must for leaders aiming to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving labor market.
    16:15 - 17:00ALLYSHIP: A CATALYST FOR EMPOWERMENT IN THE PAYMENTS INDUSTRY
    As the payments industry evolves and diversifies, allyship emerges as a force in propelling the careers of women forward. In a realm historically dominated by males, allyship becomes a sign of solidarity and a strategic imperative for fostering an inclusive ecosystem. This session delves into how allyship serves as a springboard for career advancement, innovation, and empowerment. In an era of rapid technological advancement and shifting industry dynamics, there is a need for inclusivity.
    Gallery
    17:00 - 18:00REGISTRATION & AWARDS RECEPTION
  • Networking Break/ Main Foyer
    07:45 - 08:30REGISTATION & NETWORKING BREAKFAST
    10:15 - 10:45NETWORKING BREAK
    14:40 - 15:10NETWORKING BREAK
    Fireside Chat / LOFT 5
    10:45 - 11:25THE FUTURE OF CURRENCY - CBDC'S EWALLETS, AND MORE
    CBDCs is a complex process influenced by various economic, technological, regulatory, and societal factors. While Canada has shown interest in exploring the possibility of a CBDC, the timeline and specific details of its implementation remain uncertain. As with any new form of currency, regulatory frameworks need to be established for AML, KYC, consumer protection, and financial stability. Canada will need to collaborate with other countries to address cross-border payments and regulatory harmonization. This fireside chat discussion will lay out tipping points that have led to shifting adoption and what triggers to watch for over the next five to 10 years.
    11:30 - 12:10THE ART OF VULNERABILITY: CULTIVATING AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP
    Purposeful vulnerability refers to the intentional and strategic decision to open oneself up emotionally, mentally, or socially. It involves sharing genuine thoughts, feelings, or experiences with others in order to build trust, foster deeper connections, and create opportunities for growth and learning. This is, in fact, a vital trait for business leaders to possess and is key to building high-performing teams. By purposefully demonstrating vulnerability, you cultivate successful teams.
    14:00 - 14:40FUELING DATA DRIVEN INNOVATION - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INTEREST & USAGE
    Canada is on the path to operationalizing a Consumer-Driven Banking ecosystem in which consumers are empowered to choose innovative products and services to improve their financial outcomes. In the run -up to 2025, how do we get the ecosystem primed for strong adoption among consumers, and help them reap the benefits of Open Banking and enable participants to achieve strong growth? In this fireside chat, industry experts will explore various strategies to foster a successful Open Banking system in Canada.
    Workshop / LOFT 3 & 4
    10:45 - 11:25UNLOCKING EXECUTIVE-LEVEL PRESENCE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
    Join us for an interactive workshop where you’ll uncover the essential elements of projecting executive-level presence. Explore three key strategies to enhance your professional image, communicate with authority, and boost your confidence in the workplace. Participate in exercises designed to develop your speaking style and master techniques for expressive speeches, stage presence, and audience interaction. Connect with your audience on a deeper level to make your talks memorable and impactful. Discover how to craft compelling narratives that engage and inspire, all while finding your authentic voice.
    11:30 - 12:10EMBRACING CHANGE - PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
    It's been 18 months since the industry ‘go-live’ for ISO20022. The adoption of real-time payments and open banking is in full swing, but how is this translating to value for banks and their clients, especially when it comes to B2B payments? What are banks doing to derive value and offer new innovative services? What barriers have been holding them back, including impacts and considerations from a multinational corporate view?
    14:00 - 14:40NETWORKING SESSION VISA
    Discover the power of positive relationships at our networking session, designed to unite and empower women through industry connections. The session will feature an interactive Ambition Board Workshop, designed to empower, and inspire through the sharing of personal ambitions. The aim is to foster self-belief and belonging as attendees create profound connections with like-minded women, exchanging contact details and building a supportive network that extends beyond the symposium. Join us in an atmosphere of camaraderie, empowerment, and inspiration. Together, we can inspire change, foster inclusion, and empower each other to reach new heights.
    Main Stage/Arcadian Court
    08:30 - 08:40WELCOME REMARKS
    08:40 - 08:50OPENING REMARKS
    08:50 - 09:00OPENING KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
    09:00 - 09:30OPENING KEYNOTE FIRESIDE
    09:30 - 10:15EXECUTIVE PANEL
    Addressing imposter phenomenon involves acknowledging and challenging negative thought patterns, building self-confidence, and seeking support from mentors, peers, or mental health professionals. Focusing on one's strengths and accomplishments and setting realistic goals can also help individuals overcome imposter feelings and achieve their full potential. Do male allies play a role in advocating for fairness in the workplace by promoting equal opportunities for all individuals? This mixed panel will share insights on the importance of male allyship.
    12:10 - 13:15NETWORKING LUNCH
    13:15 - 13:55HOW BIOMETRICS & AI ARE INFLUENCING FRAUDS & SCAMS
    Why are sophisticated frauds and scams difficult to detect? The answer is simple: they mimic human behaviour using bots, scripts, and a variety of other tools. By relying on biometric data such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, or voice patterns, organizations can add an extra layer of security to their authentication processes. Sophisticated fraudsters may attempt to deceive biometric systems by presenting fake or stolen biometric data. How is our industry and our regulators preparing to protect against sophisticated attacks?
    15:10 - 16:00UNICORN CHALLENGE
    The Women in Payments Unicorn Challenge gives female-run fintech start-ups the chance to present their concepts to a panel of judges and an audience of payments professionals. Winners will have the chance to pitch to major market leaders to gain valuable feedback from industry experts. Don’t miss an exciting event.
    16:00 - 16:10CLOSING KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
    16:10 - 17:00CLOSING KEYNOTE
    Laugh, Think and Play More for Business and Career Success -
    In our fast paced business world it is vital that we allow ourselves to reconnect with being human. When we Laugh, Think and Play (three most deeply human attributes) we open ourselves up to connections on a deeper level, more engagement and more productivity at work and life. In this engaging, thought provoking and funny talk Em will guide you on how you can allow yourself more time to do these three things and why they matter now more than ever.
    17:00 - 17:15CLOSING REMARKS
    Panel / LOFT 1 & 2
    10:45 - 11:25OPEN BANKING - PAY BY BANK
    Global markets are enacting openness in financial services via Open APIs. In EU, the PSD3 regulation will enable mass growth by developing a competitive and innovative payments market. In other international regions, Saudi Arabia is introducing legislation, Colombia and Mexico are on their way, while countries like Brazil and India, with low credit card penetration rates, have fast adopted the Pay by Bank concept. How does Canada compare?
    11:30 - 12:10PAYMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
    Our panelists will bring a global perspective on payments around the world. Canada and the U.S. share many commonalities due to their geographic proximity. The panel will explore similarities and regulatory differences between these two countries. Discover some of the unique and innovative products that are being developed around the globe to meet the needs of customers. India ranks number one in digital payments globally. Our expert panel will provide insights into global payments and market adoption of evolving technologies.
    14:00 - 14:40FINTECH INNOVATION: EXPLORE ADOPTION CHALLENGES
    Fintech innovation in Canada has been notable in recent years, with a growing number of startups and established financial institutions exploring new technologies to improve financial services. However, there have been challenges related to the adoption of fintech solutions in Canada. AI is just one of the many transformative solutions that can enhance both consumer financial health and institutional stability.  This workshop will explore the challenges to adoption: regulatory, market structure, consumer behaviour, and infrastructure.
    Gallery
    17:15 - 18:45CLOSING COCKTAIL
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