Payment leaders return to ETA's SLF

The Electronic Transactions Association's Strategic Leadership Forum will take place at the luxurious Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa, Sept. 14 to 16, 2022. The annual executive-level retreat brings together payments and fintech thought leaders and disruptors for networking, engagement and collaboration, stated Jodie Kelley, CEO of the ETA.


"Decision-makers and thought leaders from every facet of the industry will be there," Kelley stated. "World-class speakers will share their perspectives on issues including the economic trajectory, sustainability, trust and how the regulatory environment is impacting payments. Separating hype from insight, you will hear about the future of payments in the metaverse and where smart money is being invested in our industry today."

Kelley further noted that while the SLF is only two weeks away, there is still time to register for the event. ETA is helping attendees schedule meetings, she added, and the event will balance 
one-on-one meetings with networking and receptions, giving participants a chance to renew old acquaintances and make new connections.

Expansive agenda

The ETA's SLF Forum agenda will examine trending topics and the ever-changing regulatory landscape, Kelley noted, citing the following agenda highlights:

• Life—and Horse Racing—in the Metaverse: Opening keynote speaker Chris Ebeling, co-founder and creative director at Virtually Human Studio, will share potential approaches to engagement, entertainment and commerce in a Web3.0 environment, including the creators of ZED RUN, where horses are bred, trained and raced virtually.

• The Current State of Payments in a Vulnerable World: Michelle Meyer, chief economist, US at Mastercard Economics Institute, will present the current state of payments in a vulnerable world—subjected to the war in Ukraine, Fed rate hikes, soaring consumer prices, impending recession fears, and a volatile stock market—and how these economic factors will impact the payments industry.

• Legislative and Regulatory Update: Jaret Seiberg, managing director for Cowen Group, and Scott Talbott, ETA's senior vice president for government affairs, will present an update on current legislative and regulatory activity affecting payments issues in Washington, D.C.

• International Trends: Governments as Payments Participants – How Serious is the Threat? Jesse McWaters, senior vice president, global head of regulatory advocacy at Mastercard, will examine governmental involvement in digital payments, including central bank digital currencies and new payments rails, and its potential to disrupt robust innovation.

• Sustainability Solutions: The Potential Role of Payments in the Transition to Net Zero: Todd Wade, vice president, head of specialized sales, US Merchant for Visa, will explore how commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require far-reaching social, economic, regulatory and technological system changes, as well as opportunities for investment and innovation in the payments industry.

• Smart Money Predictions in Payments for 2022 & Beyond: Panelists Chris Dimsey, partner at PJT Partners; Philip McHugh, ETA president; Greg Mendelson, head of finTech & East Coast tech investment banking for J.P. Morgan; and Darrin Peller, managing director at Wolfe Research will discuss how capital investment will impact the payments industry now and in the future.

• Trust & Credibility in Payments: Findings From the 2022 Trust Barometer: Closing keynote speaker Aaron Guiterman, chief innovation officer & global digital chair at Edelman Global Advisory, will share insights on how payments industry stakeholders can foster trust in a world of uncertainty with an enduring pandemic, inflation, layoffs, war in Ukraine and more keeping us up at night.

A peek into the Gilded Age

Kelley went on to say that the ETA has made tours of the Flagler Museum available to registrants and guests to experience the art and culture of Gilded Age America, an era taking place between 1865 and 1929.

"ETA's Strategic Leadership Forum is where the future of payments begins to take shape. ETA member company executives discuss the current and future business trends—from crypto to fintech—that drive the payments industry," Kelley said. 

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