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Education

I wanted to find someone to run my operations
whom I could trust and had the same spirit for great
service as I do. Not just because she is our daughter The disparities in treatment of
but for several reasons, my wife and I both thought the genders in the workplace is still
she would fit perfectly. I think it would be any
person's dream to share the great success they've not acceptable. Unless it is
had in this industry with their family. Not just the equal, it will never be acceptable.
financial success. I also knew my clients (agents and
ISOs) would come to love her and she would feel the Changes must come from the top,
same. I like to surround myself with positive people and leaders must demand changes
who I like. I don't only love my daughter; I also like
her a lot. (Both of my girls) in their organizations.

2. Did you have to help Marci with her decision to
join the biz or did she decide on her own? 5. Do you have any regrets about bringing your
daughter to the biz?
She has, of course, witnessed my success over the
years and felt confident that I would teach her all None at all. At the time that I hired Marci, my other
of my skills and habits to become a success herself. daughter, Talia, was very happy with her work/
Some of it she already had, but not related to this life situation. The only regret that I had for a little
industry. We had a good discussion of what would while was that I didn't also pull Talia in. But, as of
be expected from each of us and how we would February of this year, during another big growth
"work" as father and daughter, but it was a fairly spurt, four years after I brought Marci on, I also
short conversation. She was ready to put her notice hired Talia. She and her sister are as close as ever
in shortly after that. And she was very eager even and are a great team. The only regret I have is that
before her two-week notice was up. I think they are conspiring against me to take this
thing over eventually. I hear a lot of , "We've got this,
3. You have been around this business for a long time. Dad. Don't worry. Go play golf."
D you feel like the rest of the industry treats women
equal to their male counterparts? I want to thank Steve Duniec for taking the time to answer
these questions. The disparities in treatment of the genders
I think it is getting much better, but over the years I in the workplace is still not acceptable. Unless it is equal, it
witnessed (and was part of) a lot of "boys clubs" that will never be acceptable. Changes must come from the top,
just simply didn't let women in. Leaders in many and leaders must demand changes in their organizations.
cases just didn't even consider women to be part of
their team. That's unfortunate and small minded. More to do

I've also seen the rise of great leaders such as Kim Have we made progress in last 30+ years? Yes, but we have
Fitzsimmons, who I had the pleasure of reporting a long to go toward closing a very large pay gap. Equal op-
directly to at one part of my career. I've always portunity and fairness in any workplace play an important
admired executives who recognized her and other role. Employees love these qualities in their workplace.
women of her caliber. As far as hiring my daughter,
gender of course wasn't even a consideration. This is our first article on fathers and daughters in the in-
The industry's executive ranks are still heavily dustry. Wnet does a great job in helping to mentor women.
dominated by men. We still have a long way to go, Men can join Wnet as advocates; regional chapters help in
but I think boards are thinking about it more for networking locally. Check Wnet out at www.wnetonline.org.
sure.
Safari Njema!
4. Do you believe that gender equality is more par in
payments than other industries? Dee Karawadra is president and CEO of Impact PaySystem, and Emily
Karawadra is the company's chief financial officer. Since 2001, Impact
I am very encouraged when I go to ETA and our PaySystem has been a leading provider of payment processing technolo-
regional shows. I see more and more women – and gies and services to merchants throughout the United States. Through
more in upper management roles. I'm very happy alliances with payments industry leaders such as Chase Paymentech,
that Wnet has risen up within the payments space.
I'm not sure many other industries have a similar First Data, Buypass, Sage and more, Impact PaySystem offers tailored
organization dedicated to supporting women. And solutions to meet the unique needs of each merchant. Dee and Emily will
it was started by some of the most accomplished welcome your questions and comments at dee@impactpays.com and
women in this industry. emily@impactpays.com, respectively.
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