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Diversity, equity, inclusion "We help all women in paytech rise, thrive and connect."
These dynamic verbs are the focal point of our new tag-
Wendy Holliday, CEO for PayTech Women, pointed out line, she added.
that the organization continues to empower and invest in
women and has grown by 1,122 percent since 2017. Influence, visibility

"We have focused on the broken rung in advancement for PayTech Women's 2023 Leadership Summit, held at the
women and have expanded our services to include new Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, also embodied PayTech
membership categories for young professionals and retir- Women's fresh new energy. Mendenhall said the summit's
ees; exclusive programming for our senior-most members; tagline, "Amplify Your Voice," was designed to convey em-
a renewed mentorship program; vetted career coaching powerment and encouragement by enhancing the influ-
program; a world-class, custom content Leadership Acad- ence, visibility and impact of each attendee's voice.
emy; and in 2024, a new ConneX Cohort program allow-
ing every member to connect and engage with others in "The tagline was used at our annual conference to inspire
the industry, gain valuable skills and the opportunity to participants to speak up, share their insights and play an
shine." active role in shaping their careers and the industry as a
whole," she said. "The strong statement reflects PayTech
Holliday additionally noted that PTW's 13 chapters of- Women's commitment to fostering a supportive environ-
fered 42 programs in 2023, engaging with nearly 1,400 ment where women's voices are not only heard but also
people across the nation. In addition, the organization celebrated and strengthened."
expanded its annual Leadership Summit, which attracted
631 registrants in October. Other live events throughout PTW Board President Polly Van Duser, SPHR is vice presi-
the year featured industry leaders, including Stephanie dent of talent acquisition at One Inc. She co-chaired PTW's
Ferris, CEO and president of FIS, and Elizabeth Krear, vice 2023 Thrive Priority and Summit Leadership planning
president of J.D. Power. committees and said she expects to see an even bigger
turnout at the 2024 Leadership Summit, to be held Sept.
"As a foundation for our evolution, PTW has re-prioritized 24 to 25 at the Atlanta Marriott Airport Gateway Complex.
diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for internal and
member purposes as well as partner, sponsor and indus- "As we gear up for 2024, we're not just continuing the jour-
try objectives," she said. "When we better understand our ney; we're amplifying our success," she said. "We're all
members' differences and issues, better programs can be about fostering relationships, strengthening our chapters,
developed to meet their needs and to address the diversity and expanding opportunities for our members. Our rise,
of the payments and fintech industries, helping all ambi- thrive and connect theme isn't just a slogan; it's what we
tious women rise." do every day. We're here for you, whether you're just start-
ing out or a seasoned leader in the payments industry."
Brand transformation
Male advocates
In October 2022, the organization officially rebranded to
become PayTech Women, a fresh new image inspired by PayTech Women membership is now open to men and
the organization's membership and partnership growth women, Mendenhall noted, adding that she was pleased
and expanded focus. Anne Mendenhall, vice president, to see a larger cohort of male advocate members at the
marketing and communications for PayTech Women, re- 2023 Summit. Among them was Austin Mac Nab, CEO and
called working on the brand refresh throughout 2021 and founder of VizyPay, who spoke highly of the organization.
2022 with Wnet volunteers and public relations specialists
at The Fletcher Group. "Our team, which is new to the payments space, has leveled
up by attending the last couple of PayTech Women events
"The transformation involved a new name, an evolved in Atlanta," he said. "It has provided us with access to in-
logo and fresh colors that better represent the dynamic dividuals who share similar experiences. We believe that
nature of the payments industry," she said. "The choice of it's not just about VizyPay, but also about enabling others
bold and energetic colors, modern fonts and inclusive im- to make an impact on the payment space from a different
agery aimed to connect with our influential and priority perspective."
audiences: professional women—from emerging stars to
senior leaders—in the payments and fintech ecosystem." Noting that VizyPay is made up of 64 percent minorities
and 27 percent women, Mac Nab encouraged men to prior-
Mendenhall described the logo's circles and summit peak itize diversity in an industry where it has been lacking for
as symbols of connectivity, inclusivity and a shared goal years. He noted that PayTech Women opened his eyes and
of reaching personal summits within dedicated, career- is educating and promoting change. He also mentioned
focused networks. The organization's new tagline con- watching his mother, who came from Vietnam during the
denses its mission of "creating a stronger and more diverse war and had limited opportunities. This, he said, motivat-
industry by empowering and investing in women," into ed him to do more for change, starting within the walls of
VizyPay.
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