In this special edition of The Issuer Academy, host Merusha Naidu brings together Paymentology’s regional leaders and Chief Revenue Officer Anna Porra for a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to scale card programs globally. From APAC’s super app ecosystem to Latin America’s fast-paced fintech growth, the Middle East’s compliance-first innovation, and Europe’s cash-to-contactless transformation, this conversation unpacks how local realities shape global fintech success.

The payments industry loves to talk about scale. However, what is often overlooked is the real engine behind global success: regional fluency.

The panel explores how payment innovation looks different in every market—and why the strategies that win in Singapore, Mexico, or Dubai can’t just be exported wholesale. You’ll hear how smart regulation, user behavior, infrastructure, and even mobile penetration drive adoption differently in each region.

What You’ll Learn:

Why embedded finance is succeeding in APAC, LATAM, and the UK, but for completely different reasons
How regulatory environments like the UAE and Argentina are shaping innovation, not stifling it
What super apps can teach us about loyalty, personalization, and daily-use adoption
Why safe remittance and light-touch credit are game-changers in Africa
The real reason Europe is still a cash-heavy market in places like Germany
What it means to “issue an experience,” not just a card
When to build, when to buy, and how to choose the right tech partners for scale
The role of financial literacy in achieving true financial inclusion
Why fintechs need to treat compliance as a competitive advantage, not a hurdle

Featured Guests:

Anna Porra – Chief Revenue Officer, Paymentology
Minh Ha – Head of Growth, APAC
Julie Sutton – Head of Growth, Europe
Nauman Hassan – Regional Director, MENA
Alejandro del Río – Regional Director, Latin America
Ignacio Gironella Merino – Head of Sales, Europe

Episode Resources:

Anna Porra on LinkedIn
Minh Ha Truong on LinkedIn
Julie Sutton on LinkedIn
Nauman Hassan on LinkedIn
Alejandro del Río on LinkedIn
Ignacio Gironella Merino on LinkedIn
Merusha Naidu on LinkedIn
Paymentology Website

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