The Issuer Academy: Innovate. Scale. Impact
Welcome to The Issuer Academy: Paymentology’s Podcast to Innovate, Scale, and Provide Impact. Every week, we unlock the secrets behind transformative card programmes and next-generation payment experiences.
Through in-depth conversations with industry leaders, real-world case studies, and technical deep-dives, we explore how advanced payment solutions can overcome traditional barriers and open new markets.
Whether you're a startup founder, a retail banking executive, or a fintech enthusiast ready to reimagine the future of payments, join us as we decode emerging trends, debunk industry myths, and share the strategic insights that fuel innovation and impact across the globe.
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Go Global, Think Local: Why Winning in Payments Is a Regional Game
August 13, 2025 • 39 MIN
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 Rise of the Companion Card: Powering Africa’s Mobile-First Economy
July 30, 2025 • 23 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Julius Abuje is joined by Alfred Mukudu, a Financial Services Go-To-Market Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Naima Yusuf, Head of Business Payments at M-Pesa Africa. Together, they dive into the growing role of companion cards in Africa's mobile money ecosystem.
Beyond Access: Can Tech Raise a Financially Empowered Generation?
July 16, 2025 • 45 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Theo Kitshoff, CEO and Co-founder of Sticitt, and Drisha Kirkman, Head of Programme Management and Sustainability (MD South Africa) for Paymentology. Together, they explore the intersection of financial literacy and technological innovation.
Smarter Cards, Simpler Stacks: Innovating at the Infrastructure Layer
July 1, 2025 • 35 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Carl Raven, Head of Issuer Enablers at Visa, and Thomas Benjaminsen Normann, Product Director of Digital Services at Paymentology. Together, they dive into what it really means to innovate in issuing, from AI agents and tokenization to flex cards, cloud-first infrastructure, subscription managers, and ecosystem partnerships.
In the AI Stampede, Who’s Stopping to Ask the Right Questions? [LIVE FROM MONEY 2020]
June 11, 2025 • 38 MIN
In this special live episode from Money 2020 Europe in Amsterdam, host Merusha Naidu explores the AI revolution in payments with Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures and author of "Banking on Artificial Intelligence," and Tim Joslyn, CTO at Paymentology. Together, they unpack the realities of AI in financial services, what’s working, what’s performative, and what’s missing the mark. They explore how AI is improving productivity, speeding up onboarding, powering internal support, and automating loan origination, while also confronting the risks of bias, misuse, and hype-driven decision-making.
The Change Beneath the Change: What’s Driving Real Financial Transformation?
May 29, 2025 • 65 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Leda Glyptis, Author, Advisor, Chair of Bourn AI and Professor at the University of Loughborough, Pauline Molloyi, Acting COO at OM Bank, South Africa's newest digital bank, and Anna Porra, CRO at Paymentology. Together, they navigate redesigning financial systems for true inclusion and impact in South Africa and beyond.
Wallets Are Being Rewritten: Tokenization, Embedded Finance & the Future of Payments
May 13, 2025 • 47 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Michael Galvin, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Toqio, and Ignacio Gironella Merino, Head of Sales Europe at Paymentology and Global Sales Director at MeaWallet. Together, they discuss how tokenization is revolutionising payment security, why cards are becoming the backbone of embedded finance platforms, and how businesses are leveraging these technologies to create seamless, secure customer experiences.
Forget Cards—Here's What You'll Be Using to Pay in 2030
April 9, 2025 • 37 MIN
In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology, and Christian Rau, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, Digital Assets, Blockchain, and Fintech Enablement at Mastercard. Together, they explore the evolving payments landscape, from the future of cash and plastic cards to the transformative impact of tokenization and cloud-first infrastructure.
The Issuer Academy Podcast is going live on Wednesday!
April 7, 2025 • < 1 MIN
Are you ready to transform your payments strategy? The Issuer Academy, brought to you by Paymentology, is your new go-to podcast for insights, innovation, and impact in the world of digital payments.