In this episode, part of our Experts series, our special guest is Dale Laszig.

Dale's journey in Payments began thirty (30) plus years ago.

Having a varied background in sales, sales management, and journalism.

Dale is widely known as a Senior Staff Writer for the Green Sheet, a leading Payments trade publication that empowers and connects Payments professionals. 

In this episode, among other things, Dale talks about what she believes, to be the

biggest challenge to the industry. She also gives us a peek into the risks of quantum computing as the type of technology that has the power to crack into public key infrastructure.

It is from this depth of experience that Dale will be taking us on a journey, sharing her unique perspective on all things payments.

" M;'S"oh[; v

2

s

3

Track 1: without a doubt.

4

I think it's the fact that the

bad guys are leveraging the same

5

technologies that we are and they're

weaponizing AI automation, all of

6

these really great technologies that.

7

Like us, they're continuing to evolve

and, scale and change on a dime.

8

I think that's probably the biggest

challenge that we're facing right now.

9

just maintaining security.

10

Welcome to Bridges to Excellence Podcast.

11

Inspired leadership in

payments and fintech.

12

Bringing you conversations

with payments most fascinating

13

people on top of their game.

14

Leaders, influencers,

experts, and innovators.

15

Each weekly episode turns our

guest's wisdom into practical advice.

16

Their personal journey starts now.

17

are meant to inspire and challenge

you to explore your possibilities.

18

Here's your host, Desmond Nicholson.

19

In this episode, part of our expert

series, our special guest is Dale Laszig.

20

Dale's journey in payments began

some 30-plus years ago, having a

21

varied background in sales and sales

management for leading acquirers and

22

original equipment manufacturers.

23

Dale is the founder of DSL Direct

A payments industry consultancy

24

focused on content development

in areas of Security Technology

25

and best practices.

26

Dale is also widely known as a senior

staff writer for the Green Sheet, a

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payments industry trade publication

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connects payments professionals.

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As a Payments industry journalist.

30

Dale covers the technology, beat.

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Wherever or whenever there is

breaking news and emerging trends.

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It is from this depth and breadth of

experience that Dale will be taking

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us on her journey, sharing her unique

perspective on all things payments.

34

Nevertheless, the question

remains, who is Dale Lasik?

35

Really?

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Well, stay with us as you

are about to find out.

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Dale, welcome to our show,

and thanks for being here.

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Track 1: Thank you so much for having me.

39

It's so great to reconnect with you.

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Desmond Nicholson: after these

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many years.

42

it has to be, about 25 years ago

that we met somewhere around there,

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Track 1: Yeah, I was

right out of high school.

44

Desmond Nicholson: I'm really glad

we were able to coordinate our

45

schedules and make this happen.

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by the way, that was an

excellent coverage the recent

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Paytech Women Leadership Summit.

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I could actually feel the excitement.

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What was it really like there?

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Track 1: Oh my goodness.

51

Thank you for mentioning that.

52

It was such a fabulous, conference

and I had an opportunity to, check

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things out before it even went live.

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Because Anne Mendenhall, the Chief

Marketing Officer of PayTech Women reached

55

out and asked me if I wanted to just

come in and have a look around before

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they officially opened the following day.

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And when I went there, I was staying

a block away because this was a sold

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out event and it was actually sold

out for months before it even started.

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Desmond Nicholson: Wow.

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Track 1: and, I stayed about a block away

and I ran over there and I saw everyone

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setting up and it gave me a unique

backstage view of some really fabulous

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women who were out-of box thinkers.

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They were just getting things set up.

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and I remember . Wendy Holiday, the

CEO actually came over and said Hello,

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and, they were under a lot of pressure.

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They were about to go live.

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There were a lot of

moving parts everywhere.

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People were unpacking boxes,

but there was such an energy

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and, there was so much love.

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And, of course the following

day, they absolutely crushed it.

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There were men and women, I mean

lots and lots of people, over

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620 attendees at this event.

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and the agenda was absolutely top-notch.

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It was very diverse, lots of different

content, basically for anybody, no matter

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where you are in the value chain, there

was something uniquely curated for you.

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And so I feel it took

inclusivity to a whole new level,

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Desmond Nicholson: incredible.

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Track 1: really, I'm very

proud to be a member.

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Desmond Nicholson: I'm sure you

are let's get right into it.

80

Now, Dale, where did you go to school?

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Track 1: Okay.

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Well, I was already in the payments

industry when I was an undergrad at

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SUNY, the State University of New York.

84

. and they offered a hybrid program, back

in the day they called it distance

85

learning and I got my bachelor's from

them in what is now called Excelsior.

86

And I got a master's a little

while later, from Argosy.

87

Desmond Nicholson: Anything

to do with, journalism?

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. Track 1: Not directly.

89

My master's was in management.

90

and my bachelor's was in communications.

91

I guess in a way it was, I didn't

know at the time that I would

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ultimately become a journalist.

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I

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Desmond Nicholson: It's

by accident, I guess,

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Track 1: right.

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Desmond Nicholson: Now, how did

you get into the payments industry

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Track 1: You know,

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Desmond Nicholson: you

it's probably by accident.

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Track 1: Oh, I answered

a classified ad back

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Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

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Track 1: in 89, and, I actually found it.

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It's amazing that I found it.

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and even my handwritten notes as I

was preparing for this interview.

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the ad said expanding.

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. Fortune 500 company seeks

aggressive, highly motivated service

106

professionals in the LA area.

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Excellent communication, organizational

and analytical skills needed, called

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one 800 to schedule an interview they

didn't even say it was Brown Foreman,

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one of the earliest ISOs, they didn't

even say the company name, and I

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didn't even find out until I got there.

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But, that's how my journey began.

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Desmond Nicholson: So you went

through the interview process, what

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interested you, payments that industry?

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I.

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Track 1: I was given the, choice

between, selling merchant services or

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being what they called an installer.

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And I've always really been fascinated

by machines and technology, and I figured

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I already had some sales background

at the time and I just, I thought

119

to myself, I can always get back into

selling, but wouldn't it be nice if

120

I really understood the technology?

121

And, that's what got me into it.

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And it was such a dream job, for a

young person because I got to go all

123

over Southern California to some of the

best, restaurants and hotels and train

124

their staff on how to use a Tranz 330

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Desmond Nicholson: Okay, so

that was, with Brown Foreman?

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Track 1: Yeah.

127

And,

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Desmond Nicholson: probably a,

lot of people don't realize.

129

Brown Foreman is a liquor distributor,

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Track 1: sometimes I would show up in an

appointment and they would mistakenly have

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the beverage director come out to greet me

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Desmond Nicholson: So,

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Track 1: the Brown Foreman Enterprises

really leverage that brand recognition.

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Desmond Nicholson: okay.

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they were at that time an ISO.

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Track 1: They were one of the first,

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Desmond Nicholson: what's the name of the

processor they were using at that time?

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Track 1: Transnet, which

later became, Payment Tech.

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Desmond Nicholson: Oh, okay.

140

how have your prior, experiences at

companies like First Data Hypercom

141

Verifone, to name a few have shaped

how you approach your work at the

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Green Sheet, particularly in your

chosen specialty, the technology beat.

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Track 1: Well, that's a great question.

144

I think, having gone through it

myself, . It's just the ability to bring

145

that direct experience to my writing.

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as someone who has really been

out there door to door selling,

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trying to solve problems in the

field, working with merchants and,

148

managing high profile relationships

as I moved up in corporate life.

149

All of that gave me such a rich background

to draw on in my writing, and it also, I

150

feel it probably makes my writing a little

more relatable because I never really lost

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that feeling of just being in the game.

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Desmond Nicholson: Okay,

take us on your career path.

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now it's Brown Foreman, and I know you've

worked for you've worked for Hypercom,

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who knows, probably a few others.

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Take us through that journey.

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Track 1: it was just a great

ride from the very beginning.

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in the very beginning I was given

an opportunity as an independent

158

contractor, and ironically, when I

look back at my whole entire career

159

and I think all the way back to

160

Even before we had internet or email,

my early days of being virtual meant

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phoning things in from a payphone

or leaving a detailed voicemail and

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copying other people on that voicemail.

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I think being from First Data, you

may remember, Audix, remember that

164

voicemail system we used to use?

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that was,

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Desmond Nicholson: well.

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Track 1: yeah, so, even after I left First

Data, I still had a mailbox, which was

168

really pretty fun, but all those things.

169

So I started out in Southern California

and then had the opportunity to travel

170

and open up the Tucson market and

171

I was there for a few years.

172

It was a very exciting opportunity

because I got into town and basically

173

the entire town was dominated by

two banks by the time I left and

174

went to do it all over again in

Denver, we were absolutely saturated.

175

There were only a few accounts

in the entire town that

176

weren't using Brown Foreman.

177

And and then I went up and I

opened up the Denver market.

178

And eventually, brown Foreman

was acquired by Nabanco.

179

Nabanco was acquired by First Data,

and that's how I came into the First

180

Data family, the original aggregator.

181

that was a really exciting experience

because at First Data I became a

182

relationship manager, but before that,

at Nabanco, I was a national trainer

183

and I actually lived out of a suitcase

and I went to a different city almost

184

every week, and I trained people.

185

And I did that for a few

years and it was, great.

186

I got to see the whole country.

187

I got to meet a lot of incredible

people who are still in our industry.

188

. And then, after a while, First

Data became so saturated that I

189

couldn't even step out of my house

without bumping into someone else.

190

I would try to sell a merchant account

and then somebody would call me and

191

say, you can't touch that account.

192

That belongs to CES.

193

and, I just said, okay, so I

moved over to the technology side

194

and that's when I began working

with equipment manufacturers.

195

Dassault AT of America,

Hypercom, Verifone.

196

and it was awesome because

I've always loved technology.

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Desmond Nicholson: Now, you discuss

any key emerging industry trends,

198

or developments that you are

particularly excited about and how

199

you see these trends shaping the

future of the payments industry?

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Track 1: Well, as a writer and somebody

who works with words, I think that.

201

words are my biggest challenge

when I describe any kind of a trend

202

because our industry is moving

so fast and words stand still.

203

So when I look back at all of the things

that we were doing like 25 years ago

204

and what we're doing today, it's a

completely different paradigm, but we're

205

using the same words to describe it.

206

And when I think about an emerging trend,

it comes in, it's a great disruptor.

207

Everyone gets excited, and I think

I've really got a handle on it.

208

But then it just keeps

morphing and changing like

209

everything else in our industry.

210

And I'll give you a couple of examples.

211

You look at, banking as a service.

212

And I just thought, wow, this is great.

213

this is a subscription service

model that works really well

214

that will help banking scale.

215

And then all of a sudden retailers

are getting in the game and retailers,

216

with their private label cards

are expanding depository services.

217

And then you look at buy now pay later.

218

And I just went, okay, that's a

great way to . help a consumer

219

make a very big purchase until

it was so much more than that.

220

It became a form of embedded finance.

221

It became a way for a fast food

delivery service to create a

222

subscription service model.

223

And so at the end of the day, I

would just say, if you took all of

224

these trends and you combined them

all into one great big mega trend.

225

it would just be the fact that we

are always changing, evolving, and

226

moving, and you just have to have

the right mindset to be in the game.

227

for a writer, it's job

security for everybody else.

228

It's a challenge and, it's

a highly competitive, space.

229

Desmond Nicholson: Now

you mentioned a challenge.

230

What do you think is the biggest

challenge facing our industry today?

231

The payments industry?

232

That is,

233

Track 1: without a doubt.

234

I think it's the fact that the

bad guys are leveraging the same

235

technologies that we are and they're

weaponizing AI automation, all of

236

these really great technologies that.

237

Like us, they're continuing to evolve

and, scale and change on a dime.

238

I think that's probably the biggest

challenge that we're facing right now.

239

just maintaining security.

240

Desmond Nicholson: how, well is

the industry doing in terms of

241

protecting data and stopping fraud?

242

what can be done better in say, 2024?

243

Track 1: Fido Alliance and that

stands for Fast Idea Online.

244

They just had their annual

summit this week in Carlsbad,

245

and I'm very happy to say.

246

In fact, I have an article coming

out about this later today.

247

they developed a replacement for

passwords called Passkey that enables

248

you to log on to any device and

authenticate yourself once, and then

249

just travel across multiple channels.

250

And it's so much more

robust than passwords.

251

We really need to . , reduce

our reliance on passwords.

252

I think that's one very critical thing.

253

another thing is, there's been some

talk about quantum computing attacks,

254

and I've been following this very

closely and talking to experts in

255

the, space, and I think, we really

need to change our perception.

256

of quantum computing as something that's

10 years down the road because as some

257

of these experts have very rightly

pointed out, it's actually here today

258

operating in stealth mode and this

type of technology has the power to

259

crack into public key infrastructure.

260

So it's a very real and persistent threat.

261

Desmond Nicholson: there's

no question about it.

262

You're a prolific writer.

263

What qualities rather do you

look for in sourcing and where

264

do you find, your story ideas?

265

Track 1: Oh, thank you.

266

I'm very attracted to people

who share my passion for

267

technology and industry trends.

268

fellow geeks.

269

and I think that the very point of writing

is not to reiterate what we already know,

270

but to really shine a light on something

and see it in a very different way.

271

And I'm very attracted to people who

are willing to take that ride with

272

me and also, more importantly, share

from their own experience so that.

273

, you know, there's all this talk right

now about chat, GPT, and at the end of

274

the day, nobody can really replace the

personal stories that I'm privileged to

275

access from the many very intelligent and

articulate people I interview every day.

276

Desmond Nicholson: what role has

mentorship played in your success and

277

does any particular person come to mind?

278

Track 1: I've been so fortunate in

my career to have learned from the

279

best, beginning all the way, back

with Ralo Flores, who, interviewed

280

me for my role at Brown Foreman

and, encouraged me to go into sales.

281

, even though I started out as an

installer, he was a great, influence.

282

And then Shak Westerland, who was my

manager when I opened up the, Arizona

283

Market, a, very inspirational leader.

284

And and he encouraged me

to go on and open up Denver.

285

And up there I reported to John Anderson.

286

Another really great, mentor, a very

accomplished payments executive.

287

And then when I moved into writing,

I was very fortunate to meet Laura

288

McHale Holland, who was the Editor

in Chief at the Green Sheet and

289

I am not gonna lie, it wasn't a cakewalk

for her to transform a salesperson

290

into a professional journalist.

291

But working with her really

helped me hone my craft.

292

And, it was really the equivalent

of getting a master's in journalism.

293

Just the opportunity to

work with her every day.

294

And I'm very, blessed to have

her as an editor and a friend

295

Desmond Nicholson: what are your tips

296

Track 1: in seeking

297

Desmond Nicholson: a

298

Track 1: a mentor.

299

when I think back to the early days

of First Data and I would watch you

300

and other leaders on the big stage,

and I would think to myself, wow, they

301

just seem so comfortable up there.

302

You know, just relaxed and authentic

and in control and I would just say

303

in general, if there's anyone you

can think of who you feel like I

304

wanna be that person when I grow up.

305

That's really great.

306

Mentor and material.

307

And even before I became a professional

interviewer, I sought people out

308

and I interviewed them to learn more

about them and, how they developed

309

. their are leadership qualities and

what are the things that really

310

kind of motivate them and get them

excited, and that would be my advice.

311

Desmond Nicholson: what are some of

the most important lessons you've

312

learned in the span of your career?

313

Track 1: oh, . I would just

think, accepting change

314

would be the very big one.

315

let's face it, we're in an industry

that was built on a moving platform.

316

So if you're not comfortable with

that, better go work in a quarry.

317

change is,

318

Desmond Nicholson: just.

319

Track 1: always, present.

320

And, Whenever I feel stuck, I try to

figure out what's holding me back so

321

that I can just move along and, change

and evolve alongside our industry.

322

So I think the big one

is embracing change.

323

Desmond Nicholson: Absolutely.

324

Now, over the years, reflecting on lessons

learned in business life in general,

325

Track 1: Mm-Hmm.

326

Desmond Nicholson: what would

you tell your younger self?

327

Track 1: Oh, the first thing I would

say is please write the names and dates

328

on the other side of those photos,.

329

' cause you'll save a lot of time later on.

330

And then I would also say

rejection is not absolute.

331

Rejection doesn't mean no, it

just means not now or not yet.

332

Desmond Nicholson: Gotcha.

333

Now, , what would you consider a low

point in your career and what was

334

that like would you do differently?

335

Track 1: I think the one time that I

really hit a low, I was out of work and

336

it was the winter and I was living in

the country and I didn't try to fight it.

337

I drank hot toddies.

338

I threw logs on the fire.

339

I wrote poetry and, and I just

kind of, I snuggled in and, I

340

just didn't worry about things.

341

I just kinda let everything go.

342

And I remember my husband coming home

from work one day and I was mentioning

343

to him over dinner that . . I had

received a call from a recruiter

344

and I said, I'm not interested.

345

And he said, call them back tomorrow,

. And that was the end of that little,

346

episode, but it, was a much needed time

out and I'm not sure I would do anything

347

differently because I think that a

good timeout is really very helpful.

348

Uh,

349

Desmond Nicholson: introspection.

350

Now, conversely, what would you consider

to be your greatest accomplishment,

351

even though your final chapter

in payments remains to be written

352

Track 1: Oh, thank you.

353

without a doubt finding my true

calling as a writer and being

354

able to do what I love every day.

355

Desmond Nicholson: Good.

356

what aspect of your personality

do you think has been the

357

most helpful in your career?

358

Track 1: I think no matter what hat I

was wearing, the fact that I live in

359

bizarro land is my, superpower because,

I look at things from every angle.

360

I gravitate to other people who

think that way out of box thinkers.

361

I would say that more than anything, just,

have the courage to just be yourself.

362

Desmond Nicholson: Be authentic.

363

Track 1: Be authentic.

364

Yeah.

365

Desmond Nicholson: over the time

you've been in payments, what

366

are some of the major milestones

changes you've seen over the years?

367

Track 1: Well, I'm, I'm fortunate to

have seen several decades of payments

368

and I've seen a really big shift,

from the old hardware centric types

369

of technology that we used to have.

370

To today's very fluid and digital

technologies and, I actually think

371

in a way that the early days of

hardware centric, POS devices and

372

pin pads, that had to be securely

encrypted in a lockdown facility.

373

It really reminds me of the industrial age

when you think back to Alvin Toffler, he

374

wrote that, book in the, 1980s, The Third

Wave, and he talked about the, three waves

375

of human progress, beginning with the

Agricultural age and then the Industrial

376

age, and then, the Information age.

377

And in 2015, Steve Case came along

and he wrote a book on the third wave,

378

but his three waves were building

the internet, the app, and the mobile

379

economy and the Internet of Things.

380

And when I think about my three waves, as

I look at the payments industry, I think

381

about . The first wave being dedicated

devices, the second wave being the app

382

marketplace, and the third wave, without

a doubt, is embedded payments and finance.

383

Desmond Nicholson: Given your career

experience and having a vast network

384

of women in payments, what advice would

you give women navigating this industry?

385

Track 1: Oh, I would encourage them to

come in because there's never been a

386

better time, to be part of our industry.

387

And we, we spoke earlier about

paycheck women, but I really think

388

Desmond Nicholson: I.

389

Track 1: that whole rebranding from

the original WNET into PayTech Women.

390

and opening up membership to men

shows how far we've come as far as

391

embracing inclusivity and diversity.

392

I feel that we're in a very forward

thinking industry that values

393

everyone's contribution regardless

of ethnicity rum, religion or gender.

394

just come on in and be part of it.

395

Desmond Nicholson: There is no question

of, your success in this industry, Dale.

396

to whom much is given, will be required.

397

How is this manifested in your life?

398

Track 1: Thank you for saying that.

399

I, really appreciate it.

400

So I, feel the best way to

pay back the many people who.

401

Have helped me in my career is to

pay it forward by helping others.

402

And, to me that means being a

member of organizations that

403

are moving our industry forward.

404

And those organizations

are definitely ETA.

405

I'm very proud to be a member and to

serve on the cybersecurity committee

406

and, to cover so much, that goes on.

407

with their advocacy and their

mentorship programs and to just be

408

able to help amplify that, those,

initiatives and also Paytech Women.

409

I'm very proud to belong to that

organization and I plan to get

410

much more involved going forward.

411

And I just feel that.

412

Just by, working with people, helping

people, share their perspectives in

413

the Green Sheet and other publications.

414

Those are all ways that I can pay it

back because I've, been very fortunate.

415

Desmond Nicholson: Very good, The

tagline in your LinkedIn profile reads,

416

writing the next chapter in payments.

417

Taking that literally should I

assume a book is in the works?

418

Track 1: Oh, absolutely.

419

I've been working on a book and I'm also

involved in several other book projects

420

with colleagues and friends and clients.

421

The lightning round bridges to

excellence, inspired leadership

422

in payments and fintech.

423

Desmond Nicholson: In this segment, I

pose the question and you respond with a

424

single word or one sentence ready to go.

425

Track 1: Go

426

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

427

what does success mean to you?

428

Track 1: Making a living,

doing what I love.

429

Desmond Nicholson: What is the

best advice you've ever received?

430

Track 1: Don't over prepare.

431

Just go for it.

432

Desmond Nicholson: What one book would

you recommend to our listeners and why?

433

Track 1: I Love Me More by Jenna Banks

because self-love is not selfish.

434

Desmond Nicholson: What is your

favorite quote in leadership

435

or otherwise that inspires you?

436

I.

437

Track 1: Okay.

438

British novelist Catherine Aired.

439

If you can't be a good example,

at least be a terrible warning.

440

Desmond Nicholson: what is one

thing the people you work with

441

would be surprised to learn?

442

Track 1: I'm studying Swedish.

443

Desmond Nicholson:

Introvert, or Extrovert?

444

Track 1: Oh, 100% hybrid.

445

I actually identify as both

446

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

447

What is one thing that has

you fired up right now?

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Track 1: Oh.

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I'm gonna be going to Portugal

in December and I've never

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been there and I'm so excited.

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Desmond Nicholson: You love it.

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I've been there a

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Track 1: Oh, thank you.

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Desmond Nicholson: It's been fun.

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We've covered a lot today.

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And, any final word or

comments, before we wrap up?

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Track 1: I just wanna thank

you for this opportunity.

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It's really great to be in this

industry and, to share this with you.

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Desmond Nicholson: you're welcome.

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again, thanks for being on

our show and to our listeners,

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thank you for your time as well.

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And never forget, the more you expect

from yourself, the more you'll excel.

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You've been listening to Bridges

to Excellence podcast, inspired

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leadership and payments and fintech.

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Be sure to join us next time for more

conversations with another of your

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colleagues in payments and fintech.

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Insightful conversations in their

journey to excellence for transcripts

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and other materials covered on the show.

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Visit us at DesmondNicholson.

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com.