Kimberly Fitzsimmons, CEO of Talus…Leadership exemplified. Our special curated series featuring “Women of Impact”

Speaker: 00:00:01

You're listening to Bridges to Excellence.

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Inspired leadership in

payments and FinTech.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: I am a master and try

to challenge myself, no matter what role

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I've been in, I always want to learn.

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So I am a constant, learner

in constant learning mode.

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And I would say that over the

course of time, there's a couple

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of principles, that I have, carried

with me, being fair and transparent.

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Never underestimating the power of

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Culture.

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I'm not a micromanager, but

it is important at every role

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to understand the details.

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We have a saying here, and, of

course, being private equity

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backed, they, also have the same

mantra is if you don't measure it.

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It doesn't usually get done.

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So that's always the discipline that

I've had and carried with me here

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as well is what are we measuring?

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Let's make sure we've got

the right KPIs in place.

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We're measuring them and we're

executing against those and not

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being afraid to change along the way.

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Desmond Nicholson: That was Kimberly

Fitzsimmons, the CEO of Talus,

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Talus, winner of the Electronic

Transactions Association Star Awards

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for Independent Sales Organization of

the Year: 2024

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American bankers as one of the most

uential women in payments for: 2024

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Join us on the inside and lean in as

Kim answers the question of what makes

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the difference when it comes to winning.

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And there is much more.

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The journey begins.

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Welcome to Bridges to Excellence podcast,

inspired leadership in payments and

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fintech, bringing you conversations

with payments, most fascinating

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people on top of their game, leaders,

influencers, experts, and innovators.

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Each weekly episode turns our

guests wisdom into practical advice.

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Their personal journey starts now.

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are meant to inspire and challenge

you to explore your possibilities.

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Here is your host, Desmond Nicholson.

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Desmond Nicholson: In this week's

episode, part of our curated series

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featuring women of impact, we welcome

Kimberly Fitzsimmons, Chief Executive

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Officer of Talus based in Dallas, Texas.

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Talus is a payment processing solutions

company serving more than 22, 000

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merchants in North America And process

65 million transactions with $9 billion

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in annual charge, volume, and growing.

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Appointed to her role in July, 2020,

Kim's payments journey began over 35

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years ago, holding leadership roles

and executive positions at companies

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such as Concord, EFS First Data.

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Cynergy Data and JP Morgan.

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Now in our fourth year at Talus, Kim has

spearheaded an aggressive growth strategy

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through acquisitions, leveraging scale

and technology to compete at every level

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in targeted verticals In her quest for

excellence and with an insatiable appetite

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for winning Kim led Talus in capturing

the industry's coveted and prestigious

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ETA Star Awards for Top ISO of the year.

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2024 Recognized as a leader

in the payments industry.

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Kim is the recipient of numerous honors

and accolades throughout her career,

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including voted top 100 global sales

leader in: 2020

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from the Midwest Acquires Association.

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And most recently, American Bankers

named Kim as one of the Most

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Influential Women in Payments for

: 2024

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her corporate undertakings, Kim's

influence extends through her involvement

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with key industry affiliations.

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She served two terms as president of the

Electronic Transaction Association, where

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she was on the board for nearly a decade

and is also past president of the Women

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Networking in Electronic Transactions,

now rebranded as Paytech Women.

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Join us as we dive deep into Kim's journey

with actionable takeaways along the way.

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Enjoy the episode.

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Kim, thanks for joining us and welcome

to the Bridges to Excellence podcast.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: Thank you

for having me, Desmond.

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It's great to see you.

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Desmond Nicholson: Well, it's wonderful

to have you here catching up after

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all these years, I was preparing

for this episode, it occurred to me

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that it was 20 years ago in 2004, we

first met as First Data colleagues.

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And as you may recall, it was

during the transition period

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of Concord EFS into First Data.

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Following the acquisition,

two decades ago, Kim,

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Kim Fitzsimmons: It was a long time and

neither one of us has aged a bit, Desmond.

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Desmond Nicholson: I like that.

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Well, first congratulations, Talus, was

the recent recipient of the prestigious

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Star Awards as the 2024 ISO of the year by

the Electronic Transactions Association.

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Also.

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ETA recognized Talus as one of

the industrie's, top 10 payments

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ISVs for Talus mobile App.

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But wait, there is more.

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American Banker for 2024

recognized you as one of The Most

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Influential Women in Payments.

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I might add, The fourth time

recipient of this honor.

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So to you and your amazing

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Kim Fitzsimmons: you.

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Thank you.

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It's been quite a year and, lots

of honors and recognition and,

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Most of it goes to the team.

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Desmond Nicholson: job.

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Well done

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Kim Fitzsimmons: Thank you.

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Desmond Nicholson: Kim, besides,

uh, well earned bragging rights.

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Do you mind sharing the

significance of these awards?

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That is ISO of the year and the

top 10 payments, ISV category.

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And what is it about your

company's culture that contributes

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to earning these recognitions?

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Kim Fitzsimmons: First of all, I think

that, the awards themselves, to me,

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recognizes that the industry acknowledges

the fact that Talus, is differentiated,

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that we're doing the right things

in the right manner, and that we're

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headed in the right direction, both

from a product and company standpoint,

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but also culturally to your point,

culture is a big underestimated,

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factor within most companies.

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And, uh,

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Desmond Nicholson: with

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Kim Fitzsimmons: have an

amazing culture here at Talus.

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I was fortunate to, join

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Desmond Nicholson: that have

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Kim Fitzsimmons: team and certainly

have added a few sprinkled, a few,

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people that I've worked with over

the years that have only enhanced it.

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Desmond Nicholson: Great.

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against that backdrop,

let's get right into it.

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Kim, can you give us a quick introduction

overview of Talus, your functional role,

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who you serve as customers and partners

in the payments fintech space, after

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which we will then circle back later and

get into more details about the company.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: Absolutely.

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So Talus is a.

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fully integrated end to end

payment services platform.

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What that means is, especially after a

couple of acquisitions that we've done, is

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that we serve anything from the small Main

Street America merchant, all the way up to

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your most complex client, such as a B to B

type merchant, and everything in between.

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in addition, we serve, technology

type companies like SAS based

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engineer firms that are building

out payment facilitation.

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these vertically specific, applications

that a, landscape company might use

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or a field services company might use.

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And what we're doing is giving a better

platform than what they have today.

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So today there's payfacs.

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What we're looking to do is take it to

the next level, better service, better

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transparency around reporting and pricing.

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Desmond Nicholson: Well done.

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Now getting into the personal side,

start by sharing your backstory.

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Your early life, where you grew up

and what your life was like growing

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up and where you attended school.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: I grew up in the Midwest.

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I grew up in St.

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Louis, Missouri.

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born and raised.

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Both my parents were

born and raised in St.

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Louis.

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So, not a whole lot of

relocation from my childhood.

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I'd have to say it was your basic

middle America, mid class, upbringing.

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My parents were very, strict

around certain values and teaching

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me, and as well as my brother,

core values and expectations and

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beliefs, and drive, to be honest.

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That's really where I think it started.

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I had my first job at 14 years old, not

because I was told to or I had to, but

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I just picked up the phone and found

a nursing home and they were the only

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ones that would hire a 14 year old.

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So, aside from babysitting, I've

been working for a long time.

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I went to, school at the

University of Mississippi.

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The main reason that I went

there was because my parents

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forced me to go out of state.

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And at least five hours away for

the first year, they didn't want me

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to go to Mizzou, like the majority

of my friends from high school.

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They wanted me to venture out,

and really find out who I was go

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be independent, learn about life.

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and what it's like to be on your own.

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And I go back and kind of

think about that sometimes.

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And it was difficult.

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getting out of my comfort zone.

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But man, it sure was a

pivotal point in my life.

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I did the same thing to

both of my kids as well.

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Desmond Nicholson: Good.

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How and when did you get into payments?

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Take us through the highlights

of your career progression and

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your respective functional roles.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: Sure.

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So how I got into payments, people

laugh about it, but back in those

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days, I answered an ad in a newspaper.

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I needed a job.

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I had a business degree and

I really just needed a job.

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So I answered an old school

newspaper ad and walked in with my

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paper resume and interviewed with a

company at the time called Concord

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EFS based out of Memphis, Tennessee.

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I worked there, doing nothing

more than telemarketing.

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I had my, what I like to refer to as my

offical, some refer to it as a cubicle,

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but in my mind it was an offical.

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after six months I, gave my notice.

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To at that time, one of my great

mentors at the Ed Labry, because

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I wanted to be in management.

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I wanted to do something different.

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I had another role.

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he likes to remind me that.

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Aren't I glad he didn't let me quit

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Desmond Nicholson: Mm hmm.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: because he moved

me and gave me the opportunity

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to be in management as opposed

to leaving the payments industry.

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And I'm very grateful for that.

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I went from Concord, I did have the

opportunity to have my own ISO with a

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partner for 6 years back in the heyday

of when ISOs were, running rampant

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and early in the late 90s, early 2000

was acquired back by Concord EFS.

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And within 12 months,

that's where you and I met.

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and First Data had bought Concord EFS.

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I worked out the rest of my, contract

term with Concord at First Data.

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Didn't expect to stay there.

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but I was there eight years

and had a tremendous career.

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but after eight years, I decided

it was time to venture out

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and really get uncomfortable

and go do something different.

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So toughest conversation

I ever had to do is.

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Call Ed again and tell him that

I was leaving and going somewhere

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else and I had the opportunity to

go be CEO at Cynergy Data, which was

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private equity backed at the time.

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It was, a little bit of a turnaround.

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We merged it with Priority Payments.

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I took a couple months off after that

to decide what I wanted to do when I

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grow up and was recruited by JP Morgan.

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And spent five and a half years there.

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I never thought I would go back

to a large company cause I had

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so much fun when I was at Cynergy

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Desmond Nicholson: talking

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Kim Fitzsimmons: but I learned

something, when I was at J.

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P.

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Morgan,

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Desmond Nicholson: to

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Kim Fitzsimmons: wanted

international experience.

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Desmond Nicholson: wanted

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Kim Fitzsimmons: and I also wanted

to learn more end to end payments.

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Desmond Nicholson: in

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Kim Fitzsimmons: just acquiring,

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Desmond Nicholson: I

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Kim Fitzsimmons: which I did and

JPMorgan, of course, goes without

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saying is a tremendous company,

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Desmond Nicholson: but

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Kim Fitzsimmons: culture,

great leadership.

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Desmond Nicholson: do

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Kim Fitzsimmons: but I found myself.

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Desmond Nicholson: left in search of

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Kim Fitzsimmons: running that speed boat

and exercising my decision making muscles.

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So once again, I, left in search of

what I wanted to do with my next, career

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and came upon, Alvarez and Marsal was

looking for a leader here at, Talus

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Desmond Nicholson: of an

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Kim Fitzsimmons: and they

recruiter called me and

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Desmond Nicholson: I'll

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Kim Fitzsimmons: oddly enough,

it was seven exits from my

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house here in Dallas, Texas.

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And it was exactly what I was looking for.

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So I was very blessed.

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And, it's been four years this past Monday

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Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

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it's July, 2020.

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You're now the CEO of Talus Pay.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: in the midst of COVID.

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Desmond Nicholson: might add, yes,

in the midst of COVID 19 pandemic,

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a period of great uncertainty and

chaos, a challenging time for any

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CEO, especially an incoming CEO.

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So what was your first impression

the company when you arrived?

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Kim Fitzsimmons: So first thing

is, as you and anybody else that

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knows me, I'm a people person.

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So I quickly recognized that

the incumbent team, was amazing.

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I had a great set of existing talent,

but they had been in an interim

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kind of influx status for a while.

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They just wanted a vision and.

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some leadership and they

were hungry for that.

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so that was my first impression.

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Great team.

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The second thing was, there's literally

zero sales engine because they had,

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taken the opportunity as a result of

COVID to change the model completely.

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It used to be an old hundred

percent telesales to agent.

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kind of churn and burn type model.

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and it was time to change that.

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So they took the opportunity to do that.

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So when I showed up, there was no

organic growth, no go to market strategy.

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It was exactly what I wanted.

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a clean slate.

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And from there, it has been, one brick

and one block at a time of building that

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organic growth strategy out over different

distribution channels, and acquisitions,

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Desmond Nicholson: Your diverse payments

industry experiences at that time you

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joined Talus were bag of small, medium

sized to large companies, the likes of

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EFS, Card Services, your entrepreneurial

venture, Concord, First Data, and JP

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Morgan, and of course, Cynergy Data.

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Now, with that being said, What were some

fundamental lessons learned along the way

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that prepared and shaped how you approach

your role at Talus in the beginning?

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Kim Fitzsimmons: I am a master and try

to challenge myself, no matter what role

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I've been in, I always want to learn.

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So I am a constant, learner

in constant learning mode.

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And I would say that over the

course of time, there's a couple of

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principles, that I have, carried with

me, a being fair and transparent.

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Never underestimating

the power of culture.

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I'm not a micromanager, but

it is important at every role

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to understand the details.

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We have a saying here, and, of

course, being private equity

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backed, they, also have the same

mantra is if you don't measure it.

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It doesn't usually get done.

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So that's always the discipline that

I've had and carried with me here

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as well is what are we measuring?

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Let's make sure we've got

the right KPIs in place.

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We're measuring them and we're

executing against those and not

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being afraid to change along the way.

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Desmond Nicholson: From what I've

read, when you first arrived at

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Talus, inorganic growth has always

been part of your strategy to

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gain size, scale, and technology.

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and todate, you have executed accordingly

with some recent acquisitions.

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With that in mind, to us about

Talus's acquired Jobox, AI, and

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the recent acquisition of Clarus.

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value do they bring respectively

to Talus's portfolio?

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most importantly, how do they

serve your customers and partners?

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Kim Fitzsimmons: As I had said, went four

years, we spent the first two years or

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so really just focused on organic growth,

but you're right, inorganic growth is

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always something that we were looking for.

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we really spent a lot of time.

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Looking for the right acquisitions,

Clarus, we ended up closing 2 of them

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in the 4th quarter of the same year.

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Clarus was the 1st 1 in October Jobox.

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A.

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I was the 2nd 1 in December of 2023.

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they were strategically important

to us for a couple of reasons.

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They brought some vertical concentration

around field services industry from

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Clarus, having, Large national retailer,

ABC Supply, as well as many other building

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distribution type partners and companies.

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And then Jobox AI, their technology

was originally focused on that

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vertical on field services.

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So the 2 of them together

were an ideal match.

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and I'm thrilled that we were

able to execute both of them.

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They're both great on

standalone, but together.

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it's been great.

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Desmond Nicholson: Having the

consolidation of Jobox and Clarus,

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and of course the associated

synergies, what is it about?

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Talus is go to market proposition that

differentiate Talus among competitors.

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Kim Fitzsimmons: Again, it's

the technology we are post

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the Jobox AI, acquisition.

319

: 00:18:32

We are truly an integrated

payments platform and we're

320

: 00:18:38

taking it to the next level.

321

: 00:18:39

So.

322

: 00:18:40

Step 1 is to go and really go deep

and narrow and deep in that field

323

: 00:18:46

services technology, but then step 2

is branching out into other industry

324

: 00:18:51

verticals and expanding that technology.

325

: 00:18:54

But even more.

326

: 00:18:56

the payment facilitation model has

been around for a couple of years now.

327

: 00:19:01

Lots of, companies have made, tremendous

headway, in successful, acquisitions

328

: 00:19:08

of merchants, tens of thousands and

hundreds of thousands of merchants

329

: 00:19:12

through the payment facilitation model.

330

: 00:19:15

What we've found is that

there's a gap there.

331

: 00:19:17

And so we're taking our technology and

looking to improve upon that payment

332

: 00:19:23

facilitation model and actually go

directly to the SAAS based developers and

333

: 00:19:30

engineers and give them an alternative

solution with better transparent

334

: 00:19:35

pricing, more profitable pricing and

complete transparency around reporting.

335

: 00:19:43

Can't disclose a whole lot more, but

we're definitely on the right path

336

: 00:19:46

and it's really an exciting time.

337

: 00:19:48

Desmond Nicholson: I got you.

338

: 00:19:49

The company recently announced it

will be conducting business going

339

: 00:19:52

forward using the master brand

name Talus instead of Talus Pay.

340

: 00:19:58

What is the premise behind

this rebranding initiative?

341

: 00:20:02

Kim Fitzsimmons: Yeah, so the premise is

really around just brand recognition and

342

: 00:20:05

having that overarching umbrella brand

of Talus and taking the Jobox app and

343

: 00:20:11

rebranding it as Talus Pay as a sub brand.

344

: 00:20:16

if you look at a lot of the other

major companies, apples, a great

345

: 00:20:19

example of that with the umbrella

brand and, not that we will ever

346

: 00:20:23

have the home recognition and name

recognition as Apple does, but it's that

347

: 00:20:28

same theory and concept is that we've

got a family of brands all under Talus.

348

: 00:20:35

Desmond Nicholson:

Okay, let's switch gears

349

: 00:20:38

Kim Fitzsimmons: Okay.

350

: 00:20:40

Desmond Nicholson: Obviously there

are all kinds of leadership styles.

351

: 00:20:43

How would you describe your style of

leadership the philosophy behind it?

352

: 00:20:47

Okay.

353

: 00:20:49

Kim Fitzsimmons: I'm not a micromanager.

354

: 00:20:52

I operate at a hundred thousand

foot level as well as the details.

355

: 00:20:57

So I will, manage from top to bottom.

356

: 00:21:00

I do consider myself to be

fair, extremely transparent.

357

: 00:21:04

Those are words you'll

hear me use over and over.

358

: 00:21:07

I think it's important for every

employee to know the state of

359

: 00:21:11

the business and how we're doing.

360

: 00:21:13

So I have regular communication,

town halls, Monday emails that go

361

: 00:21:18

out to the team, letting them know,

this is how we're doing financially.

362

: 00:21:23

no matter what your role,

I think that's important.

363

: 00:21:27

Desmond Nicholson: Now, over the

years, CEOs and business leaders

364

: 00:21:30

have shared their thoughts on

the phrase work life balance.

365

: 00:21:34

What does that mean to you?

366

: 00:21:36

And would you phrase it differently?

367

: 00:21:39

Kim Fitzsimmons: I wouldn't

phrase it any differently.

368

: 00:21:41

I, preach work life balance.

369

: 00:21:43

people on the team, when

they take vacation, I don't

370

: 00:21:46

expect to see them on email.

371

: 00:21:48

I think it's important

for individuals to unplug.

372

: 00:21:52

I think they're better when

they come back to work.

373

: 00:21:54

if they don't take time to completely

unplug, they're gonna get burned out.

374

: 00:21:59

I also think that it's important to have

spouses, family, partners, whomever,

375

: 00:22:08

when you're with them on a vacation,

they deserve that individual's time

376

: 00:22:14

and attention, and if you don't have

that from the supporting cast at

377

: 00:22:19

home, it also impacts the individual

employee when they come back to work.

378

: 00:22:25

Desmond Nicholson: What aspect of

your personality do you think has

379

: 00:22:28

been the most helpful in your career?

380

: 00:22:32

Kim Fitzsimmons: Besides having red hair

and being pretty tenacious, I've had a

381

: 00:22:36

couple people say, especially on the sales

aspect side, when I talk, we have new

382

: 00:22:41

hires that come in and, we do training

classes and I get to talk to them and,

383

: 00:22:46

I tell them I've never heard the word.

384

: 00:22:47

No, in my entire career.

385

: 00:22:50

Probably my entire life.

386

: 00:22:51

My mother would say, I

never heard the word.

387

: 00:22:54

No, I may process it is not right now.

388

: 00:22:58

but I do have a tenacity.

389

: 00:23:00

for lack of a better word, I believe

I, have a drive and a compassion

390

: 00:23:04

for just continuing to move forward

one foot in front of the other.

391

: 00:23:08

And I'm an odd bird, Desmond.

392

: 00:23:10

I actually enjoy change.

393

: 00:23:14

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

394

: 00:23:15

what has been your biggest challenge

as you climb the corporate ladder?

395

: 00:23:20

Kim Fitzsimmons: I'd say,

that's a sensitive one.

396

: 00:23:23

sadly, I'd say it's still, the lack of

diversity and inclusion of thought, it

397

: 00:23:32

doesn't happen often, but I think it still

does happen where I may be discounted

398

: 00:23:38

because of my gender out of the gate until

somebody gets to know me and the fact

399

: 00:23:45

that I do know what I'm talking about.

400

: 00:23:47

so that's been a challenge.

401

: 00:23:48

I do see it diminishing, but

it's something that we all

402

: 00:23:51

still need to, everybody.

403

: 00:23:53

needs to work on.

404

: 00:23:55

And I think about, diversity and

inclusion, not just as checking boxes, but

405

: 00:23:59

it's the inclusion part of thinking about

our unconscious biases, and really just

406

: 00:24:04

being more open to diversity of thought.

407

: 00:24:08

Desmond Nicholson: Good.

408

: 00:24:09

We've touched on this earlier,

but I've got to ask the question

409

: 00:24:13

this way, what role mentorship

play in your professional life?

410

: 00:24:18

And does any one person come to mind?

411

: 00:24:22

Kim Fitzsimmons: I've had several

mentors, and advocates as well.

412

: 00:24:25

I do think there's a difference

between mentors and advocates.

413

: 00:24:28

certainly I mentioned Ed Labry

he kept me from quitting.

414

: 00:24:31

35, 34 and a half years ago.

415

: 00:24:34

Diane Vogt Faro is another one

that was a huge mentor, and

416

: 00:24:38

critical person in my career path.

417

: 00:24:41

she basically told me to

get out of my own way.

418

: 00:24:46

she's the one that encouraged me to

get out in the industry outside of.

419

: 00:24:50

the company and the four walls

that, at First Data build my own

420

: 00:24:54

brand, get my name out there.

421

: 00:24:57

So she was a huge advocate.

422

: 00:24:59

and then of course, I always go back

to my parents that just instilled

423

: 00:25:02

those core principles and values in me.

424

: 00:25:06

Desmond Nicholson: Okay,

let's talk about networking.

425

: 00:25:08

How important have your networks

and connections been in your

426

: 00:25:13

career and overall success?

427

: 00:25:15

Kim Fitzsimmons: Extremely important.

428

: 00:25:16

the old phrase of it is who, you

know, sometimes, it's not what you

429

: 00:25:20

know, but who, you know, that is true.

430

: 00:25:23

it's true throughout your career, no

matter, how long you've been at it.

431

: 00:25:27

sometimes I'll get, somebody to answer

the phone because I know them, and they

432

: 00:25:32

know me of my reputation or what have you.

433

: 00:25:35

So I think a network is critical

to anybody's career path.

434

: 00:25:40

Desmond Nicholson: Is there a

common theme in your career?

435

: 00:25:42

And if so, threads can we find between

the various things you have done?

436

: 00:25:49

Kim Fitzsimmons: I go

back to probably change.

437

: 00:25:52

I'm not afraid of change.

438

: 00:25:54

I actually embrace it.

439

: 00:25:55

a lot of times people think about a career

path is straight up a career ladder.

440

: 00:26:01

I tend to pay it forward and

do a lot of mentorship myself.

441

: 00:26:05

I enjoy that and the first thing

that I tell people is that the

442

: 00:26:10

career ladder is not a straight line.

443

: 00:26:12

It is typically zigzags.

444

: 00:26:15

and my career path has done that.

445

: 00:26:17

sometimes I would be in the same role and

just take on additional responsibility.

446

: 00:26:23

So, not being afraid to get out of

my comfort zone, I think is a common

447

: 00:26:28

theme, not being afraid of change.

448

: 00:26:30

And challenges, and really just

taking things head on, believing in

449

: 00:26:34

myself, if not me, who, if I don't

believe in myself, and if you don't

450

: 00:26:39

believe in yourself, Desmond, who

else is going to believe in us,

451

: 00:26:42

Desmond Nicholson: Words of wisdom.

452

: 00:26:45

Now, keeping in mind two of your

most recent accolades, achievements.

453

: 00:26:50

they are ETA star award for 2024 ISO

of the year, American banker,: 2024

454

: 00:26:57

most influential women in payments.

455

: 00:26:59

Fourth time, I might add, in your opinion,

what are some key factors that make the

456

: 00:27:05

difference when it comes to winning?

457

: 00:27:10

Kim Fitzsimmons: Certainly,

my reputation, my career path,

458

: 00:27:13

and I have been successful.

459

: 00:27:15

I've been very blessed to

have a successful career.

460

: 00:27:18

I also think it is the network

going back to networking.

461

: 00:27:21

if Diane, Faro had not told me to

get out of my own way and go build my

462

: 00:27:27

brand within the industry, I don't know

that, anybody from American, Bankers

463

: 00:27:32

would have even known who I was.

464

: 00:27:33

So, I think it is networking, and then

certainly you have to have a successful

465

: 00:27:38

career and, a good reputation, one

of the core founding principles in

466

: 00:27:43

business is, both personal and business.

467

: 00:27:45

I think most people learned in either

Sunday school or elementary school.

468

: 00:27:50

And it's the golden rule of

just doing unto others as

469

: 00:27:53

you want them to do unto you.

470

: 00:27:54

And I lived my life that way.

471

: 00:27:57

Desmond Nicholson: Given your experience,

what advice would you give to women just

472

: 00:28:00

coming into the payments fintech industry?

473

: 00:28:04

Kim Fitzsimmons: I mentor a lot of

women, as I had said, I would give them

474

: 00:28:07

the same advice that Diane gave me.

475

: 00:28:10

Go build your network, look for mentors

and advocates, really advocates within

476

: 00:28:15

your internal organization, look

for mentors, not just internally,

477

: 00:28:20

but externally it takes time.

478

: 00:28:23

And as we know, most women

are wives and mothers.

479

: 00:28:27

So they have other

responsibilities outside of work.

480

: 00:28:30

So asking them to do something outside

extracurricular may or may not be

481

: 00:28:36

the right time, but it's important

to get out there and, be involved

482

: 00:28:40

in Paytech Women and ETA and other

organizations, even outside of payment.

483

: 00:28:46

Get involved in local chambers of

commerce or local women networks or

484

: 00:28:51

any network, but just be involved.

485

: 00:28:56

Desmond Nicholson: What can women

in the payments industry do to

486

: 00:28:58

advance when they feel stuck in

a place on the career ladder?

487

: 00:29:05

Kim Fitzsimmons: They can

always look for an advocate.

488

: 00:29:09

the other thing, and I'll probably

rephrase it a little bit, answer your

489

: 00:29:12

question that you probably didn't ask,

but because I'm a strong advocate for

490

: 00:29:18

women and advancement, I think it's

got to be the woman has to know what

491

: 00:29:24

it is when we go circle back to work

life balance, what's most important

492

: 00:29:28

to her, and understanding her own

personal desire for success, and not

493

: 00:29:35

let other outside influences tell her.

494

: 00:29:39

What that definition

of success looks like.

495

: 00:29:42

So I will give you an example.

496

: 00:29:44

My career didn't really take off

because I didn't travel a whole

497

: 00:29:49

lot when my kids were younger.

498

: 00:29:50

That was a personal choice.

499

: 00:29:52

I didn't want to.

500

: 00:29:54

miss out when they were younger.

501

: 00:29:56

Could I have done more if

I had done that sooner?

502

: 00:29:59

Maybe, maybe not.

503

: 00:30:01

I've been blessed, but I absolutely

would tell every woman to make sure

504

: 00:30:05

that she knows what is important to her

and her personal definition of success.

505

: 00:30:12

Desmond Nicholson: Good.

506

: 00:30:13

what do you see as the biggest threat

to the payments industry right now?

507

: 00:30:17

And conversely, what is

the biggest opportunity?

508

: 00:30:22

Kim Fitzsimmons: So the biggest

opportunity of course, is technology.

509

: 00:30:25

That's obvious frictionless

payments, embedded payments, we

510

: 00:30:29

as consumers demand immediate.

511

: 00:30:32

ease frictionless.

512

: 00:30:34

We don't even want to know

that we're making a payment.

513

: 00:30:36

It needs to be seamless

and behind the scenes.

514

: 00:30:40

I think, technology is also the biggest,

threat because of things are moving so

515

: 00:30:45

rapidly, we had the big, technology snafu

this morning, that impacted industries,

516

: 00:30:51

airlines, banks around the world.

517

: 00:30:53

So I think technology can

also be the biggest threat.

518

: 00:30:56

I think the biggest opportunity,

however, is artificial intelligence.

519

: 00:31:01

And when we think about the use of

artificial intelligence in the way of

520

: 00:31:05

security, risk management, preventive,

proactive retention type efforts,

521

: 00:31:11

when you're thinking about your

business, attrition rates, I think

522

: 00:31:15

artificial intelligence is definitely

a huge opportunity, as well as, APIs.

523

: 00:31:20

Desmond Nicholson: me is

524

: 00:31:22

Kim Fitzsimmons: API technology, and I am

the furthest thing from a technologist.

525

: 00:31:26

Desmond Nicholson: reflect

526

: 00:31:27

Kim Fitzsimmons: to me is like

cut and paste, but it does provide

527

: 00:31:32

Desmond Nicholson: enable,

528

: 00:31:32

Kim Fitzsimmons: a seamless

529

: 00:31:33

Desmond Nicholson: can

530

: 00:31:34

Kim Fitzsimmons: companies like ours to

be able to embed things besides payments,

531

: 00:31:40

Desmond Nicholson: um,

532

: 00:31:41

Kim Fitzsimmons: deposit accounts,

533

: 00:31:42

Desmond Nicholson: it

534

: 00:31:43

Kim Fitzsimmons: insurance,

535

: 00:31:44

Desmond Nicholson: the world of

536

: 00:31:46

Kim Fitzsimmons: Like you can

run a business and seamlessly

537

: 00:31:49

embed mobile wallets.

538

: 00:31:52

Any type of, P2P type transactions.

539

: 00:31:57

It just opens up the world of what could

be the possibility, beyond payments.

540

: 00:32:03

Behind acquiring, right?

541

: 00:32:04

Credit and debit.

542

: 00:32:06

Desmond Nicholson: Indeed.

543

: 00:32:08

what are you most excited

about Talu's future?

544

: 00:32:13

Kim Fitzsimmons: I am most

excited about our roadmap.

545

: 00:32:16

The acquisitions that we have done in

the fourth quarter, that I referenced,

546

: 00:32:22

we are in execution mode head down.

547

: 00:32:25

We've got a game plan and

a strategy, and we are just

548

: 00:32:30

crushing it, building a pipeline.

549

: 00:32:32

And it is just really exciting.

550

: 00:32:36

I don't want to divulge too much,

but we are in the midst of really.

551

: 00:32:41

Turning out something I think will

be a little bit different than

552

: 00:32:46

what's the norm in the industry.

553

: 00:32:48

Desmond Nicholson: Well,

looking forward to that.

554

: 00:32:50

us in suspense.

555

: 00:32:52

what keeps Kim up at night?

556

: 00:32:56

Kim Fitzsimmons: get an average

of four to five hours of

557

: 00:32:58

sleep a night on a good night.

558

: 00:33:00

It's never uninterrupted.

559

: 00:33:02

So, you know, two hours in a

clip, what keeps me up, it varies.

560

: 00:33:08

So there's always something going

on personally or professionally

561

: 00:33:12

that will keep my wheels turning.

562

: 00:33:15

And then the other piece of it, if

there's not something that's keeping my

563

: 00:33:18

wheels turning, then it's the excitement,

excitement about the next day and what

564

: 00:33:25

lies ahead around the corner the next day.

565

: 00:33:27

I'm a pretty, excited, happy person

about waking up in the morning and let my

566

: 00:33:31

feet hit the ground and off and running.

567

: 00:33:34

Desmond Nicholson: Good.

568

: 00:33:35

given your distinguished career and

stellar accomplishments so far, and

569

: 00:33:41

with so much more runway ahead of you,

I had to ask this question, Kim, who

570

: 00:33:48

do you ultimately aspire to become?

571

: 00:33:51

Kim Fitzsimmons: I don't know if

it's who, but what I never say never.

572

: 00:33:54

I've learned that in my career.

573

: 00:33:56

I'd like to take my experiences that

I have honed my skill sets and I'd

574

: 00:34:03

like to take them beyond payment.

575

: 00:34:05

So, potentially serving on different

boards in an advisory capacity or

576

: 00:34:10

a board of directors capacity I see

so many times companies that really

577

: 00:34:17

truly don't know how to motivate.

578

: 00:34:20

individual team members, especially

sales growth oriented companies.

579

: 00:34:27

and so I think, I'd like to take my

experience in being able to motivate

580

: 00:34:32

individuals, being able to architect a

compensation and incentive type plans

581

: 00:34:38

beyond outside of the payments industry.

582

: 00:34:42

Desmond Nicholson: We'll be right back.,

583

: 00:34:44

The lightning round bridges to

excellence inspired leadership

584

: 00:34:48

in payments and fintech.

585

: 00:34:51

Desmond Nicholson: Kim, lightning round.

586

: 00:34:54

Kim Fitzsimmons: Okay.

587

: 00:34:56

Desmond Nicholson: I pose the following

rapid fire questions and you respond

588

: 00:34:59

with a single word or a sentence or two.

589

: 00:35:03

What does success mean to you?

590

: 00:35:06

Kim Fitzsimmons: That my

children are productive adults.

591

: 00:35:11

Desmond Nicholson: What is the

one thing you have never done,

592

: 00:35:13

but I've always dreamt of doing?

593

: 00:35:17

Kim Fitzsimmons: skydiving.

594

: 00:35:18

I don't know that I ever

will, but skydiving.

595

: 00:35:21

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

596

: 00:35:22

What is the best career

advice you have ever received?

597

: 00:35:26

Kim Fitzsimmons: It was the advice

from Diane Faro get out of my way,

598

: 00:35:30

go build my brand, go network.

599

: 00:35:33

Desmond Nicholson: How would you

define yourself in one or two words?

600

: 00:35:38

Kim Fitzsimmons: Driven,

601

: 00:35:40

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

602

: 00:35:41

Kim Fitzsimmons: driven, driven.

603

: 00:35:45

Desmond Nicholson: What is the

one talent you wish you had?

604

: 00:35:49

Kim Fitzsimmons: Gosh, that's a tough one.

605

: 00:35:50

one talent I wish, I wish I could sing.

606

: 00:35:55

Desmond Nicholson: What is the cause

that is important to you and why?

607

: 00:36:00

Kim Fitzsimmons: St.

608

: 00:36:00

Jude has always been,

an important charity.

609

: 00:36:03

for me primarily, I spent

28 years in Memphis.

610

: 00:36:06

most recently it has a personal,

meaning, my boyfriend of three years

611

: 00:36:11

lost his son to cancer at the age of 17.

612

: 00:36:14

cancer is a horrible disease.

613

: 00:36:17

And it really truly is just not

something that a child should go through.

614

: 00:36:22

Desmond Nicholson: What is one

thing the people you work with

615

: 00:36:25

would be surprised to learn?

616

: 00:36:28

Kim Fitzsimmons: Oh gosh.

617

: 00:36:28

They'd probably be surprised to

learn how much reality TV I watch.

618

: 00:36:32

That's my mental escape from everything.

619

: 00:36:36

Desmond Nicholson: Okay.

620

: 00:36:36

And finally, what drives Kim?

621

: 00:36:40

Kim Fitzsimmons: My family,

the people around me, my team.

622

: 00:36:44

I really get a lot of, pleasure,

self satisfaction from seeing

623

: 00:36:49

others succeed, and their happiness.

624

: 00:36:53

That's what drives me.

625

: 00:36:58

Desmond Nicholson: Now, Kim,

it's been great catching up

626

: 00:37:01

and having you on the show.

627

: 00:37:03

there anything you want to add

or we didn't mention that it's

628

: 00:37:06

important for you to talk about?

629

: 00:37:09

Kim Fitzsimmons: I don't know,

Desmond, I don't think so.

630

: 00:37:11

I think you covered the gamut.

631

: 00:37:12

It's been great catching

up with you as well.

632

: 00:37:15

really, really proud of, everything

that you have going on here

633

: 00:37:18

with Bridges to Excellence.

634

: 00:37:19

it's tremendous.

635

: 00:37:20

I appreciate you inviting me,

to just chit chat with you.

636

: 00:37:24

Desmond Nicholson: Kim, again.

637

: 00:37:26

We thank you and that's our

conversation for this week.

638

: 00:37:30

Our guest, Kimberly Fitzsimons, CEO of

Talus payment technology your business.

639

: 00:37:37

And to our listeners, as always,

thank you for your time and never

640

: 00:37:41

forget the more you expect from

yourself, the more you excel.

641

: 00:37:48

You've been listening to Bridges

to Excellence podcast, inspired

642

: 00:37:52

leadership and payments and fintech.

643

: 00:37:54

Be sure to join us next time for more

conversations with another of your

644

: 00:37:58

colleagues in payments and fintech.

645

: 00:38:01

Insightful conversations in their

journey to excellence for transcripts

646

: 00:38:05

and other materials covered on the show.

647

: 00:38:07

Visit us at DesmondNicholson.

648

: 00:38:09

com.

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