The Ripple Effect: How Women’s Leadership in Payments Drives Global Economic Growth
I sat on a recent panel with Andrea Robinette of Bank of America and Mudita Tiwari of PayPal, and I was reminded of a truth we too often overlook: when women lead, economies transform.
The data doesn’t lie. During our discussion, Mudita shared groundbreaking research from her work with the Gates Foundation and World Bank in Uttar Pradesh, India. When women were given access to tailored financial literacy programs and savings tools, they saved an average of 1,000 rupees (a significant sum locally) within a year. And those savings went right back into things like healthcare, education, and small businesses. This isn’t just anecdotal evidence of how women can drive economic growth when given the opportunity. It’s empirical proof of a multiplier effect. Women don’t just lift households—they lift entire communities.
Why Women’s Leadership Unlocks Macro Impact
During our discussion, Andrea echoed this, emphasizing how collaborative leadership—transcending the “me” for the “we”—creates systems where information sharing and mentorship become growth engines. At Bank of America, her focus on “zooming in” on details while “zooming out” on big-picture goals has led to payment solutions that serve niche markets as well as the mainstream.
Mudita’s journey at PayPal has also been signposted by this ethos. From architecting developer experiences to now leading wallet solutions, she’s driven by a philosophy of “inclusivity by design”—building products that address edge cases, not just common ones. PayPal’s global reach means these solutions don’t just empower women in Silicon Valley boardrooms; they enable a mother in Nairobi to save for her child’s education or a small-business owner in Manila to accept cross-border payments.
Infrastructure as a Launch Pad
When it comes to my own journey, I’m proud that Boku sits at the intersection of these efforts. Our global payment infrastructure—spanning 70+ countries and 250+ local payment methods—isn’t just about moving money. It’s about dismantling barriers for the 1.4 billion unbanked adults worldwide, 56% of whom are women.
Take our work in emerging markets like Indonesia and Nigeria, where non-card payment innovations (e.g., direct carrier billing, mobile wallets) are bridging gaps for women entrepreneurs excluded by traditional banking. By partnering with local fintechs and merchants, we’re creating rails that align with how women already transact—digitally, flexibly, and community-first.
As VP of Global Partnerships, I’ve seen firsthand how collaborations driven by diversity result in progress. Whether it’s aligning with NGOs to co-design financial literacy tools or working with telecom giants to lower remittance costs, our approach mirrors Andrea’s mantra: “Lift others up, and outcomes follow.”
Invest in Women, Ignite Economies
The panel left me with two convictions:
- Women’s leadership isn’t a “niche” topic—it’s the backbone of sustainable economic growth.
- Inclusive payment systems are a lever, not just an outcome.
To my peers in payments: let’s stop asking if women belong at the helm and start asking how we can amplify their impact. Support policies that close the 17% gender pay gap in fintech. Build products with maternal health stipends or childcare subsidies baked into payroll systems.
As Mudita wisely noted, “Time isn’t linear.” The ripple effects of today’s investments in women will shape economies for generations. Let’s make those ripples waves.
To continue the conversation about women in payments and fraud prevention, join the WPF Luncheons at MRC Barcelona 2025 and MRC São Paulo 2025.
Tracy Prandi-Yuen
Tracy leads Boku’s global merchant partnerships, leveraging 20+ years of experience across Visa, Meta, and emerging markets. Under her leadership, Boku has forged alliances with Fortune 500 retailers and hyperlocal fintechs alike, united by a mission to make payments equitable.
About Boku Inc.
Boku helps people pay the way they want to by building a global network of localised payment solutions including digital wallets, direct carrier billing, and account to account / real-time payments schemes. Boku’s global payments network now includes over 300 local payment methods worldwide, reaching over 7.5 billion consumer payment accounts in more than 90 countries. Boku works with the world’s largest merchants including Amazon, Google, Spotify, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Tencent and Sky, helping them to grow their businesses in every corner of the globe.
Boku Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in the US, India, Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, and Vietnam. To learn more about Boku, please visit our website at boku.com.
