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Payments between us goes beyond the technology, products and transactions to meet the people behind the payments industry. The people building it, challenging it, changing it, and learning along the way.

In each episode, Roger sits down with professionals, founders, leaders and experts from across the payments ecosystem for candid conversations about their careers, experiences, successes, mistakes and the ideas shaping the future of payments.

Latest Episodes

Inside the Architecture of Modern Payments | Lucian Lauritz

In this episode of Payments Between Us, I sit down with Lucian Lauritz, a payments architect responsible for acquiring solutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, to explore the complexity behind modern payment systems. Lucian shares his journey from computer science into payments and explains why designing payment infrastructure requires understanding much more than individual technologies. We discuss why payments are mission-critical, how solution architects approach complex systems, and why good architecture must support both today's business needs and tomorrow's opportunities. Lucian also shares his perspective on collaboration between product managers, architects, engineers, and business teams, and why communication is essential when designing payment solutions that need to operate across different countries, regulations, and technical environments. We explore the role of Nexo standards in improving payment interoperability, the challenges of balancing common standards with local requirements, and why standardization matters for the future of payment infrastructure. We also discuss how artificial intelligence is changing payment architecture, from accelerating technical research to supporting complex decisions, and why human judgment and expertise remain essential.

Why Modernizing Payments Is More Than Technology | Jose Esteban Plaza

In this episode of Payments Between Us, I sit down with Jose Plaza to explore the realities of payment transformation, the challenges of modernizing banking infrastructure, and why successful projects depend on much more than technology. Jose's journey into payments wasn't planned. After leaving Venezuela and moving to Panama in 2014, he started as a junior analyst with no practical experience in banking or payments. Faced with a nine-month deadline to certify debit and credit cards with Mastercard, he had to learn quickly, relying on experienced colleagues, technical manuals, and plenty of late nights. That experience helped shape a career spanning payment technology, banking transformation, and international consulting. We discuss how payment systems have evolved, how the pandemic accelerated demand for digital and contactless payments, and why different regions continue to face very different challenges. Jose also shares his perspective on modernizing banking platforms without unnecessarily replacing systems that already work. From authorization and settlement to compliance and risk management, we explore why successful transformation requires understanding what actually needs to change. But technology is only part of the conversation. We discuss the importance of bridging business and technical teams, why communication and soft skills are essential in complex payment projects, and how consultants can help translate business requirements into practical technical solutions.

Inside Brazil's Payments Revolution | Gisela Delamain

In this episode of Payments Between Us, I sit down with Gisela Delamain to explore Brazil's rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem, the success of PIX, and how innovation, regulation, and collaboration are shaping the future of payments. With experience spanning traditional banking, fintech, and international business development, Gisela brings a unique perspective on the transformation of Brazil's financial services industry and the opportunities for stronger connections between Brazil and Europe. We discuss how PIX has changed the way consumers and businesses make payments, why adoption has been so successful, and what European markets could learn from Brazil's approach to instant payments. Gisela also shares her insights into the growth of digital banks and fintechs in Brazil, the importance of regulation in enabling innovation, and the potential for real-time cross-border payments. But our conversation goes beyond payment technology. We explore the challenges of expanding into international markets, the importance of understanding local cultures and building trusted relationships, and why having the right people on the ground can make a significant difference when entering a new market. We also discuss the opportunities created by open finance, particularly in improving access to financial services, credit assessment, and risk management.

Why Every Business Needs a Payment Strategy | Viktoria Soltesz

In this episode of Payments Between Us, I sit down with Viktoria Soltesz, payments and banking expert, author, educator, and founder of the Soltesz Institute, to explore why payments should be treated as a strategic business function rather than simply an operational necessity. With extensive experience across banking, accounting, fintech, and payment consulting, Viktoria brings a unique perspective on how money moves through businesses and why understanding the bigger picture is essential for making better financial decisions. We discuss what a payment strategy actually looks like, how businesses can evaluate and negotiate with payment providers, and why relying too heavily on a single provider can create significant financial and operational risks. Viktoria also shares her insights into the complexities of the global banking system, the impact of regulation and sanctions, and why understanding financial flows is becoming increasingly important for businesses operating internationally. But our conversation goes beyond payment technology and business strategy. We explore the growing need for independent education, professional standards, and certifications in the payments industry. Viktoria shares the vision behind the Soltesz Institute and the EU MBA in Payments and Banking, and why she believes education and industry collaboration are essential for the future of financial services

The Future of Money: Stablecoins, CBDCs, Tokenization & Payments | Michael Boevink

In this episode of Payments Between Us, I sit down with Michael Boevink for a conversation about how payments have evolved, and where they're heading next. We explore the journey from traditional payment systems to blockchain, tokenization and stablecoins, and discuss whether these technologies can genuinely make moving money faster, simpler and more efficient. Michael shares his perspective on the growing role of stablecoins in global payments, the tokenization of assets, and what Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) could mean for the future of money. We also discuss the challenges that come with innovation: regulation, trust, compliance and the difficulty of creating frameworks that work across borders.

What Really Makes Payments Work? | Daniela Moellers

In this episode, I sit down with Daniela Moellers, a digital payments specialist with extensive experience in negotiations, card schemes and the European payments landscape. From the evolution of payments in Germany and the emergence of Wero, to regulation, product development and international business, Daniela shares lessons and perspectives from her career in payments. But we also go beyond the technology, talking about trust, negotiation, cultural differences and why human connection still matters in business.