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Ann Cairns is the Executive Vice Chair of Mastercard, representing the company and brand around the world. As a senior ambassador and executive leader, she brings inclusion, diversity, and innovation to the forefront not just within Mastercard, but around the world, building new global...
Ann Cairns is the Executive Vice Chair of Mastercard, representing the company and brand around the world. As a senior ambassador and executive leader, she brings inclusion, diversity, and innovation to the forefront not just within Mastercard, but around the world, building new global partnerships with governments, businesses, and NGOs. PowerToFly is thrilled to partner with The Washington Post to present this intimate conversation.
Ann Cairns is the Executive Vice Chair of Mastercard, representing the company and brand around the world. As a senior ambassador and executive leader, she brings inclusion, diversity, and innovation to the forefront not just within Mastercard, but around the world, building new global partnerships with governments, businesses and NGOs. With a background in engineering affording her exceptional technological acumen and early-career leadership opportunities, Ann excels at both managing change caused by external factors and driving change through innovation and advocacy.
Prior to taking the Executive Vice Chair role, Ann was President of International Markets, managing all customer-related activities worldwide, guiding the company’s expansion into new and diverse geographies, opening up new customer segments, and embracing the digital revolution with her focus safety, security and convenience.
Before joining Mastercard, Ann headed the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal in London, where she led the European team managing Lehman Brothers Holdings International through the Chapter 11 process. She also helped restructure banks across Europe including Ireland & Iceland.
Her additional senior leadership experience includes a tenure as CEO of Transaction Banking at ABN-AMRO and 15 years in senior operational positions at Citigroup.
She began her career as an award-winning research engineer, moving through the ranks to become the Head of Offshore Engineer-Planning for British Gas; Ann was the first woman qualified to go offshore in Britain.
She is chair of ICE Clear Europe, global co-chair of the 30% Club, chair of Financial Alliance for Women and a member of the UK Government’s AI council.
I’m a lawyer in an international law firm. Although my boss (supervising Partner) recognizes my value, all the important briefs are assigned to male associates. How do I get recognition to...
How did handle it when you were expected to speak up on calls more, as a leader? What I need to become more confident in is owning the mic.
Hello Madam, I am a corporate executive with twenty two years experience in banking, compliance and legal practice in Nigeria. I desire to join a global player and were I can bring my expertise...
What is your purpose in life and has it always been the same?
I’m very interested to learn of “how” one can get promoted. I’m currently an analyst but would like know how I can get a varied experience set to leverage. I guess how to expand horizontally and...
How did you negotiate your promotions, does it matter if you are on a visa here, how would you handle a situation of pip and turn it into a promotion?
The glass cliff (where women can achieve senior leadership roles during a crisis and then are quickly ousted after they turn the company around) is very pervasive for women in senior technical...
How to get job as a fresher devops engineer
What are some of the skills (hard and soft skills) women can develop to become successful leaders in this industry? What would you say is your most appreciated quality from your peers?
From your time with Mastercard and before, what do you think is the finance industry's unique role in promoting inclusion and the benefits of diversity?
Hi Ann, I am based in Zimbabwe - and wanted to ask what tips or advice you have for women who want to become more financially literate and take ownership of their financial standing. There is a...
Amazing to read that you moved up into different roles after starting your career as a research engineer. What advice would you give to young women in terms of upward mobility?
Hi Ann, I would love to know what work or efforts Mastercard is doing to keep the financial industry diverse and inclusive?
What advice do you have for ladies who tend to present with a lack of confidence when under stress (which costs you the respect of the males in your org).
What is Mastercard stance on cryptocurrencies? How do you see will we pay with them in some point in the near future? Would Mastercard invest in Bitcoin?
Hi, Ann - What work is being done at Mastercard to reintroduce women into the financial workspace after 2020?
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