Digital Commerce Alliance Top 20 Women
The world has changed significantly since we last published our annual Top 20 Women in Digital Commerce list. A year ago, uncertainty was the watchword, prompting those in our industry to make shifts needed to manage in a pandemic world. While the risks are not totally behind us, companies in the digital commerce industry have adapted and innovated—changing the way business is done. Now more than ever, women executives are leading the charge.
The Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA) researched women at the forefront of the industries we serve, and we’re pleased to recognize those who are making a difference—for their organizations, and for the good of women business leaders across the globe.
Our non-profit trade association, DCA, which includes retail, fin-tech, mobile wallets, digital advertising, banking, financial data, and card-linking is pleased to recognize the 20 women leaders heading up the charge.
To create the Top 20 Women in Digital Commerce, DCA evaluated numerous candidates. Stand-out individuals were selected based on the following criteria:
- Acknowledged by peers as industry leaders
- Demonstrated ability to drive innovation
- Hold a high impact role in their business/organization
- Support issues important to women everywhere
Congratulations to the Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA)
Top 20 Women in Digital Commerce for 2021!
1. PEGGY MARIE ALFORD, EVP, GLOBAL SALES, PAYPAL
Responsible for global sales and distribution of PayPal’s products and services, Peggy Marie also leads the strategic customer success and go-to-market teams that drive PayPal’s position as the preferred digital payment method for consumers and businesses. She was previously SVP of core markets at PayPal. Peggy Marie is also a member of Facebook’s board of directors and is on the board and chair of the audit committee at Macerich Company, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (REIT). A CPA and University of Dayton grad with more than 25 years of finance, management, and product development experience, Peggy Marie has served as president and GM at Rent.com (an eBay, Inc. company) and has also held financial leadership positions at eBay. Leading intentionality, her passion is curating digital experiences that enrich lives and build human connection.
2. BEVERLY ANDERSON, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, EQUIFAX
Beverly was named to her current leadership position at Equifax in 2019, responsible for vision, growth, and transformation of GCS business across the US, UK, and Canada. She’s also served as Wells Fargo’s EVP of cards and retail services, responsible for expansion of the consumer general-purpose credit card, co-brand, private-label, and enterprise-loyalty businesses. Under Beverly’s leadership, portfolio balances grew by almost 70 percent and consumer purchase volume doubled. In addition, she’s held executive positions at American Express, Fleet Bank (BOA), and First USA/Bank One (J.P. Morgan Chase)—and was the first female partner at Novantas Consulting. With a Harvard Business School MBA with distinction, Beverly is co-president of the school’s African American Alumni Association. Other distinctions include: Former chair of the Card Policy Council of the American Banker Association, former board chair of the Council of Urban Professionals, and Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Woman in 2019.
3. JENNIFER BAILEY, VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNET SERVICES, APPLE PAY, APPLE
As VP of internet services, Jennifer leads teams around the world overseeing efforts for Apple Pay, Apple’s transformative category of mobile payments services. She’s been with Apple for 18 years. Prior to Apple Pay, she ran the Apple Online Store, and under her leadership, the store grew to operate in more than 40 countries. She’s held additional senior positions at myCFO, a financial services firm, and Netscape Communications, where she led outbound marketing and launched Netcenter, Netscape’s online portal business. An advocate for compassionate care for those in need, Jennifer serves on the American Red Cross board of governors. She received her MBA from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her undergrad degree is in mathematics at Middlebury College where she graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors.
4. CHEESAN CHEW, COO, RBC VENTURES
As chief operations officer, Cheesan is focused on making the RBC Ventures vision a reality by articulating and driving its strategic roadmap and enabling the launch and growth of new ventures into market. An Ontario-based subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Ventures is driven to build its venture brands from the ground up. Prior to joining RBC, Cheesan co-founded and served as CXO at Idea Couture, a company she co-founded, building it into a global innovation leader. She’s a seasoned business leader and innovator with experience achieving growth through market opportunity, exceptional client experiences, and operational efficiency. A believer in the need to lead with empathy, drive for equity and really listen, Cheesan earned an MBA from Western University’s Ivey Business School and a BS from the University of Toronto.
5. PAULINE DOLLÉ-LABBÉ, CMO, 24S-LVMH
Pauline is the chief marketing officer of 24S-LVMH, the e-commerce arm of the Paris-based luxury goods retailer LVMH Group. In this executive role, she is responsible for strategy, branding, cross-channel marketing, analytics, and change management. A strategic, analytic, and creative thinker, Pauline is known for being exceptionally customer-oriented, action-driven—and a supporter of empowerment for women in the workplace. Prior to joining LVMH in 2018, Pauline was with Fnac, a French retail chain selling cultural and electronic products, where she held marketing positions of increasing responsibility. She also served in various capacities at Club Med, a company specializing in all-inclusive holidays. Pauline has a business law degree from the University of Paris; attended the Institut d’Etudes politiques de Paris, and has an MS from ESCP Europe.
6. NATA DVIR, CHIEF MERCHANDISING OFFICER, MACY’S
Nata Dvir is currently chief merchandising officer for Macy’s. Nata began her career as an executive trainee before working her way up through the organization. Prior to her current role, she served as senior vice president and general business manager for the beauty and center core business. Known for her innovative and analytic thinking, in her new role, she is leading a digitally-led strategy that includes adding new categories, driving growth, and attracting new customers. She is a member of two non-profit boards: Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and the Fashion Scholarship Fund; and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and rhetorical studies from Syracuse University.
7. HANNAH FITZSIMONS, EVP, GM EUROPE, ELAVON MERCHANT SERVICES
As executive vice president and Europe general manager for Elavon, Hannah is responsible for the revenue and growth of the top five global payments provider. She has more than 20 years of experience in the European payments industry—including 16 with Elavon—providing leadership to high-performing sales and customer management teams. Previously head of international sales, she was also European business development director and country manager for the UK. Hannah’s also held positions with NatWest Bank and Citibank prior to joining Elavon. With a bachelor’s degree in economics and politics from London Metropolitan University, she serves on Visa’s UK Council and the board of directors for P20 and is a committed advisor and sponsor of the Global Association of Women in Payments. In October 2019, Fitzsimons helped launch the U.S. Bank Women Business Resource Group in Europe where she serves as management advisor.
8. JASMA GHAI, VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL PRODUCTS & DELIVERY, DISCOVER
As executive in charge of emerging payments innovation, Jasma is responsible for strategy, design, and delivery of consumer and commercial products that position Discover as a leading payments partner. She’s also responsible for international product strategy to better meet the needs of Discover’s Network Alliance and Diners Club franchise partners. Previously, Jasma led the innovation office for Discover Network. Named one of PaymentsSource’s Most Influential Women in Payments in 2021, Jasma is a member of Discover’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force formed to meet the challenges of 2020 and beyond. A member of the Chicago Chapter Board of Governors of the American India Foundation and the board of the Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA), Jasma has an MS in statistics from Michigan State University and attended the Kellogg Executive Leadership Program on leading transformation in the digital age.
9. LYNNE LAUBE, CEO, CO-FOUNDER, CARDLYTICS
Lynne is CEO of Cardlytics, named a fastest-growing technology company by Deloitte Fast 500 and Inc. 5000. Co-founded by Lynne in 2008, Cardlytics helps marketers understand how and where consumers spend money by partnering with financial institutions to unlock transaction data value in ways that protect banks and customers. She recently led acquisitions by Cardlytics of Bridg and Dosh. In 2018, she took Cardlytics public, and from 2008 to 2017 secured $200+ million in capital and scaled the company to become the industry leader. Named a Top-10 Venture-backed Female Founder by Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur 360; an Inspiring Woman to Watch by Inc.; and Woman of the Year from Georgia’s Women in Technology, the graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the University of Virginia Darden Executive Leadership Program is committed to helping women excel in the workplace. Lynne’s led numerous development and mentoring initiatives, including Women of Cardlytics.
10. DENISE LEONHARD, CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, VENMO
As chief commercial officer at Venmo, Denise drives the growth and profitability of the company by optimizing current business lines, launching new services, and reaching new customers. Over the past 10 years, she’s held numerous executive positions at PayPal and American Express, as well as served as board advisor to Tala, a fintech company on a mission to build a financial system that works for everyone. She joined peer-to-peer digital payment service Venmo in 2020. A graduate of Princeton University with a BA in English and holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Denise also is on two boards: The Equality Charter School, a middle and high school in the Bronx that serves scholars regardless of prior academic performance or needs, and NY/NJ Baykeeper, the citizen guardian of the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary.
11. MANJU MALHOTRA, CEO, HARVEY NICHOLS
Manju’s 23-year career with UK luxury fashion retailer Harvey Nichols includes serving as COO and CFO; currently, she’s the chief executive officer. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on leveraging technology to improve performance and sustainability. Holding the reins of the world-renowned department store chain, with 10 stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as six in the Middle East and Hong Kong, Manju was named to the Asian Women of Achievement 2019; Ambassador for Women of the Future Network; Retail Week’s Power List; and Drapers Power 100. She was also recognized by The Evening Standard as one of London’s most influential people. A strong supporter of charities on poverty in the UK capital and those mentoring underprivileged young people, Manju is a Chartered Accountant with an economics degree from Warwick University.
12. KATHRYN McLAY, PRESIDENT, CEO, SAM’S CLUB
Kathryn is the top executive at Sam’s Club, a members-only warehouse club with more than 100,000 employees at close to 600 locations across the US and in Puerto Rico, and a division of Walmart Inc. Committed to creating career ladders for employees, she has also held a number of leadership roles at Walmart, including vice president of US finance and strategy and executive vice president of Neighborhood Markets. Her career began at Deloitte as an undergraduate and includes tenure at Qantas Airlines and Australian retailer Woolworths Limited. One of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in 2020, Kathryn is past president and chairwoman of the Institute of Internal Auditors and past member of ECRA, an industry board comprised of retailers and suppliers. She has a degree in accounting and finance from the University of Technology in Sydney.
13. GLENDA McNEAL, PRESIDENT, ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AMERICAN EXPRESS
Glenda’s career includes nearly three decades of leadership at American Express. In her current role, she defines the company’s partnership strategy, leading key initiatives with the firm’s largest travel, e-commerce, technology, and retail partners. Her focus is on delivering revenue growth, creating differentiated value, and improving customer engagement. She serves on the boards of Plum Acquisition Corp.; Nordstrom, Inc.; RLJ Lodging Trust; Global Business Travel, a joint venture company for American Express; the World Travel & Tourism Council; and the Montclair Film Festival. Prior board experience includes U.S. Steel Corporation; Vente-Privee US; the PepsiCo Multicultural Advisory Board; the Executive Leadership Council; as well as several not-for-profit organizations. Glenda’s a graduate of Dillard University and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to working for American Express, Glenda was with Arthur Andersen & Company and Salomon Brothers.
14. JILL (YATES) MOSER, SVP, LOYALTY INNOVATION & PLATFORMS PARTNERSHIPS, BANK OF AMERICA
Jill is Bank of America’s senior vice president responsible for business strategy and partnership development for third-party rewards offerings across all platforms that will ultimately become the future of the organization’s reward programs. Her responsibilities include vetting, prioritizing, and negotiating strategic partnerships that increase clients’ digital engagement through incremental rewards, offers, deals, experiences, and events—and subsequently enhance the BoA experience. Previously Jill served as GM and director of strategic partnerships for Shop Your Way, where she successfully negotiated the launch of the SYW GasBuddy partnership—and drove relevance and incremental revenue for Sears Holding Company. She is on the BoA volunteer honor roll for helping make financial lives better through the power of every connection; is a graduate of the University of Louisville, and is a member of the Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA) board.
15. SHERYL PFLAUM, PRESIDENT, AMERICAS, COLLINSON
Sheryl leads the Americas team at Collinson, a London-based loyalty and benefits company serving airlines, hotels, financial institutions, and banks. An energetic leader, she and her diverse teams of talented individuals prioritize delivering value to clients, partners, and employees. She joined Collinson in 2005 with a focus on Priority Pass and has recently expanded contactless business line transactions. Her career also includes roles in sales, marketing, and business operations, with a priority to help companies grow. In 2014, committed to enhancing the communities where she lives and works, she created a non-profit, TSO Community Foundation, the largest third-party donor to the southern US region of the American Cancer Society, with the mission to free the world from cancer. She graduated from East Central University and the Southern Methodist University Management Development Program.
16. RAJ SESHADRI, PRESIDENT, DATA AND SERVICES, MASTERCARD
Raj has been with Mastercard for more than five years, serving first as president of U.S. Issuers and most recently as president of data and services. Prior executive experience includes leadership positions at BlackRock, Citi, U.S. Trust, and McKinsey & Company. She also served as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. Her board affiliations include Raymond James Financial Inc.; Stanford Graduate School of Business; Mount Holyoke College; South Asian Youth Action; and the American India Foundation. Raj was also an adjunct professor at the Columbia Business School. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she received an MBA from Stanford University and a PhD in physics from Harvard. A board member of the David Rockefeller Fellows Program, Raj strongly supports the organization’s goal to prepare senior corporate executives for active leadership in civic and public affairs.
17. CARA SYLVESTER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF MARKETING AND DIGITAL OFFICER, TARGET
Cara is the EVP and chief marketing and digital officer for Target Corporation, responsible for marketing, media, and creative strategy, as well as its loyalty program, Target Circle, and in-house media company, Roundel. In addition, she leads Target’s e-commerce business and digital strategy. Since joining the company in 2007 she’s held a variety of leadership roles, most recently senior vice president of home, where she drove significant sales and growth while increasing the category’s digital penetration to a leading position within the company. As vice president of beauty, Cara led the launch and evolution of Target’s Beauty Concierge program, a first-of-its-kind high-touch service model. Prior to Target, Cara was with Deloitte. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.
18. DEBRA TAYLOR, CO-FOUNDER, COO, OPENSPARKZ
OpenSparkz, a Sydney-based global technology company providing an end-to-end platform as a service (PaaS) solution that powers rewards or offers programs, was co-founded by Debra in 2018. She is the chief operating officer for the fintech organization that allows consumers to pay with payment cards and receive rewards, in real-time, without the need for separate loyalty cards, offer codes, or coupons. The company is the first member of the Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA) in Australia, and the first APAC company to become a Certified Provider of DCA division CardLinx Forum, the non-profit global card-linking trade association. Debra previously served in executive roles at fintech firms Stone and Chalk, PAX Technology Australia, iDATS, and eFunds Pty Ltd. She was named Fintech Leader of the Year at the 2019 Women in Finance Awards, and the 2019 Innovator of the Year by Women in Payments. In 2020 she received a Distinguished Payments Professional Lifetime Achievement Award.
19. ERIN WARREN, GM, RAKUTEN CARD-LINKED OFFER NETWORK, RAKUTEN
Currently serving Rakuten as general manager, Erin is a marketing veteran with 20+ years of experience—including 15 years in direct-to-consumer digital marketing. She is motivated by the opportunity to enhance the way companies execute marketing strategies to attract, retain and grow customers. Previously serving as SVP of Cartera Commerce, Erin is a former CollegeWeekLive, Sallie Mae, and UPromise executive. A member of the 1994 and 1998 U.S. Winter Olympic Luge Teams, Erin is currently president of the U.S. Luge Association’s board of directors. A motivator, Erin inspires others in her work and personal life to focus on small wins in order to meet long-term goals. She’s a Northwestern graduate; has an MBA from Babson, and serves as a Digital Commerce Alliance (DCA) board member.
20. SUSAN DIANE WOJCICKI, CEO, YOUTUBE
In 2014, Susan became CEO of YouTube, the online video-sharing and social media platform owned by Google. Prior to taking the helm at YouTube, she served in marketing capacities at Intel and Bain & Company. She was Google’s first marketing manager in 1999 after helping found the company the previous year, and she was instrumental in Google’s acquisition of YouTube in 2006. Susan was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people, and later as the most powerful woman on the internet. A history and literature major at Harvard University, Susan graduated with honors. She also has an MS in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Susan is passionate about the importance of finding the balance between family and career, countering gender discrimination at technology companies, getting girls interested in computer science, and prioritizing coding in schools.