Relationships Are the Currency of Business

 — Brian Basilico

Wnet Tampa Bay Chapter LinkUp at Tampa Bay Lightning Game

By Taylor Horan, Project Manager, FIS

What happens when you mix networking, inspiring women in finance/fintech and hockey? The Wnet Tampa Bay Chapter’s latest event! On Wednesday, February 23, Wnet members from FIS, PSCU, JPMorgan Chase and Visa gathered at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, for a night of connecting and cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In addition to watching an exciting game together, we engaged in speed networking during the two intermissions. After dividing into groups of four to five, everyone took turns answering icebreaker questions and then rotated groups after five minutes. Questions included, “What favorite piece of advice have you received in your career?” and “If you could have any job where money and experience were not factors, what job would you have?” Attendees made new connections, shared their experiences and started new relationships that can empower them in their careers.

It was an enjoyable and successful night for all – and to top off the evening, the Lightening won 5-3! Go Bolts! Special thanks to FIS for sponsoring the event. Stay tuned for the Tampa Bay Chapter’s next event in April. Check the Wnet Event Calendar soon for details.

Interested in joining your local Wnet Chapter? Learn more.

Good News about Our Members and Partners  

MEMBER MOVES

Velera Wilson has moved to Precisely as Vice President of Global Marketing.

Congratulations!
If you have moved to a new company or a new role, tell us so we can highlight you in MEMBER MOVES! Send details and Press Release link if applicable to info@wnetonline.org.

PARTNER NEWS

Truist Joins Deluxe to Highlight Inspirational Entrepreneurs for Season Two of Small Business, Big Heart Series. Read more.

Discover Financial Services to present at the Wolfe Fintech Forum March 9. Read more.

Finastra lands payments leader status in Omdia Universe report. Read more.

Fiserv to present at Wolfe FinTech Forum 2022. Read more.

Visa and Mastercard Follow Through on Suspending Operations in Russia. Read more.

Digital Transactions: It Took off During the Pandemic, And Now E-Commerce Shows No Signs Of Slowing

Forbes: TikTok, Credit Card Companies Suspend Service—Here’s The Growing List Of Companies Cutting Ties With Russia Over Invasion

The Green Sheet: Mesh, Visa usher in post-PAN era

Open Table: The 20 Most Influential Female Chefs and Restaurateurs Right Now

The Paypers: Paysera: Increasing number of Ukrainians to open EU-based accounts

PYMNTS.com: Nearly Half of High-Income Earners Now Live Paycheck to Paycheck

PYMNTS.com: Peeling Back the Digital Payments ‘Onion’ is Critical to Maximizing Cash Flow

The Strawhecker Group: The Ukraine-Russia War: Tragedy and Conflict Heralds a Schism in Global Payments

Yahoo! Finance: Why Did Bitcoin Surge So Much Against the Ruble?

Championed by Melyssa Barrett Wnet DEI Content Chair CEO, Jali Enterprises

Women's History Month:
Celebrating the Brave and Inspirational Women of Yesterday and Today

While everyone is working to create a better culture and workplace – a safe space, which I do believe is critical and necessary – when I think of the women who inspire us, I don’t necessarily think they are usually in a safe space. It is as if they must create that safe space in themselves and bring it with them into the room. 

What is a safe space?
There is so much discussion these days on psychological safety and the ability to create safe spaces in the work environment. There are differing views on when the term was popularized, although it was often defined with the development of “sensitivity training,” the women’s movement, gay and lesbian bars, and other activist organizations in the 1960s and 70s. Popularized by organizational behavioral scientist Amy Edmondson of Harvard, safe spaces are critical whenever people face uncertainty and interdependence. These are words that many of our teams face every day working in electronic transactions and payments.
 
Psychological safety is a critical component of creating the collaborative, supportive environment that people need to foster an atmosphere of belonging, building upon open and honest communication. It allows us to share ourselves, our identities and ideas in a space without the fear of judgment, punishment or even the vast amount of microaggressions. Organizations around the world are working to create safe spaces to ensure people are comfortable to communicate, learn, perform, grow and innovate. Yet, we know discussing certain topics in the workplace can often be uncomfortable and challenging.

Read more and see which brave and inspirational women we celebrate.

LEARN, CONTRIBUTE, WATCH AGAIN

The Wnet Thought Leadership Center, curated by members, for members, gives you access to best-of-the-best links to research, articles, publications and industry information. Plus, members can watch replays of most Wnet events in the TLC!

• (Webinar) Pressing Reset: Finding Harmony While Striving for Success
  
• (Chapter Event) Wnet Book Club So Cal/Atlanta Chapter Link Up Collaboration-Understanding Begins Within
• (Article) Key Practice | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by Oglesby, FIS
• (Article) Diversity & Inclusion | The simple, zero cost, first step we all need to take to help defeat Unconscious Bias by Oglesby, FIS 

We Invite YOU to Contribute!
Found a great article you want to share with Wnet members?
Be the connection! Share it in the TLC.

• Join the Wnet Book Club or a NEW Inclusion Group
• Connect in SocialLink, our member community
• Meet your Wnet Leaders
• Join your local Chapter

Not a member? Learn more about joining Wnet to enjoy all the benefits of membership!