Introducing ‘Why We Lead’, a brand-new podcast that dives into the heart of leadership, innovation, and transformation. In episode one, our CEO Angela and Tribe Payments’ Lynda Clarke sit down with the incredible Laura McCracken...
Born in Texas and raised in Alabama, where her father served as a helicopter pilot on a military base, Laura aspired to an international career—a bold dream for a small-town girl. But from Texas to London, via Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, and Luxembourg, her global aspirations were realised through perseverance, adaptability, and a talent for building meaningful connections.
Laura has more than 30 years of international leadership experience in payments, fintech, marketplaces, and social commerce through her prior executive career including Accenture, Meta, Amazon, Citi and American Express. Today, she advises retailers, brands, platforms and governments on the future of payments, digital innovation and platform strategy spanning marketplaces, social media, super apps, social commerce and the creator economy.
This interview was an incredible way to launch Why We Lead – here are some of the key takeaways…
- Reflecting on her tenure at American Express, Laura shared how the company’s approach to leadership shaped her perspective: “Leadership was 50 percent of the equation. Employees were evaluated equally on business growth and leadership effectiveness, with separate ratings for each.” This taught Laura that technical achievements alone aren’t enough—leaders must also inspire, develop, and guide their teams to success.
- American Express’ focus on values and diversity left a lasting impact on Laura. She contrasts it with a later experience, where revenue and growth were prioritised over core values—a misalignment that ultimately fuelled her insights about the role of culture and incentives in driving behaviour. Her takeaway? Strong leadership requires a steady keel—a set of unwavering core values that guide decisions, even during turbulent times.
- When asked about essential traits for successful leadership in the fintech sector, Laura emphasises the importance of partnerships: “You’ve got to be able to both see the field and tell the story. Understanding how various players—banks, regulators, and tech companies—interact is crucial. Leaders must craft a compelling narrative about how their organisation fits into the ecosystem and what problems they solve.” Building collaborative relationships and aligning with complementary partners are critical to thriving in the ever-evolving fintech landscape. “Figure out what’s your story. How do you fit within this ecosystem? What problem are you solving? How are you partnering with other people in that ecosystem? That’s going to be the most important thing to succeed, I believe, in fintech.”
- Laura’s career wasn’t without its challenges. Reflecting on transitions between companies with differing cultures, she acknowledges moments of failure, but frames them as learning experiences that shaped her resilience. Her core values—acting with integrity and staying true to her purpose—served as her compass, allowing her to navigate tough decisions and earn long-term respect, even when facing difficult situations like layoffs.
In the episode, Laura recounts her childhood dream of having a global career, a vision that was once dismissed by a guidance counsellor. If she could revisit that moment, her message would be clear: “Don’t quash people’s dreams. Give them hope.” Her journey is a testament to the power of persistence and the belief that ambitious goals can be achieved with the right mindset.
Laura McCracken’s story is an inspiring reminder that leadership is as much about values and vision as it is about strategy and results, but during this episode she also reveals some sensational details of her first day at Facebook and her take on the Wirecard scandal. This really is an episode not to be missed!
