A diverse voice in payments: Kiki Del Valle

When Mastercard sought to establish a fintech presence in Latin America over five years ago, experienced payments executive Kiki Del Valle was the first to lead the initiative.

She worked with fintechs in the region to Cards issued to more than 300 million consumers and helped finance around 50 companies through Mastercard’s Start Path programwhich supports start-ups worldwide. The card network now has around 80% market share in Latin America.

But Del Valle has nearly twenty years of experience in the payments industry and shows no signs of slowing down.

Since joining Mastercard in 2008 as Vice President of U.S. Market Development, Del Valle has spearheaded notable payments and mobile wallet campaigns, from the global launch of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay to the Debut of WhatsApp PayUnder her leadership, the company has signed more than 200 deals across the fintech sector in recent years. These partnerships covered lending, cross-border payments and financial inclusion.

“The fintech industry worldwide continues to face profound changes driven by rapid technological advances, a long-term shift towards digital form factors, an emphasis on customer experience with greater personalization, data availability and regulatory interventions,” said Del Valle.

Before joining Mastercard, Del Valle worked as a business analyst in General Electric’s financial management program from 2003 to 2006 and as a finance manager in Home Depot’s new product development and bank card departments from 2006 to 2008.

Her leadership extends beyond the payments and fintech space to include promoting diversity and inclusion both inside and outside her company. Del Valle worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development in January 2021 to support Mastercard’s Starting path Empoderawhich is dedicated to supporting 200 young women entrepreneurs in Colombia and Peru. She is also a board member of non-profit organizations such as Women in Payments in LATAM, Damas Foundation of Puerto Rico and WaterAid Americas.