Wnet Welcomes Fiserv President and CEO
Monday, December 13, 2021
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Posted by: Anne Mendenhall
Frank Bisignano Discusses Diversity & Inclusion at PayTechWomenLiveBy the Fiserv Team We hope that you were able to join our inaugural PayTechWomenLive CEO Interview series on Wednesday, December 8, featuring an inspiring fireside chat conversation with Frank Bisignano, President and CEO, Fiserv and Wnet President, Mary Uslander, SVP, Fiserv. If you were unable to attend the program on December 8, we encourage you to watch a replay of this insightful conversation HERE. Prior to taking the helm of Fiserv in 2020, Frank served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Data. During his tenure, he transformed the 48-year-old company from the world’s largest traditional payment processor into a technology innovator, industry collaborator, and commerce enabler for the 21st century. He also led its $2.6 billion initial public offering in 2015, the largest U.S. IPO of the year. Before joining First Data, Frank served as Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In 2020, in the midst of the height of the pandemic and rising social unrest, Fiserv doubled down on its commitment to diversity and inclusion and worked to elevate the visibility of its eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including the Women’s Impact Network (WIN), which seeks to unite, connect and educate Fiserv associates. Under Frank’s leadership, Fiserv made the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. Highlights from PayTechWomenLive Session
After an introduction from our CEO Wendy Holliday, Mary sat down with Frank for an open and candid conversation about the key ingredients for successful leadership, the personal and professional experiences that have shaped Frank’s perspective on diversity and inclusion, and in turn, how these experiences have helped to drive diversity and inclusion at Fiserv. Mary kicked off the conversation by going back to the very beginning: Frank’s Brooklyn, NY upbringing. Frank reflected on his parents’ open-minded approach, homing in on his mother’s role as a homemaker-turned-business professional and how her drive to succeed professionally – on top of her duties as a wife and mother – inspired him, and the younger women in his family, to never let any obstacles stand in the way of achieving their very best. Frank also credits his father – one of 16 children and an orphan – as a source of inspiration for instilling in him his inclusive, “come one, come all” attitude toward others. For Frank, who is a passionate champion of diversity and inclusion, both inside and outside of Fiserv, supporting a world that’s diverse and inclusive has a personal and deep meaning as well. After the births of his two daughters, Frank was committed to doing everything in his power to make this world a place where women can thrive. It wasn’t an active decision; it was just the right thing to do, for his daughters and for women in general. His daughters, successful businesswomen in their own right, have benefited from this support – and likely a good dose of ambition from Frank’s mother – by making the decision to boldly embarking as entrepreneurs and following the passions that fuel them. In speaking about leadership at Fiserv -- and in particular women in leadership – it’s simple: Assigning women leaders isn’t a bold choice but an obvious one, citing Suzan Kereere, the new Head of Global Business Solutions, Fiserv, as a perfect example. This same thinking applies to all aspects of diversity in leadership – if you want diversity of mind, you need diversity of background. But it doesn’t stop there – rather this is where it begins. Likewise, establishing an inclusive decision-making process is equally as important. Frank is proud of Fiserv for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, attributing much of company’s success to ongoing investment in its ERGs. He acknowledges that these groups serve a supplemental purpose at times, providing support when Fiserv associates needed it most. As Frank recalls, the ERGs are where many associates at the company have sought comfort during the height of the pandemic for their support and guidance. Frank is committed to leading Fiserv as a company that represents the world in which we live – a company that reflects its own client base. And that means being a company that embraces its employees’ diverse set of ideas, experiences and backgrounds. He remarks that as leaders, if we nurture an environment that’s fair and equitable, where employees feel safe and are actively learning – you’ll succeed, together. When it comes to tips for women looking to thrive in the workplace, Frank shared this advice: Work harder than everyone else, as there’s no shortcut to success; and depend only on yourself to get the job done. With this in mind, he notes there is an important line that shouldn’t be crossed between getting ahead and bringing others down. He reminds us all that, “Just because you rise, it doesn’t mean another person must fall.
There is space for everyone in this world.” Many thanks to our participants and to our special guest, Frank Bisignano, and Mary Uslander for hosting this engaging and stimulating conversation and providing valuable insight for women and their allies by advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
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