At IXOPAY, we are committed to delivering a world-class payment orchestration platform that supports innovation, security, and global scalability. To further strengthen this mission, we’re thrilled to welcome Jill Willard as our new Senior Vice President of Technology.
With a track record of scaling payment infrastructures, leading global teams, and driving SaaS innovation, Jill brings a wealth of experience and a bold vision for the future. We sat down with her to understand how she sees technology evolving at IXOPAY, how she approaches leadership, and what’s next for our platform and the broader fintech landscape.
Q&A with Jill Willard, SVP of Technology at IXOPAY
1. What attracted you to IXOPAY, and what excites you most about stepping into the role of SVP of technology?
IXOPAY is at the heart of some of the most transformative trends in fintech, tokenization, payment orchestration, global scale, and intelligent infrastructure. What drew me in was the clarity of vision and the opportunity to build on an already robust foundation. I see tremendous potential to expand our capabilities, integrate AI more deeply, and deliver seamless, secure, and scalable solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our clients.
2. How do you define your leadership style, particularly in a high-growth, remote-first organization like IXOPAY?
I believe in being a hands-on leader—not in the sense of micromanaging, but in understanding the depth of our challenges and empowering teams with clarity and purpose. Great leadership is about trust, consistency, and showing up for your team when it matters most. Whether it's unblocking a delivery challenge or navigating architectural decisions, I strive to be both a technical ally and a strategic partner.
3. From your perspective, what role does technology play in shaping the future of payment orchestration?
Technology is not just an enabler of payment orchestration—it is the foundation. But building a product isn’t enough; the true challenge lies in creating a sustainable, scalable, and resilient business. That starts with operational excellence: ensuring redundancy, implementing robust monitoring systems, and maintaining infrastructure that is both agile and fault-tolerant. Once operational stability is achieved, the focus shifts to business scalability. In a global payments landscape defined by fragmentation, regulation, and velocity, success hinges on our ability to orchestrate payments with precision, flexibility, and reliability—driven by a deeply sophisticated tech stack. Crucially, payment orchestration is no longer just about transaction flow; it’s about delivering strategic value. The more intelligently we design and evolve our systems, the more we empower clients to enter new markets, comply with local regulations, optimize payment performance, and reduce operational complexity.
4. You’ve had tremendous success building scalable platforms and leading through complex transitions. What are your top priorities for IXOPAY’s tech strategy?
My top priorities include ensuring our platform is stable, resilient, and scalable—technically and organizationally. That means investing in system performance, operational maturity, and intelligent monitoring, while also leveraging AI to automate and accelerate engineering workflows. As we expand into new markets and verticals, adaptability is key.
But technology alone isn’t enough. Building a high-performing, inclusive culture is just as important. People drive innovation, and when you invest in them, you invest in your future. As our teams grow, maintaining alignment across engineering, product, and customer-facing functions becomes critical. Clear processes, shared goals, and strong guardrails allow us to scale without sacrificing velocity, quality, or purpose.
5. How do you see AI transforming software development and fintech in the next few years?
AI is the natural evolution of software development. We’ve moved from memory management to frameworks to intelligent assistants—and now, we’re entering the era of operationalized AI. But experimentation isn’t enough. We need real strategies: governance, enablement, collaboration, and measurement. AI will help us reduce cognitive overhead, detect anomalies faster, and unlock new efficiencies across the organization. Those who embed AI into their core workflows—not just IT—will lead the next wave of transformation.
6. What’s one piece of advice you give to teams trying to stay innovative while scaling fast?
Don't sacrifice clarity for speed. Innovation thrives when teams understand the “why” behind their work. Be ruthlessly focused on outcomes, but flexible in how you achieve them. And remember, sometimes the best breakthroughs come when you create space for experimentation, learning, and even a bit of failure. Culture drives velocity.
7. Finally, when you’re not architecting platforms or scaling teams, what keeps you inspired outside of work?
I’m an avid reader and a curious mind—whether it’s exploring emerging tech, understanding behavioral science, or diving into design thinking. Outside of tech, I find inspiration in travel, music, and the stories behind how people build things—whether it’s a business, a community, or a piece of art. Curiosity is my fuel, both professionally and personally.
Looking Ahead
Jill’s appointment marks a significant milestone for IXOPAY as we continue to scale globally and push the boundaries of what’s possible in payment orchestration. With her vision, leadership, and deep technical acumen, we’re confident that IXOPAY’s infrastructure—and culture—will continue to set industry benchmarks.
Please join us in welcoming Jill to the IXOPAY team!