MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

RILEY MACDONALD

   Director of Strategic Expansion – EMEA

  Worldpay

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

I really struggle with this question. I have true conviction that I will be successful in whatever I choose, and I think that comes from my parents always encouraging me, so I could not pinpoint my source of inspiration throughout my career.

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

I would say that my success is due to 75% hard work and 25% luck. I like to consider myself a bit of a workhorse who will knuckle down and get things done. That said, I have been lucky to have bosses who have truly championed me and put me forward for opportunities.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

My desire to be a leader for the next generation. I was very lucky to have some amazing leaders (both female and male) who took me under their wing and helped shape me into the person I am today. I want to be able to help and inspire a younger generate and repay all the goods things that happened for me. I always knew that I wanted to and was going to be someone’s boss. It is a bit simplistic, but for a long time, that was the driving force. I wanted to be someone’s boss and inspire them like I was inspired. TBD on whether I will achieve that, but it’s the goal!

If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?

Two things: I would have tried to get a better internship in the summers during university. I also would have spoken up more when I was a gradutate at Worldpay. I had a very difficult first manager who would take me out of the office and make me cry, failed me on my probation, and told me that I had been compared to other grads based on my personality and not capabilities. At that time, I did not feel comfortable going to HR, but looking back, this is 100% something that I should have flagged.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

My favourite role is my current role. I really love working in payments as I think it’s fundamental to everything we do. Being able to expand our capabilities into new geographies has been the right blend of commerical, technical, and macroeconomic trends that really appeal to me. It’s never boring, and no two countries are the same. It’s very challenging and the projects are long but seeing how people pay in different countries is fascinating.

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

“Fake it till you make it.”