MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT
MISSY LAWSON
SVP Technology, Finxact Strategic Programs
Fiserv
Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.
Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?
I’ve drawn inspiration from many places and for different reasons. Four women stand out for how they reflect different parts of my journey. Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, inspires me with her deep technical roots and her ability to lead transformation at scale—something I’ve strived to emulate as I moved from engineering into executive leadership.
Elastigirl, though she is a fictional cartoon, represents the everyday heroism of working mothers: she’s flexible, resilient, and always showing up for others. Michelle Obama’s grace, authenticity, and advocacy remind me that leadership is about service and staying grounded in your values. And Kellie Gerardi, a scientist, influencer, and spaceflight advocate, inspires me with her fearless pursuit of innovation while being a mother and a relatable public voice for women in STEM.
These women, real and imagined, have helped shape how I lead, how I grow, and how I show up for others.
Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?
I think that my success has definitely been a combination of both hard work and luck. Hard work has always been the foundation for me: being willing to take on challenges, learn from setbacks, and stay focused on long-term goals. I remember early in my career being asked to lead projects that were well outside my comfort zone. I never had all the answers, but I dove in, asked questions, asked for help, and put in the hours to figure things out.
Those experiences not only shaped my confidence but also opened doors I hadn’t even considered. That being said, I also recognize that timing, opportunity, and the support of others play a role. Luck may open a door, but it’s often hard work and the support of others that keep it open—and sometimes you have to be ready to walk through it before you’re 100% certain of what’s on the other side.
What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?
My driving force lies in the desire to create meaningful impact—both within the organizations I work for and in the lives of the people those organizations serve.
I’ve always envisioned myself in a position where I can help influence positive change, open doors for people, and help create environments where learning and career growth are encouraged and actively supported.
I’ve been fortunate to work with companies, and to work on platforms that touch millions of lives, and that sense of purpose in knowing that the work matters is what keeps me motivated.
If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?
If I could do anything differently in my career I think I would have sought out mentors and sponsors earlier, as well as have been more intentional about building those relationships. I’ve always been focused on delivering results and driving innovation, but I’ve learned over time that having advocates who help you navigate opportunities and challenges can be just as important as technical know-how.
I also wish that at times I would have taken more risks. Imposter syndrome is a real thing, and looking back, I can see how it led me to stay in certain roles longer than I should have by choosing comfort over challenge. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate how stepping outside of the comfort-zone could have accelerated my growth.
What was your most favourite job/role and why?
While I’ve appreciated every step in my career, one role stands out as especially meaningful. Several years ago, as a Technical Delivery Director, I was able to participate in a company-wide tabletop recovery exercise simulating a major product outage. That experience gave me unprecedented visibility into just how many people it takes to build, run, and support our products, an understanding of how critical each role is to the process, as well as the knowledge of important that product was to the people that used it. It was a powerful reminder that behind every system and service are real people whose work matters deeply. I’ve carried that appreciation with me ever since.
Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?
A motto I find myself often leaning on is: “Hope is not a strategy. Luck is not a factor. Fear is not an option.”
It’s something I lean on when planning deliverables and building strategies. To me, it’s a reminder that success doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention, preparation, and resilience. You need a plan, and often a backup plan, because in technology, things will go wrong.
I also believe in planning for your hopes and fears. Hope is what drives us to succeed, but fear isn’t something to ignore—it usually means we’re stretching ourselves, taking a risk, stepping into something new. That’s not a bad thing. It’s important to ask: Why am I afraid? Can I manage this risk? What happens if this fails? That kind of reflection helps us move forward with bold vision while staying grounded in reality.
When I say “luck isn’t a factor,” that doesn’t mean timing or opportunity don’t matter—they absolutely do. What that part of the motto means to me is that we can’t rely only on luck. We need to build strategies that account for failure, that help us recover, adapt, and keep going.
Hope and optimism are powerful forces, but they need to be backed by thoughtful planning and the kind of agility and resilience that turns risk into progress.