Description

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Emily Tsitrian, a fintech powerhouse, seasoned leader, and the author of 'Make Me The Boss,' a transformative guide and toolkit for millennial managers navigating the new complexities of leadership in our current social climate. A world defined by Covid, #BLM, and #MeToo.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I think a lot of people in my generation have had an experience where, in their early 20s, they're interested in doing big political/social things, and the way to actually change things is to work in technology. Overnight, you can make an app and see how thousands, millions of people change how they work, live, and exist due to technology.
• Payment technology has largely been considered to be a commodity because almost every business needs to accept payments. In the past 10-15 years, the payments layer of the entire Fintech stack, from payments to accounting, to accounts receivable, to reconciliation, to tax, has ultimately become more of a strategy rather than something that is an afterthought. 
• The dynamic in the American workplace has shifted significantly, changing how we work. Do I want to be doing 9-5 work if there are things like climate change and social upheaval that feel more real and present to me?
• The worst thing that can happen is that you fail. Failing at a company isn't a big deal; it’s OK if it doesn't work.

BEST MOMENTS
‘At a fundamental level, it’s all about risk, and managing risk. I think there’s going to be a lot of crossover over the next decade or so.’
‘What you set up in the early days can become very entangled with your downstream systems and it can be hard to disentangle as you scale, it’s something you want to put a little bit of thought and strategy into as you’re starting out on your entrepreneurial journey.’
‘If somebody had told me I was going to be an entrepreneur, I would have laughed, even a year ago. I always loved working in really big companies doing really big things. And rubbing shoulders with VPs and executives, and very much saw myself climbing that corporate ladder. It’s funny how life works.’
‘I never want to be laid off again ever, and the only way to truly ensure that is to become an entrepreneur.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
In a Fintech universe often viewed through the traditional lens, Emily Tsitrian is the game-changing asterisk. A seasoned leader with over 7 years in tech management, Emily has captained teams across diverse terrain—from established public companies to explosive unicorn start-ups, including almost 2 years at the Fintech behemoth Stripe.

As the co-founder of Yeeld, a consulting firm specializing in payment implementations, she's not just navigating the complex fintech landscape; she's helping redraw the map. But her expertise isn't confined to fintech. She's a professional services manager who doesn’t just manage, but leads—guiding teams with strategic insights that go beyond spreadsheets and quarterly reports.

ABOUT THE HOST

Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet.

If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights.

And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at hello@alchemycrew.ventures