Payment Expert’s ID Check: Payments Professionals offers insight from industry leaders and experts on how they got their start in the financial industry, from their early years in education, to how they have been able to climb the corporate ladder.
This week, Alex Reddish speaks on humble beginnings picking fruit during his formative teenage years to becoming the Managing Director of Tribe Payments, and learning how the interlinks of payments can help those in a number of fields.
Where did you go to university and what did you study? What impact did this have on your current journey?
I went to the University of Roehampton in London and graduated with a degree in Business Management, Business Administration, Management and Operations. The generalisation allowed me to delay specialising.
My final year dissertation was entitled: ‘Will the prepaid industry survive the recession, and does it have the potential to become an integral part of the financial services industry?’.
Were you part of any sports clubs or societies at university and has this influenced your educational and professional development?
I played rugby and squash competitively at university. Team camaraderie and working as a unit were key elements of collegiate sport, and I carried those values with me as I embarked on my career. I infuse them into the way I run the business and work with my colleagues today.
Did you have any jobs outside of the industry before making your start in it and was this experience a motivation to get into the industry you aspired to be in?
During my education, yes. I started my first job picking fruit at the age of 13 for £2.17 an hour. I worked until university and then started my first role in payments the summer of my graduation.
What was the first job you had in the industry and are there any lessons from this you still draw on?
I worked at Ukash, a UK online cash provider, assisting the relationship management team with their customer accounts. The importance of relationships and delivering on promises has carried through from day one.
Who was your biggest role model outside of the payments industry who continues to inspire you in your current career?
My late father historically and to some extent today, but also inspiring me today is my wife.
When was your first big break in the payments industry? Why was this such a significant moment for you?
I suppose it was my first job. It enabled me to put my university dissertation into practice and to see first-hand the inner workings of how payments move, how many players are interlinked through the ecosystem, and the direct effect on customers when payments work smoothly or not.
After that it is for the individual to prove and develop in their chosen field. In payments, there is always something new happening, and I’ve always taken learnings from each role I’ve had to progress and gain an all-encompassing view of the industry.
Was there a moment you faced in the industry that really challenged you? How did you overcome this?
In your 20s, it’s easy to go out and party a lot in this industry. Getting married, having children, and a chat I had with a fellow professional about the options I had for my career definitely made all the difference for me.
Lastly, what is some advice you would give to an aspiring person looking to get a start in your respective industry?
This industry responds well to those that have a keen interest in the product or solution. So, do not shy away from understanding the ecosystem and technology that allows it to thrive.
Furthermore, if you want to operate in regulated environments, embrace it. Regulation when understood correctly provides a lot of opportunity to innovate.
