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, Coral Kratenstein, Product Marketing Lead at OpenPayd, reflects on her time working as a lawyer, how the ‘transformative’ nature of fintech helped her path and what she learned at the “best fintech class in the world”.
Where did you go to university, and what did you study? What impact did this have on your current journey?
I completed my undergraduate studies in Law and Psychology at the Reichman University, followed by an MBA at London Business School. Studying law sharpened my analytical and critical thinking skills, which have proven invaluable in fintech, especially in understanding complex regulations and compliance issues.
My MBA provided a broader business perspective, giving me a deep understanding of marketing, strategy, and leadership skills that have been essential as I navigated through product marketing roles at companies like PayPal, GoCardless, and OpenPayd.
Were you part of any sports clubs or societies at university, and has this influenced your educational and professional development?
I was an active member of the running club during my university years. As a long-distance runner – running taught me discipline, perseverance, and the importance of setting long-term goals – traits that have carried over into my professional life. In product marketing, you need the ability to stay focused and be persistent, especially when bringing innovative solutions to market in a fast-paced environment.
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?
Yes, I worked as a lawyer in the commercial litigation department at S. Horowitz & co, primarily managing cases for tech clients. I also have over 10 years of experience running my own business in the travel industry, which honed my entrepreneurial mindset.
These experiences helped me understand both the customer and regulatory sides, motivating me to transition into product marketing roles that require strategic thinking, customer understanding, stakeholder management, and deep knowledge of evolving technologies.
What was the first job you had in the industry, and are there any lessons from this you still draw on?
My first job in the fintech industry was at PayPal, which I often refer to as the “best fintech school in the world”. I learned the importance of customer-centricity and innovation in building and marketing payment solutions.
One of the key lessons I still draw on is the value of agility – the ability to quickly adapt to market trends and regulatory changes, a principle that remains critical as I build the Product Marketing function from the ground-up at OpenPayd.
Who was your biggest role model outside of the payments industry who continues to inspire you in your current career?
A key figure who continues to inspire me is Viktor Frankl, the renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. His philosophy of finding meaning in life’s most challenging circumstances has had a profound impact on my outlook, both personally and professionally.
Frankl’s resilience and belief that we always have the power to choose our response to adversity have influenced the way I approach challenges in the fintech industry. His teachings remind me that, no matter how complex the situation, there is always an opportunity to find purpose and growth, which has been essential in navigating the fast-paced, often unpredictable world of payments.
When was your first big break in the payments industry? Why was this such a significant moment for you?
My first big break came when I joined PayPal. Being part of such a pioneering company gave me a front-row seat to the transformative power of fintech. This was significant because it opened my eyes to how payments and technology could truly change the way we do business globally, and I knew I wanted to be part of that change.
It set the foundation for everything I’ve done since, from helping bring to market the Account-to-Account payment engine at GoCardless to driving product marketing at OpenPayd.
Was there a moment you faced in the industry that really challenged you? How did you overcome this?
One of the biggest challenges I faced is navigating regulatory changes, such as staying on top of the evolving Open Banking regulations or understanding how Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation impacts the business.
To overcome these challenges, I collaborate closely with legal and compliance teams and stay informed to ensure our product offerings meet new requirements while still providing seamless customer experiences.
Lastly, what is some advice you would give to an aspiring person looking to get a start in your respective industry?
First and foremost, be curious – fintech is an ever-evolving industry, and the more you learn, the better positioned you’ll be to seize opportunities. Secondly, surround yourself with people from different areas of the business (such as legal, tech, and marketing) to gain a well-rounded view of the ecosystem.
Lastly, build your network to open up new opportunities. Remember, paths often cross again in the fintech world – it’s a small community.
