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, Patricia Gomez, Strategic Enterprise Client Director at Featurespace, details his journey from working in her native Spain with law ambitions, to forging a career in financial sales, before completing reversing her career path into new industries.
Where did you go to university and what did you study? What impact did this have on your current journey?
I studied at the Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles (IEB), a prestigious university in my city, Madrid, where I pursued a double degree in Law and Finance—two fields that are quite distinct, yet highly complementary.
This combination gave me a well-rounded and strategic perspective on the business world. Although I’ve always had a natural inclination toward the humanities, my education in finance equipped me with the analytical skills and numerical understanding that have been key throughout my professional journey.
Interestingly, while I was passionate about law, my career took off in finance and continued to grow in that direction. That experience taught me an important lesson: your academic background is just the starting point. What truly shapes your path is your willingness to adapt—even to unexpected turns that may lead you in directions you hadn’t initially considered.
What was the first job you had in the industry and are there any lessons from this you still draw on?
When I finished university, I faced a difficult decision. As I mentioned earlier, I had always been strongly drawn to law and, for a time, seriously considered becoming a judge. Some of my professors even encouraged me to pursue that path and begin preparing for the competitive exams.
But in the end, I lacked the motivation to commit to such a long process—mainly because I was eager to enter the workforce, experience the business world from within, and start building relationships in a space full of potential opportunities.
That decision led me to focus on the financial side of my studies, and I began my professional career as a broker at an investment and brokerage firm in Madrid. It was a fast-paced, high-pressure environment that taught me valuable lessons about resilience, quick decision-making, and the importance of staying curious and adaptable.
One of the most valuable lessons from that first role was understanding that early career experiences aren’t just about learning what you enjoy—they’re also about identifying what doesn’t suit you. These insights are essential for shaping a path that aligns with your natural skills, personal traits, and long-term aspirations.
Who was your biggest role model – inside or outside of your industry – who continues to inspire you in your current career?
My greatest role model has been my grandmother. She has a remarkably modern and forward-thinking personality. Although she didn’t work in the corporate or financial world, the way she has approached life has had a profound and lasting impact on me—both personally and professionally.
She is a woman of remarkable strength and passion, someone who never gives up, who constantly strives to improve, and who treats each day as an opportunity to learn something new. From her, I learned the value of resilience, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility—as well as the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and staying motivated even in difficult moments.
She taught me that consistency and quiet determination often carry more weight than loud ambition, and that true leadership comes from leading by example. To this day, she continues to inspire me every single day, and I feel incredibly fortunate to still have her by my side, offering the best advice whenever I need it.
When was your first big break in the industry? Why was this such a significant moment for you?
The turning point in my career came when I accepted the challenge of launching Intralinks’ business from the ground up in Spain and Portugal—a technology company specialising in the M&A sector.
I was 27 years old and working as a sales consultant at a financial technology firm when a head-hunter reached out to present an opportunity that was completely different from anything I had done before. It wasn’t just a new industry for me—it meant opening a new market, building a commercial strategy, and leading growth across two countries entirely on my own.
It was undoubtedly a risky decision, but also a deeply transformative one. At that moment, I felt a strong urge to bet on something bigger, to leave my comfort zone, and to take a real leap forward in my career.
I followed my intuition—which has always been a trusted guide—and through hard work, perseverance, and a long-term vision, I not only achieved but exceeded my goals. Intralinks became a benchmark in the Spanish market, and I built a high-performing, committed team.
It taught me that success isn’t just about technical expertise or previous experience—it’s about mindset, determination, and adaptability. And above all, it showed me that when a meaningful opportunity comes your way, you need to have the courage to say yes even if the path isn’t fully clear yet. Because with the right mindset, vision, and relentless effort, you’ll carve the way forward.
Was there a moment you faced in the industry that really challenged you? How did you overcome this?
After 15 years leading the Spanish market at my previous company, I felt it was time for a profound change. I wasn’t looking for a gradual evolution, but rather a radical shift: changing industries, roles—everything. I wanted to take on something completely new that would challenge me and allow me to keep growing both professionally and personally.
It was a very difficult phase. Making the decision to leave a company where I felt valued, fulfilled, surrounded by a great team, with excellent conditions and a business I knew inside out, wasn’t easy. On top of that came the doubts: Would I be able to rediscover my motivation? Would someone give me a chance in a sector where I had no experience? Would the market be willing to bet on me?
I chose to follow my intuition, closed one chapter, and took time to reflect on where I wanted to steer my career. I was looking to reconnect with my motivation and give new meaning to my professional journey. After an intense period of exploration and self-reflection, I was fortunate to join an outstanding company: Featurespace.
I stepped into a fascinating and increasingly vital field: financial fraud and crime prevention. The opportunity to help make the digital world a safer place for businesses and their customers truly resonated with me.
Today, I’m still learning every day—and that’s what keeps me growing. It was a tough decision, but unquestionably the right one.
What are some of the skills you deem essential to starting in your industry and how have yours developed over the years?
Starting a career in the technology industry for financial fraud prevention, requires a unique combination of skills that, over the years, I have come to value deeply.
First and foremost, curiosity is essential. In an industry that evolves as quickly as technology and fraud tactics do, staying curious allows you to keep learning, questioning, and adapting. Curiosity fuels professional growth and ensures you’re always ready to anticipate changes rather than react to them.
Perseverance is equally critical, especially in commercial roles. Success often comes after multiple challenges and setbacks. Perseverance keeps you moving forward, helps you build resilience, and ultimately strengthens your ability to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Another key skill is planning. Having a clear plan is vital — not just for when everything goes as expected, but especially for when it doesn’t. A well-thought-out plan provides structure and direction, while a contingency plan gives you the flexibility and confidence to navigate the unexpected.
Finally, it’s important to always set goals — both short-term and long-term. Daily goals keep you moving with intention, providing small wins that build momentum while long-term goals give you a sense of purpose and perspective, guiding your professional journey over time.
These skills have not only helped me grow but continue to shape the way I approach every new challenge and opportunity in this dynamic industry.
Lastly, what is some advice you would give to an aspiring person looking to get a start in your respective industry?
My advice is simple: start with passion and a clear sense of purpose. Find meaning in what you do — for me, it’s about helping to combat financial crime around the world.
If you have the drive, the perseverance, and the curiosity to keep learning, everything else will come with time. The beginning can be tough, especially if, like me, you don’t have a technical background. It requires daily commitment, constant learning, and a lot of resilience.
But you’re never alone in this journey. Surround yourself with people who know the industry, ask questions without fear, and learn from their experiences and best practices. Every challenge becomes easier when you stay open, stay curious, and keep believing in the impact you want to make.
