Company leader, trusted authority, plus serial entrepreneur, Karen Webster impresses audiences with her knowledge of all things financial. As founder and CEO of PYMNTS.COM, Karen apprises the industry daily on breaking news, data analysis, and market shifts related to payments, commerce and technology, evolving the platform as the premier source of “what's next.” Keeping her finger on the fintech pulse, she shares news from top executives at ViSA, ApplePay, Amex, GooglePay, and PayPal as well as many emerging players changing the industry landscape under the radar, looking to be the next Venmo or Square. Karen's talent in forecasting trends based on sharp attention to user behavior keeps her on speed dial for top executives.

In her concurrent role as CEO of Market Platform Dynamics, Karen advises innovators by solving complex business problems while teaching focus. Savvy about consumer needs, she sees opportunities pairing digital transformations with viral adoption to drive customer acquisition, retention and loyalty. Karen offers lessons from her own background launching disruptive ventures propelled by strategic marketing, product pricing, and tailored incentives.

Karen speaks knowledgeably regarding the impacts of financial innovation at the intersection of mobile, digital, data, the cloud and the internet. She currently favors advances in connected user activities, such as voice-enabled commerce, user authentication, and real-time payment apps. Karen's less keen for metaverse monetization, and holds no enthusiasm for Bitcoin, blockchains, or cryptocurrency. Named one of LinkedIn's leading voices, Karen's warm and approachable style blends with her broad expertise to engage groups while easily navigating diverse topics across industries.