At IXOPAY, we know that our greatest strength is our people—which is why we’re thrilled to welcome Chrissie Shea as our new Vice President of Human Resources.
With more than 20 years of global HR leadership experience spanning industries like fintech, global health, and SaaS, Chrissie brings deep expertise in organizational transformation, cultural integration, and employee engagement. Throughout her career, she’s helped organizations scale, adapt, and thrive by putting people at the center of business growth.
I sat down with Chrissie to learn more about what drew her to IXOPAY, her vision for HR and culture, and why she believes people-first leadership is the key to building a truly innovative, global organization.
Welcome to IXOPAY! What initially drew you to the company and this role? What stood out in our mission, culture, or people that made you feel this was the right next step?
What initially drew me to IXOPAY was the opportunity to work for a company going through transformation. Having navigated the complexities of bringing multiple entities together in my previous role, I'm excited to leverage that experience in helping IXOPAY solidify its unified global presence.
What solidified my decision to join IXOPAY was the warmth and genuine connection I felt with everyone I met during the interview process. These conversations all had one theme in common: Our people are our superpower—a culture I highly value.You’ve worked across various organizations—what have been some defining moments or learnings in your HR journey so far? How have those shaped your approach to building people-first organizations?
Across my HR journey, several defining moments have truly shaped my approach to building people-first organizations. One particularly impactful experience was working for a global health organization with a significant portion of our employees based in developing countries. This role immediately underscored the critical importance of moving beyond a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to HR. We had to deeply understand the diverse cultural nuances, local regulations, and unique challenges faced by our teams in different regions.
Ultimately, I've learned that while strategies and systems are important, at the heart of every successful organization are its people. My focus has always been on building genuine relationships, understanding individual journeys, and creating an environment where everyone can bring their best selves to work and thrive. It's about fostering a culture of trust, growth, and mutual respect.
What are your top priorities as you step into this role? Are there any initiatives or goals you're most excited to focus on in your first 90 days?
A lot of great work has already been done and/or is in progress. And I want to be respectful of all of the hard work that has already happened. So during my first few weeks, I plan to spend my time:Listening: I want to hear your perspectives — what’s working well, what’s getting in the way, and where you see opportunities.
Learning: I’ll be immersing myself in the people, systems, and processes that make this team run.
Leading: Not with answers, but with curiosity and clarity as we begin to align around our shared goals.
I'm eager to collaborate with everyone at IXOPAY to achieve great things.
How would you describe your leadership style regarding HR and team culture? What values or principles guide how you lead and support people?
When it comes to HR and team culture, I would describe my leadership style as collaborative, empowering, and focused on fostering a growth-oriented environment. I believe that the best HR strategies and a thriving team culture are built with people, not just for them. I prioritize open communication, active listening, and creating opportunities for input from all levels of the organization. I see myself as a partner to the business and a resource for employees, and that requires a collaborative approach to understand needs and co-create solutions.My goal is to empower individuals and teams to take ownership and contribute their best. This means providing clarity on expectations, offering the necessary resources and support, and trusting people to do their jobs effectively. I believe in fostering autonomy and creating space for individuals to develop their skills and leadership potential.
I'm a firm believer in continuous learning and development, both for individuals and the organization as a whole. I strive to create a culture where feedback is welcomed, mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, and there's a focus on helping people reach their full potential. This includes championing initiatives around professional development, mentorship, and internal mobility.
Ultimately, my aim is to cultivate a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best, driving both individual and organizational success.
As IXOPAY continues to scale globally, what HR strategies will be important to support a distributed, fast-growing team?
As IXOPAY continues to scale globally, a few HR things are really going to be key to keep everyone connected and thriving, regardless of where they sit.
First off, the right technology and tools are a must. We need to make sure everyone has what they need to easily chat, work together, and stay in the loop, no matter where they are.
Then, finding awesome people globally and making it easy for them to join our team is super important. We want to tap into top talent wherever it is, and have a smooth way to bring them on board.
Finally, how we look at performance and help people grow needs to work for a team that's not all in one place. It's about focusing on what people achieve, giving regular feedback that helps them, and offering fun ways to learn and develop their skills, no matter where they're located.
Lastly, what excites you most about the future of IXOPAY and the role people and culture will play in that growth?
Having only been here a short time, the genuine warmth and collaborative spirit of the people at IXOPAY have already made a strong impression. On Day 2, I watched the recent Pitchathon submissions. Not only did they provide a nice overview of what IXOPAY does, but they also provided a glimpse into its culture and the collaborative spirit of its employees.
What really excites me about IXOPAY's future is the immense potential we have by bringing together the talent and passion of our now unified global team. This integration offers a fantastic opportunity to cultivate a cohesive and high-performing culture that will be a key driver of innovation and our continued success in the dynamic payments landscape.
I'm genuinely looking forward to partnering with everyone to shape this future, where our people and culture are not just supported, but are truly seen as the driving force behind IXOPAY's growth and success.
Chrissie’s passion for building connected, high-performing teams shines through in everything she does. As IXOPAY continues to expand globally, her leadership will be instrumental in shaping a culture where every employee feels empowered, valued, and inspired to drive innovation.
We’re excited for the future of IXOPAY—and even more excited to have Chrissie leading the way in ensuring our people and culture stay at the heart of everything we do.
Welcome to the team, Chrissie!
