Meet Jairo Riveros | President, Americas & Global Head of Strategy | Paysend

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jairo Riveros and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jairo, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The single most important factor behind my success has been the relationships and network I have built over the course of my career.

I have been fortunate to work across consulting, asset management, pensions, payments, and fintech, and each chapter has reinforced the same lesson: opportunities come from people, not organizations. The most meaningful achievements in my career have been the result of trusted relationships developed over many years, often across different companies, industries, and countries.

I have always invested time in staying connected, helping others, and maintaining relationships long after a transaction, project, or job has ended. Many of the opportunities I work on today at Paysend can be traced back to relationships developed at Mastercard, TIAA, AIMCo, Deloitte, through board service, or through the TRIUM EMBA network.

TRIUM EMBA, in particular, expanded my perspective and gave me access to an extraordinary global community of leaders. Twenty years after graduating, I continue to learn from classmates, seek their advice, and collaborate with them. In fact, Paysend itself benefits from this network, with four TRIUM alumni contributing to the company’s growth and strategy.

I often tell young professionals that your network is not something you build when you need it; it is something you nurture consistently over time. Expertise opens doors, but trust is what keeps them open. Looking back, I believe that the combination of strong relationships, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to help others has been the foundation of both my personal success and the opportunities I have been privileged to pursue.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been shaped by a passion for connecting strategy, innovation, and people across industries and geographies. Today, I serve as President for the Americas and Head of Global Strategy at Paysend, a global payments infrastructure company, but my journey has taken me through consulting, asset management, pensions, payments, fintech, and board leadership roles.

One of the experiences that had the greatest impact on my life occurred very early in my life when I served with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai, Egypt. Living and working in a multinational environment dedicated to preserving peace and cooperation between nations taught me lessons that continue to guide me today: the importance of leadership under uncertainty, the value of cultural understanding, and the power of collaboration among people with different backgrounds and perspectives. Looking back, that experience was one of the first times I truly understood what it means to operate in a global environment.

What sets me apart is not a particular title or achievement, but the ability to bridge worlds that do not always naturally connect: strategy and execution, developed and emerging markets, technology and business, and perhaps most importantly, people from different cultures and perspectives. Having lived, studied, and worked internationally, I have always been fascinated by how ideas, capital, and talent move across borders.

Looking back, I am most proud of the relationships I have built and maintained throughout my career. Many leaders measure success by transactions, revenues, or promotions. While those are important, I believe true success is reflected in the trust people place in you over time. Some of my closest professional relationships span decades and continue to create opportunities, partnerships, and friendships today.

The journey was certainly not easy. Like many professionals, I faced setbacks, career transitions, organizational restructurings, and moments of uncertainty. There were times when opportunities I expected did not materialize and moments when I had to reinvent myself to remain relevant in rapidly changing industries. What helped me overcome those challenges was a combination of resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to continuously learn. I never viewed setbacks as failures; I viewed them as tuition for future success.

One of the most transformative experiences in my life was participating in the TRIUM Global Executive MBA. TRIUM expanded my worldview, challenged my assumptions, and connected me with an extraordinary network of global leaders. It reinforced the belief that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about asking better questions and bringing together diverse perspectives to solve complex problems.

Throughout my career, I have also remained deeply committed to international education and cultural exchange, a value that began with AFS and was reinforced during my time in Sinai. Those experiences taught me that empathy, adaptability, and cultural intelligence are not soft skills—they are leadership skills.

If there is one lesson I have learned, it is that careers are rarely linear. The most rewarding opportunities often come from unexpected places, and success is built one relationship, one challenge, and one learning experience at a time. Expertise may open doors, but character, trust, and generosity are what sustain a career over the long term.

What I would like the world to know about my story is simple: I am a believer in the power of global connections. Whether through AFS, the MFO, Mastercard, TRIUM, board service, or my work at Paysend, I have dedicated my career to helping people, businesses, and communities connect across borders. In many ways, that has been the common thread throughout my professional journey—and it continues to inspire me every day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my best friend are visiting for a week, I would proudly show them Miami, not just the tourist attractions, but the city I have come to love as home.

We start with a morning walk along the Brickell waterfront, followed by coffee while watching the city come alive. Brickell has become one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in the world, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and people from every corner of the Americas.

One day needs to be dedicated to exploring the cultural side of Miami. We would visit the colorful streets and galleries of Wynwood, spend time in the Design District, and enjoy lunch at one of the city’s incredible restaurants. Another day would be spent in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, two neighborhoods that showcase Miami’s history, charm, and unique character.

No visit would be complete without getting out on the water. We would spend a day boating around Biscayne Bay, taking in the views of the skyline, Key Biscayne, and the beautiful homes along the waterfront. Miami is one of the few cities where the ocean is truly part of everyday life.

The evenings revolve around great food and even better conversations. Miami’s culinary scene reflects its diversity, with influences from across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. Some nights would be spent in Brickell, others in Miami Beach, and at least one dinner would include friends and colleagues from the worlds of fintech, banking, and entrepreneurship.

To me, Miami represents the future: international, entrepreneurial, multicultural, and optimistic. It is where North America meets Latin America, where business meets lifestyle, and where some of the most interesting conversations and opportunities happen every day. That is the Miami I like my best friend to experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to dedicate my success to three organizations, they would be AFS, TRIUM, and Paysend.

AFS was the first organization that truly opened my eyes to the world. As a young exchange student, I learned that leadership begins with curiosity, empathy, and the ability to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. That experience shaped how I view the world and ultimately inspired a career that has spanned multiple countries and industries.

TRIUM EMBA came at a different stage of my life and helped transform me from an executive into a global leader. The program challenged me intellectually, exposed me to extraordinary classmates from around the world, and gave me a lifelong network of friends, advisors, and collaborators. Even today, many of the most important professional relationships in my life trace back to the TRIUM community.

Finally, Paysend has given me the opportunity to put those lessons into practice. It is a company built by entrepreneurs with a bold vision to make financial services more accessible and connected globally. Being part of Paysend’s journey—from a remittance company to a global payments infrastructure platform—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The trust, support, and partnership of my colleagues, including fellow TRIUM alumni within the company, have been instrumental in everything we have achieved.

Of course, no success story belongs to one person alone. I am deeply grateful to my family, mentors, colleagues, and friends who have encouraged me along the way. But if I look at the organizations that fundamentally shaped who I am, AFS taught me to be a global citizen, TRIUM taught me to be a global leader, and Paysend has given me the opportunity to create global impact.

Website: https://paysend.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jairoriveros/

Image Credits
Paysend team.