Company: Mastercard

Location: Toronto, ON

Expected salary:

Job date: Sun, 07 Sep 2025 01:54:51 GMT

Job description: Our PurposeMastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.Title and SummaryDirector, Start Path Lead, North AmericaOverview:

• Are you motivated by a fast-paced environment where you would be a subject matter expert, a connector, and a leader with a reputation for impact?
• Do you have a passion for later-stage startups and emerging technology, and possess an entrepreneurial spirit?
• Are you interested in working in an environment that has the nimbleness of a fintech and works with startups regionally and globally?
• Do you thrive on building strategic partnerships, facilitating impactful commercial deals, and driving innovative distribution strategies in high-growth product areas?

Start Path is Mastercard’s award-winning, global fintech engagement program through which Mastercard engages with later-stage fintechs to drive product development and commercial opportunities across the company. Over the last ten years, Start Path has worked with over 480 companies across more than 60 countries. The Start Path team is agile, cross-functional group which works with multiple teams across the organization and partners in the external ecosystem to engage the best later-stage fintechs across the globe.
We are now seeking a Director of StartPath, North America, to work at the intersection between our fintechs, customers as well as internal product and commercial teams to drive collaboration, innovation and value.The Role:

• Ensure best-in-class sourcing of fintechs through relationship building with external ecosystem (e.g. investor network, ecosystem partners)
• Partner with regional product teams to identify opportunities for new product development and expanded distribution that can be unlocked via fintech partnerships
• Develop regional fintech distribution strategy, identifying and onboarding Mastercard resellers, system integrators, and other indirect sales partners
• Facilitate and close commercial deals with strategic fintech partners that align with business objectives, ensuring mutual value creation
• Manage top fintech accounts to drive product development and distribution, and track commercial outcomes to demonstrate business value
• Function as a regional expert; consolidate and synthesize signals from fintech, investment, regulatory landscape to central Start Path team and product teams
• Work closely with regional account teams to evangelize the Start Path program and train Account Managers and Sales teams on how Start Path creates commercial value for Mastercard and our customers
• Contribute to evaluation and selection of fintechs pre-program and mentoring of fintechs during program
• Create a go-to-market strategy to maximize commercial engagements between fintechs and customers
• Cultivate effective senior level relationships in the region, building rapport and trust with Mastercard customers

All About You:

• Strong commercial acumen and track record of identifying strategic partnerships that drive business value
• Ability to build valuable relationships with ecosystem partners and customers
• Expert consultative selling, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Quick learner of emerging technologies, demonstrating thought leadership
• Customer-focused, solutions-driven, with a strong sense of urgency
• Proven ability to take accountability and deliver results in ambiguous environments
• Multi-disciplinary expertise in product development, product management, business development, marketing, and client relationship management

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.Corporate Security ResponsibilityAll activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;Report any suspected information security violation or breach, andComplete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Summary of Content:

Purpose: Mastercard aims to empower economies and individuals across 200+ countries, promoting a sustainable economy through diverse, secure, and accessible digital payment options.

Position: Director of Start Path Lead, North America

Overview:

• Seeking a dynamic leader with expertise in later-stage startups and emerging technologies.
• The role involves building strategic partnerships and facilitating impactful commercial deals to foster innovation.

Role Responsibilities:

• Source top fintechs through relationship-building with ecosystem partners.
• Collaborate with regional product teams to identify new opportunities via fintech partnerships.
• Develop and execute a fintech distribution strategy, including onboarding various partners.
• Facilitate and close commercial deals aligned with business goals.
• Manage fintech accounts to enhance product development and assess commercial outcomes.
• Act as a regional expert and synthesize relevant industry insights for internal teams.
• Promote Start Path within the organization and train teams on its value.
• Develop go-to-market strategies for commercial engagement with clients.
• Cultivate senior-level relationships within the region.

Candidate Profile:

• Strong commercial acumen and proven track record in strategic partnerships.
• Excellent relationship-building, consultative selling, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand emerging technologies and deliver results in ambiguous settings.
• Multidisciplinary skills in product development, business development, and client management.

Inclusivity Commitment: Mastercard is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diverse hiring without discrimination. Accommodations available for applicants during the application process.

Security Responsibilities: All employees must adhere to Mastercard’s security protocols, ensuring information confidentiality and integrity, and report any breaches.