The crypto payment industry, once a niche market, has exploded onto the global stage, revolutionising the way we transact and perceive finance. However, this rapid growth has also brought forth a host of challenges, from regulatory hurdles to volatile market conditions. In the face of these challenges, visionary leaders are emerging, shaping the future of crypto payments and driving innovation. Meryem Habibi (Chief Revenue Officer at Bitpace) is an established leader in this industry whose initial interest in a leadership role in the crypto payment industry stemmed from a deep fascination with blockchain technology’s transformative potential. She recognised the technology’s ability to streamline payments, democratise financial services, and unlock new opportunities for businesses and individuals worldwide.
From Tech to Finance
Having worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa, Meryem was acutely aware of the challenges businesses faced with traditional payment solutions. Inspired by the opportunity to bridge traditional finance with cutting-edge technology, she was motivated to shape the nascent crypto payment industry.
As her career progressed, her motivation evolved in tandem with the market and client needs. While initially driven by the pursuit of innovation, her focus shifted towards establishing secure, reliable, and user-friendly crypto payment solutions that could be trusted by the public.
Navigating the Crypto Landscape
Meryem’s journey has been marked by significant transitions. Starting in the technical field, she gained experience in the financial industry, initially selling ATMs during a time when cash was the dominant form of payment. Subsequently, she moved to a cross-border payment company and eventually joined Bitpace to focus on crypto payments.
This transition required a shift in mindset and a balance between strategic thinking and customer-centric leadership. Meryem Habibi realised that true leadership in the crypto payment space involves not only staying ahead of trends but also guiding teams and customers through the complex regulatory and technological landscape. Her primary inspiration now lies in leading with integrity and clarity, aiming to foster broader acceptance and stability for crypto payments in the future. She believes that with the new MiCA framework coming into effect soon, the industry will evolve in a way that hasn’t been possible so far, boosting crypto participation and creating significant growth opportunities for Bitpace.
The Art of Startup Leadership
Meryem’s transition from the corporate world to a startup environment was a transformative experience that reshaped her leadership philosophy. In a corporate setting, she was accustomed to established systems, resources, and clear hierarchies. Specialising in a specific area and relying on formal processes to get things done was the norm. While she appreciated the structure, she also recognised that it could sometimes hinder innovation and decision-making.
Joining a scaling startup thrust her into a fast-paced environment where quick decisions were necessary, often without complete information or extensive resources. This required a significant mindset shift. She learned to embrace adaptability, empowerment, and transparency. As a leader of a smaller team, she had to foster a sense of ownership and autonomy, encouraging others to take risks and innovate within their roles.
Meryem’s role shifted from directing to inspiring and enabling. She realised the value of agility and the importance of building a culture that encourages learning and resilience. In a startup environment, failures are not only expected but also necessary for growth. Instead of focusing solely on outcomes, she emphasised learning and progress, knowing that every attempt, successful or not, contributes to the company’s overall success. This experience has shaped her leadership approach, emphasising trust, adaptability, and creating a space where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Overcoming the Obstacles
Meryem Habibi believes that when facing challenges as a leader, it’s crucial to maintain perspective and seek input to find solutions. She strives to remain calm, assess situations objectively, and communicate clearly with her team to maintain trust and focus.
Additionally, she views setbacks as valuable learning opportunities. By analysing what went wrong, she can implement changes to improve resilience and performance. Listening to feedback from her team has always been important to her, as it helps uncover new ways to approach problems.
A Strategic Mindset
Meryem approaches challenges with a calm and strategic mindset. When faced with adversity, she prioritises maintaining a clear perspective and seeking input from her team. By objectively assessing situations and communicating openly, she fosters trust and maintains focus.
One of Meryem’s key strengths is her ability to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. By analysing failures and learning from mistakes, she implements changes that improve team resilience and overall performance. She actively encourages open communication and values the insights of her team members, recognising that diverse perspectives can lead to innovative solutions.
Meryem’s leadership style is characterised by empathy, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. She empowers her team members to take ownership of their work, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. Through her guidance and support, she inspires her team to overcome challenges and achieve remarkable results.
Rapid Expansion
Meryem Habibi faced a significant challenge early in her career when a regulatory change in a key market led to a significant revenue loss. This forced her and her team to rapidly expand into new markets. Through diligent effort and strategic planning, they successfully opened over 10 new markets within six months, restoring the company’s revenue to its previous levels.
Meryem has also contributed to significant growth at Bitpace. Under her leadership, the company has experienced a five-fold increase in volume year-over-year. This achievement reflects her ability to drive business growth and lead teams to success.
Beyond Micromanagement
Meryem believes that fostering open communication is essential for fostering innovation and creativity. By encouraging employees to share ideas, regardless of their role or seniority, she creates an environment where diverse perspectives are valued. She empowers her team by providing autonomy and ownership, allowing them to explore new approaches and take ownership of their projects.
While she avoids micromanagement, Meryem recognises the importance of providing guidance and support, especially for new team members. She believes in striking a balance between providing direction and empowering her team to take initiative.
Meryem Habibi also emphasises the importance of experimentation and learning from failure. She encourages her team to embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth and improvement. By fostering cross-functional collaboration, she encourages employees from different departments to share insights and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions.
The Impact of Mentorship
Meryem attributes her success to the guidance of strong mentors. She believes that mentorship is crucial for developing successful leaders, as it provides valuable insights, guidance, and support. One of her most influential mentors was Paulo Gomes, who served as a role model for her leadership style. The ability of Gomes to balance demanding expectations with support and encouragement helped Meryem avoid common pitfalls and develop her confidence. By sharing his experiences and pushing Meryem out of her comfort zone, Gomes empowered her to reach her full potential. Meryem strives to emulate the leadership style of Gomes and continue her own growth and development.
Story of Resilience and Growth
Meryem Habibi recognises the rapid pace of change in the crypto industry and the need for adaptability. While she emphasises the importance of a clear long-term vision, she also acknowledges the necessity of short-term adjustments. To ensure that the team remains aligned with the vision, she communicates regularly and encourages a growth mindset.
Meryem promotes a culture of flexibility and innovation, encouraging her team to adapt to changing market conditions and embrace new approaches. By fostering a learning environment, she empowers her team to find innovative solutions and stay ahead of the curve.
The success of the team in achieving significant growth and adapting to industry shifts demonstrates the effectiveness of Meryem’s leadership style.
Building a Legacy
Meryem draws inspiration from Simon Sinek’s concept of the infinite game, which emphasises long-term growth and impact over short-term gains. This perspective has influenced her leadership style, prompting her to prioritise trust, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Rather than focusing solely on immediate wins, Meryem believes in building a strong foundation for long-term success. She encourages her team to think beyond short-term goals and to focus on creating lasting value. By fostering a culture of innovation and resilience, Meryem Habibi aims to lead her team to achieve sustainable growth and success.
A New Approach to Work-Life Balance
Meryem recognises the evolving needs of modern workforces, particularly millennials and Gen Z. She understands that traditional approaches to work-life balance and employee satisfaction are no longer sufficient. To cultivate a positive and inclusive workplace culture, Meryem prioritises three key areas:
- Respect and Inclusion: Meryem leads by example, demonstrating respect and inclusivity in all her interactions. She creates an environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated.
- Open Communication: She fosters open communication by encouraging dialogue, feedback, and accessibility. Meryem is available to her team through various channels, ensuring that they feel heard and supported.
- Diversity: Meryem values diversity in all its forms, recognising that diverse teams lead to better outcomes. She celebrates differences in background, experience, and perspective, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
By implementing these strategies, Meryem Habibi aims to create a workplace where employees feel motivated, engaged, and empowered to contribute their best work.
Learning from Mistakes
Meryem recognises that decision-making is a challenging aspect of leadership, especially in fast-paced environments like startups. She believes that the cost of indecision often outweighs the risks of making a wrong decision. Inspired by her mentor, Paulo Gomes, Meryem approaches decision-making with a focus on gathering information, evaluating options, and acting decisively.
She emphasises the importance of learning from both successful and unsuccessful decisions. By monitoring outcomes and adapting as needed, Meryem Habibi fosters a culture of continuous improvement. She believes that taking action, even if it involves making mistakes, is essential for growth and progress.
Commitment to People and Purpose
Meryem aspires to continue her growth as a leader, fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of leaders. She believes in creating a work environment where team members feel inspired, challenged, and supported. While she recognises the importance of driving results, she also emphasises the significance of personal and professional development.
Meryem aims to leave a legacy of inclusivity, collaboration, and trust. She strives to create a workplace where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered. She is committed to ethical leadership and making a positive impact on the community. By supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, Meryem recognises the broader impact of her work on individuals and businesses.
Ultimately, Meryem Habibi seeks to leave a lasting legacy of leadership that prioritises people, innovation, and positive change.