Jairo Riveros: the Paysend Story

The idea for Paysend came from a simple observation: moving money across borders was far more complicated, expensive, and time-consuming than it should have been.

Whether you were an individual supporting family overseas or a business making international payments, the experience was often frustrating. Transfers could take several days, fees were high, and the process involved unnecessary complexity.

We believed technology could fundamentally change that. From the very beginning, our vision was built around three principles that continue to define Paysend today:

• Instant money movement
• Affordable pricing
• A simple, intuitive customer experience

Those principles became the foundation of our company and remain at the heart of every product we build.

Equally important was finding partners who shared this vision. We were fortunate to bring together people with complementary expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and an unwavering commitment to putting customers first. That shared purpose has enabled Paysend to evolve from a startup into one of the world’s leading global payments infrastructure platforms.

 

A TRIUM Network that became a founding advantage

TRIUM had a profound influence on both the vision behind Paysend and the confidence to pursue it.
Our cohort brought together senior executives from more than 30 countries, representing an extraordinary range of industries, cultures, and perspectives. Over two years, we learned as much from one another as we did from the formal curriculum. Those conversations challenged our assumptions and broadened our understanding of global business in ways that continue to influence us today.

The faculty was equally impactful. The combination of academic rigor and practical business insight provided frameworks that have remained highly relevant throughout Paysend’s growth.

Perhaps most importantly, the international nature of the program exposed us to different markets, regulatory environments, and customer behaviours firsthand. That global perspective proved invaluable when building a company designed to move money seamlessly across borders.

TRIUM didn’t simply provide an executive education—it helped cultivate the global mindset, relationships, and confidence needed to build an international business.

 

Paysend has grown into one of the world’s largest digital payments networks. What do you attribute that success to?

Every milestone we’ve achieved begins with people.

First, our team. Paysend has brought together exceptionally talented people from around the world who are united by a common mission: making global money movement faster, simpler, and more accessible. Their expertise, innovation, and determination have been the driving force behind our growth.

Second, our customers. Millions of consumers and businesses trust Paysend every day to move money internationally. Their feedback has shaped our products, helped us prioritize innovation, and challenged us to continually improve.

Finally, our partners. Building global payments infrastructure requires deep collaboration with banks, payment networks, regulators, and technology partners across the world. Their trust has allowed us to scale responsibly while expanding into new markets and launching new capabilities.

Technology is essential, but long-term success is built on trust, collaboration, and a relentless focus on solving real customer problems. Those principles continue to guide everything we do.

The connection to TRIUM remains very much alive within Paysend itself. Today, four TRIUM alumni are part of our leadership journey:

• Abdul Abdulkerimov – Founder (Class of 2006)
• Tom Zschach – Member of the Board of Advisors (Class of 2006)
• Jairo Riveros – President Americas & Head of Global Strategy (Class of 2006)
• Anton Globus – Group Director, Finance & Innovation (Class of 2018)

Working together every day is the strongest example of how enduring the TRIUM network can be.

Beyond that, the alumni community continues to provide valuable opportunities to reconnect, exchange ideas, and support one another. Events such as Module 7 create a natural platform for maintaining relationships across different cohorts, and the global nature of the network makes those interactions especially meaningful.

 

Collaboration as a growth driver

The greatest value of the TRIUM network is the trust that exists between its members.

When you’re building a global business, having access to experienced leaders across dozens of countries is incredibly powerful. Whether you’re seeking introductions to potential partners, regulators, investors, customers, or local market experts, the network provides trusted relationships rather than transactional contacts.

For Paysend, those connections have helped us better understand new markets, build strategic partnerships, and navigate complex international environments.

It’s not just a network—it’s a community of leaders who share a genuinely global perspective and a willingness to help one another succeed.

 

A global perspective that translates into practice

The combination of three world-class institutions with their respective faculty gave us a perspective that very few executive programs can offer.

• LSE strengthened our understanding of economics, regulation, and the broader forces shaping global financial markets.
• NYU Stern contributed a strong entrepreneurial and innovation-focused mindset, emphasizing customer-centric thinking and practical business execution.
• HEC Paris added deep expertise in international leadership, strategy, and managing organizations across cultures.

Together, the three institutions created a uniquely global learning experience that balanced analytical rigor with practical leadership. That perspective directly influenced how we built Paysend—not as a company serving one market, but as a global platform designed to connect people, businesses, and financial institutions across borders.

 

An enduring community – more than a network

Expect one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of your professional career.

TRIUM is intellectually demanding, but that’s precisely what makes it so valuable. You’ll learn alongside accomplished executives from around the world who bring diverse experiences, challenge your thinking, and often become lifelong friends and trusted advisors.

The academic content is exceptional, but what truly distinguishes the program is its global perspective. The combination of international modules, world-class faculty, and an extraordinary cohort expands not only your knowledge but also the way you see the world.

For me, TRIUM was far more than an executive MBA. It helped shape the global mindset, confidence, and relationships that ultimately contributed to building Paysend into the international business it is today.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself, broaden your perspective, and become part of a lifelong global community, TRIUM is an exceptional investment.