Employee Spotlight: Mara McGoey
This month, we’re excited to feature Mara McGoey, our Partner Manager, in our employee spotlight. As part of the Sales division, Mara manages one of our bank partners as well as builds our consultant partnership program.
Mara completed her degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. Prior to working at FISPAN, she was a Program Manager at Enactus Canada where she managed partnerships with Enactus teams at 24 universities and colleges in efforts to build successful entrepreneurial programs and business ventures.
Three Years of Driving Partnerships and Innovation
Mara has been with FISPAN for nearly three years. As a Partner Manager, she focuses on managing bank partnerships while also expanding FISPAN’s consultant partnerships channel and program.
Finding Inspiration in People and Collaboration
For Mara, it’s all about the people. “The team is incredibly smart, hardworking, and passionate about ERP Embedded Banking,” she says. Beyond that, she values the opportunity to learn from those around her, noting that there’s always something new to learn from someone at FISPAN, which makes it an excellent environment for both personal and professional growth. Mara also appreciates the collaborative atmosphere, where “the culture encourages creativity and open dialogue, with people unafraid to challenge ideas and think outside the box. This leads to healthy debates that push us to foster innovation.”
Mara and Lisa at the Jam FINTOP Summit
Reflecting on the chance to take on multiple roles at FISPAN, Mara has had the opportunity to explore different areas of the business, which has significantly broadened her expertise and deepened her industry knowledge. She recalls one experience that stands out: pitching an idea to leadership, securing investment, and then leading the development of a minimum viable product (MVP). “This project eventually grew into the need to build a full team,” she explains. “The process taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, strategy, and execution. Seeing an idea evolve from concept to MVP and then scaling it has been an incredible growth opportunity.”
Fueling Her Passion for Fintech and Embedded Banking
Since joining FISPAN, Mara has developed a strong passion for fintech, ERPs, accounts payables, and the broader embedded banking ecosystem. She enjoys staying up-to-date with industry news, keeping an eye on competitors and exploring new ERP products. “I’m excited to learn about innovations in banking and embedded finance, ” she said. “I’m also excited to witness FISPAN’s continued growth and to see where we go next in this dynamic industry.”
FISPAN team at AFP 2024 in Nashville
Building a Career at the Intersection of Technology and Innovation
Her passion for technology and entrepreneurship naturally drew her into the fintech space. During university, Mara took entrepreneurship courses and participated in a club where students started and ran businesses. After graduation, she joined a technology accelerator to further sharpen her skills.
“I didn’t have direct experience in fintech at first,” she admits, “though I knew I wanted to work in this industry.” To figure out where she fit, Mara mapped out the different technology sectors she could pursue, weighing the pros and cons of each. “Ultimately, this process led me to choose a career in fintech, and I’m thrilled with that decision—it’s an industry I’m truly passionate about,” she says.
Entering a new industry, especially in a B2B2B company like FISPAN, comes with a steep learning curve. But Mara emphasizes that “with the right mindset, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, it’s a challenge that can be overcome.”
Mentorship: The Foundation of Growth and Resilience
One of the biggest influences on Mara’s professional journey is a mentor and entrepreneurship professor she had during university. “They emphasized the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to pivot quickly—lessons that have been invaluable while working at a fast-paced, ever-evolving startup,” Mara says. Her mentor also instilled in her the value of a strong work ethic, perseverance, and grit, which are all qualities she continues to bring to her work every day.
Lessons in Leadership and Innovation
Since joining FISPAN, Mara has gained a wealth of knowledge that’s hard to capture in just a few sentences. “What I truly appreciate is the constant learning and growth I experience here,” she shares. One key lesson she’s taken away is the importance of company culture. “I’ve come to understand how much an organization’s success is shaped by its people,” she says. “The strength of any company lies in its team, and FISPAN is fortunate to have an exceptional group of individuals who make it a fantastic place to work and drive our success forward.”
FISPAN team at Sage Transform 2024
Living Life with Energy and Exploration
Mara describes herself as an active, go-go-go type of person, always on the move. When she’s not working, you’ll often find her playing sports. As a former ski racer and instructor, she spends most weekends on the slopes, making the most of her proximity to Whistler. She also plays intramural sports, including floor hockey, softball, volleyball, and soccer, depending on the season. Beyond sports, Mara is a big foodie and loves exploring new restaurants and traveling — she’s always on the lookout for her next adventure.
Mara has explored every continent except Antarctica, which is next on her bucket list—and she’s determined to make it happen soon! When she’s not planning her next adventure, she enjoys unwinding with a good thriller like Slow Horses. She loves a thriller with lots of twists and turns but also admits to having a guilty pleasure for reality TV, which she enjoys in her downtime.