In this first episode of Tea for Two, and Two for Tea.  I sit down with Vassilina Walford to explore payments from a treasury perspective. We discuss the limits of multi-acquiring, the overlooked role of finance in retail payments, the rise of the Chief Payment Officer, and how luxury brands are rethinking payments as a strategic enabler—not just a backend process. A thoughtful insider take on the complexities behind the checkout.

Be indulgent, on this first episode, i did some curious editing but don't be shocked, I had to choose the best pieces of this long and elaborated conversation with Vassilina.

A big shout out to Podcast studio in Lausanne: https://www.wetalk-studio.com/

Link on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Spillttp/membership
Link on my blog: https://spillthetp.com/spill-the-tea-the-blog/
Link on my Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangraison/
Link on my Linked'in Newsletter "Spill the tea - La Crème de la Crème" : https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7280961977936482305/

Link to Vassilina LInked'in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilina-lapteva-walford/
Link to Payment Vibes expertise : https://paymentvibes.com/

Episode breakdown:

⏱ 00:00 — Episode Intro

I introduce the vision behind Tea for Two and Two for Tea — a podcast to spill real insights into payments, far from the marketing noise. He sets the tone: independent, curious, and a bit cheeky. Guest of honour: Vassalina Walford, former Richemont treasurer turned payment consultant.

⏱ 03:45 — Treasury as a Background

Vassilina shares how she entered payments by investigating credit card fees. Coming from treasury, she brings a different lens — focused on cost, cash flow, and strategic oversight rather than tech or UX.

⏱ 10:34 — The Multi-Acquiring Strategy

A candid conversation on the risks and rewards of multi-acquiring. Vassilina challenges the standard playbook and advocates for a balanced, selective approach rooted in redundancy, not complexity.

⏱ 14:10 — Treasury Role in Payment

Why treasury and finance teams are often left out of payment decisions—despite being the most impacted. Vassilina discusses the gap between commercial visions and back-office realities, and how that’s slowly shifting.

⏱ 17:53 — The Ascension of Chief Payment Officer (CPO)

Is payment a tech, finance, or marketing topic? Vassilina argues for a dedicated, senior payment function—neutral, cross-functional, and close enough to the field to stay relevant.

⏱ 23:40 — Payments as Enabler for Luxury Retail

In global luxury, payment isn’t just a back-end process—it’s a market enabler. From Alipay in China to UPI in India, payment localization has become key to capturing demand.

⏱ 27:24 — Payment Taboo in Luxury?

Once considered almost inappropriate to talk about, payments are now part of luxury’s strategic toolbox. Vassilina reflects on shifting attitudes and the Gen Z-led transformation of luxury customers.

⏱ 29:19 — Omnichannel Promise in Payments

The myth of “frictionless” is debunked. Omnichannel is a consumer expectation but a technical challenge. Success depends on orchestrating backend ops as much as the front-end journey.

⏱ 36:02 — Wrap-Up (Perspectives)

Vassilina and I reflect on the evolution of payments and the need for holistic thinking—where operations, tech, finance, and customer experience finally speak the same language.