Visa Spotlights

In this episode of Visa Spotlights, we explore how stablecoins are moving from speculation to real-world utility—and what this means for the future of payments across CEMEA. Host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications, CEMEA at Visa, sits down with Shahebaz Khan, SVP Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, CEMEA, Visa.

Together, they discuss how stablecoins can enable faster, always-on and programmable money movement, from cross-border remittances and business liquidity to payouts and everyday payments. Shahebaz also shares how Visa is helping financial institutions build and scale stablecoin solutions through Visa Direct, its Stablecoin Advisory Practice and strategic partnerships.

The conversation also explores the role of stablecoins in Gen Z’s digital economy and the emerging world of agentic commerce, where AI agents could increasingly transact on behalf of consumers.

You’ll hear how Visa is:

• Turning stablecoins into practical payment and settlement solutions
• Enabling faster, more flexible cross-border money movement
• Helping financial institutions build and scale stablecoin products
• Unlocking new opportunities across remittances, payouts and digital commerce
• Preparing for the next generation of AI-powered and programmable commerce

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In this episode, we explore how performance, scale, and partnership are redefining global payments in an era of rapid digital acceleration. Host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA) at Visa, sits down with Matthieu Barral, Global Head of Partnerships at Checkout.com, during the Visa Payments Forum in Paris.

Together, they unpack Checkout.com’s growth journey to processing over $300 billion in annual payment volume and what it takes to build a high-performing global payments business. From shifting customer expectations to the rise of real-time, data-driven commerce, Matthieu shares his perspective on the most consequential changes shaping the payments ecosystem—and the opportunities they unlock for merchants worldwide.

The conversation dives into the concept of “payment performance” and why reliability, optimization, and seamless user experiences have become critical competitive advantages. Matthieu also explains how Checkout.com balances global scale with local expertise across more than 50 markets, enabling businesses to operate with precision in diverse regulatory and consumer environments.

You’ll hear how Visa and Checkout.com are:

•Driving higher payment acceptance and performance for merchants globally
• Enabling seamless, scalable commerce across borders with local market expertise
•Responding to industry shifts including real-time payments, AI-driven optimization, and evolving consumer expectations
•Strengthening the payments ecosystem through deep strategic partnership
•Building resilient, high-performance infrastructure to support the next generation of digital commerce

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In this episode, we explore how fraud and cyber risk are evolving across the payments ecosystem as commerce becomes more digital, automated, and AI‑enabled. Threat actors are adapting in parallel, using automation, social engineering, deepfakes, and ransomware to move faster and at greater scale.

Host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA), sits down with Charles Lobo, Senior Vice President and Regional Risk Officer for CEMEA, to unpack how AI is reshaping both attacks and defenses, and what institutions need to do to stay resilient. Together, they look at how consumer expectations are changing as people embrace new ways to shop—from social commerce to AI‑assisted discovery—and what it takes for banks, merchants, platforms, and payment networks to keep those experiences secure, trusted, and seamless.

You’ll hear how Visa is:

• Using AI and advanced analytics to detect and disrupt emerging fraud patterns
• Partnering across the ecosystem to strengthen cyber and payments resilience
• Helping clients protect new digital experiences, from social commerce to AI‑driven journeys
• Supporting risk, compliance, and security teams with tools and insights to stay ahead of evolving threats

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For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In this episode we explore how policy, technology, and public‑private partnerships are reshaping financial inclusion as we move deeper into 2026. Host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA), sits down with Joanne Kubba, Visa’s SVP & Head of Government Affairs for CEMEA, to unpack the frameworks, regulatory models, and emerging technologies accelerating inclusive economic growth.

Together, they dive into how financial inclusion has shifted from a philanthropic aspiration to a cornerstone of global economic stability — and what it takes to scale it responsibly. Joanne breaks down the critical role of harmonized regulation, modern infrastructure, and cross‑sector collaboration in unlocking equitable access to financial services across diverse markets.

You’ll hear how Visa is:
• Enabling digital transformation through public‑private partnerships
• Modernizing cross‑border money movement through Visa Direct and regulated, payment‑grade stablecoin settlement
• Powering AI‑enabled opportunities for MSMEs through Visa Intelligent Commerce and the Trusted Agent Protocol
• Supporting government adoption of modern payment technologies while balancing innovation, interoperability, and consumer protection
• Strengthening ecosystem resilience with tokenization, digital identity, and global policy collaboration

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Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3NSt0Lz
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3YNIz9S
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4rt38V5

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

Visa Spotlights returns with a deep dive into the fast‑evolving world of payments as we enter 2026. In this episode, host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA), sits down with Tareq Muhmood, Visa’s Regional President for CEMEA, to unpack the forces reshaping how people pay, shop, and interact with money across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

Together, they explore the state of the digital economy across CEMEA, the rapid acceleration of cash displacement, the rise of tokenization, and a fast‑maturing financial ecosystem. Looking ahead, Tareq breaks down six major trends defining 2026—from stablecoins moving into real‑world utility, to AI‑driven agentic commerce, to hyper‑personalized financial experiences built on trust and agility.

You will hear how Visa is:
• Expanding stablecoin settlement and enabling 7‑day‑a‑week cross‑border movement
• Building the trust framework for agentic commerce and next‑gen AI‑protected payments
• Fighting evolving fraud threats through biometrics, Visa Protect AI models, and Passkeys
• Powering the era beyond OTPs, manual guest checkout, and friction-heavy online purchases
• Accelerating financial inclusion through local partnerships across Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia
• Helping banks and merchants unlock “Segment of One” personalization with modular, data-rich systems

A forward-looking, insight-packed conversation for anyone interested in the future of payments — and how innovation, trust, and inclusion will shape the next wave of digital commerce in 2026 and beyond.

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Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3NSt0Lz
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3YNIz9S
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4qCTEa8

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In this episode of Visa Spotlights, Reem Asaad, Visa’s SVP & Head of Client Services for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), joins host Dan Baxter, Visa’s Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications for CEMEA, for a deep dive into how Visa is redefining client partnership in a fast-moving digital payments ecosystem.

Reem shares how Client Services supports every stage of the client journey – from pre‑launch readiness and implementation to long-term optimization through advisory, managed services, and continuous performance reviews. She discusses how her team stays ahead of rapid innovation, why agility matters more than ever, and how Visa ensures clients can adopt new capabilities securely and confidently.

The conversation also explores the transformative role of AI in payments, from predictive systems to new frontiers like agentic commerce. Reem highlights Visa’s investments in AI infrastructure, the rise of intelligent commerce, and how tools like Visa’s AI Onboarding Buddy are reshaping internal efficiency and client-facing value.

The discussion further highlights how Client Services partners closely with sales, product, and global teams to deliver unified client experiences – and why proactive engagement is essential for building trust and unlocking long-term success.

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In the latest episode of Visa Spotlights, Walter Lironi, Visa’s Head of Value-Added Services for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), sits down with James Mirfin, Global Head of Risk and Identity Solutions at Visa, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fraud landscape — and what it means for the future of trust in payments.

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

As digital transformation accelerates across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), financial institutions face increasing pressure to modernize—reshaping their operations to become more agile, customer-centric, and innovation-ready.

In the latest episode of Visa Spotlights, Walter Lironi, Head of Value-Added Services for Visa in CEMEA, was joined by Vishal Dalal, CEO of Pismo. Together they unpack how Visa’s acquisition of Pismo is enabling banks and fintechs to leapfrog legacy constraints and build resilient, future-ready platforms that meet the demands of a digital-first world. 

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In the latest episode of Visa Spotlights podcast, we're taking a closer look at the innovations unveiled at Visa's recent Global Product Drop on April 30 in San Francisco. This landmark event showcased a series of transformative solutions designed to reshape the future of payments.

A key theme emerging from the event was the growing influence of Agentic AI. Godfrey Sullivan, Visa's Head of Products & Solutions for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), highlights how this next frontier of technology is reshaping the way people engage with commerce – and how Visa is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. He also underscores the growing relevance of stablecoins, emphasizing their potential to modernize payment infrastructure and unlock new efficiencies in the payments ecosystem.

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1

In an era where cyber threats are constantly evolving and AI-driven deception is becoming increasingly sophisticated, staying ahead of these challenges is more critical than ever. In a special episode of Visa Spotlights Charles Lobo, Regional Risk Officer for CEMEA at Visa, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Theresa Payton, first female White House CIO, technology thought leader, AI strategist, and cybersecurity expert.

Theresa emphasizes the critical need to rethink the design, security, and protection of our digital world, prioritizing a people-centric approach. Reflecting on her tenure at the White House, she discusses the most relevant Reflecting on her tenure at the White House, she discusses the most relevant cybersecurity lessons and how they can be applied to current practices to enhance security measures. She also shares her bold predictions for technology and cybercrime in 2026, offering practical strategies to fortify our security and stay ahead of potential threats.

For more podcasts by Visa, visit: https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/about-visa/cemea-podcast.html#1