Debbie Gamble first learned she was a leader years ago at school in the U.K., discovering an indelible ability to take charge and attract a following.
"I was appointed 'Head Girl,'" said Gamble of an elected position that involved collecting input from students and staff as an embodiment of "kids leading the kids." Gamble represented her school at events, and ensured students' voices were represented in key decisions. "Although I was a young girl at the time, I learned a lot about myself and that has impacted who I am today and the type of leader I strive to be."
Gamble, one of PaymentsSource's Most Influential Women in Payments for 2021, is chief officer of Innovation Labs and New Ventures at Interac Corp., Canada's national debit scheme and a longtime beacon of payments innovation, partnering with the likes of
Today she leads a team that's building digital identity, blockchain, open banking and AI in an attempt to stay ahead of the curve. A key move has been an ideation outpost at a community accelerator to get a jump on tomorrow's best concepts.
"The pandemic created a digital whirlwind that accelerated the shift from analog to digital in many aspects of our lives, including the way we shop, communicate, socialize and work," Gamble said. This has set the stage for further digital engagement, including the ability to transact remotely and gain immediate access to money, she said.
Better identity management is necessary to drive these innovations, and Gamble and her team are at the fore of advancing new ways to authenticate users for myriad transactions and businesses.
"The need and importance of a digital identity framework in Canada has become clearer than ever, as experiences and transactions become digitized emphasizing the need for a future where key services like health care can be securely accessed online, powered by secure identity verification," said Gamble, who has been in her current role for two years and with Interac for the past six years.
Gamble's experience with mobile commerce and advanced authentication in cryptocurrency have made her one of Canada's top authorities on the digital economy, a regular on the technology conference circuit and an advisory board member of Communitech, Luge Capital and FINCA Canada, among others.
That's given Gamble visibility, an attribute important in inspiring the next generation of leaders.
"There is no question that witnessing a woman become Vice President of the United States will resonate with people, especially women and young girls, beyond the United States for years and years to come," Gamble said. "This is a history-making moment and one that I believe will have a long-lasting impact in many ways. As Kamala Harris famously stated, she may be the first but she won't be the last."
As a result of former California Senator Harris becoming the first woman, Black and Asian American U.S. Vice President, young women globally will be able to picture themselves in one of the most powerful positions in the world.
"The fact that Harris is a woman of color can and should be the catalyst to ensure the rights of women and people of color are not only considered but prioritized," Gamble said.
