Director of payment services
Fuel station operators have been struggling for years to add EMV chip card acceptance at their pumps. For a major retailer like Walmart, it was a massive undertaking.
Kelly Haren, who oversees all of Walmart's and Sam's Club in-store payment networks, was in charge of this daunting task. Haren joined Walmart just more than two years ago, after holding various treasury and payment management roles at EG Group and Kroger.
"Fuel presented its own set of unique challenges that often varied from one merchant to the next because of the complexity involved," Haren said. "However, the specific pressure was the same as 2015," the deadline imposed on most other retail categories.
And the effort put into enabling EMV card acceptance at the fuel pumps will have a lasting effect.
"I think security at the pump is top of mind for many customers, and EMV readers and cards at the pump are going to be welcomed for some time," Haren added. "Having said that, I also understand that customers want options and, while chip cards will still be the most common payment method, we are always looking at payment functionality or services that make every day easier for busy families."
The Walmart Pay mobile wallet and Sam's Club Scan-and-Go apps use a QR code to make contactless payments at the pump. "The pandemic elevated touchless experiences, and customers and members love using the QR code solution," she added.
Haren has been working hard to keep the mantra of "We Rise Together" in the forefront of her work at Walmart. It's a phrase that Walmart International CEO and president Judith McKenna has discussed with employees.
Kelly often goes above and beyond to take on challenges outside of her 'core' responsibilities.
"She said 'we rise' means to lift up, it's a call to action; and 'together' is the force multiplier," Haren said. "While we are all responsible for our work individually, my colleagues rise with me and in support of me daily."
Like many young executives, Haren said her biggest challenge has been finding a balance — especially with the uncertainty from the global pandemic and working remotely. She found some of that balance by "walking around my neighborhood" as a substitute for her daily commute.
Haren uses that time to plan for her upcoming workday, and also to decompress at the end of the day. "It was a simple routine substitution and one I still do today," she added.
As if the pandemic and a whirlwind of changes in payments because of it were not enough of a challenge for Haren, she is candid about the toughest part of 2020. "I suffered two miscarriages last year, which was particularly difficult in a wildly tumultuous year," she said.
"In a time where so much was going on in the world, and I experienced difficulty along my own journey, I was determined to be reflective and not ruminate," Haren said. "What I saw not only from my own experience but also from everything else going on in the world is that people are resilient, hopeful, optimistic and strong even in times of extreme suffering."
Haren puts that strength to work in areas beyond payments. She has been active in helping Walmart's diversity and inclusion efforts. She believes that once a company recognizes the need for diversity, it should collect and analyze metrics and share those in order to establish tangible action steps.
Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon recently shared such metrics and "stressed the importance to be open and transparent because it increases the pressure to make progress, which in turn generates the accountability to make that progress," Haren said.
The burden on fixing gender or racial imbalance cannot be only on those impacted, it must be a shared area of focus with "relentless follow-up to get to parity in the workplace," she added.
As she moves along in her career, Haren wants to stick to what she considers an important quality for leaders — one that sets them apart from others.
"Passion," she said. "A passion for people, for doing the right thing, to empower, for change, for their work, and for our work."
Nominating executive:
Mike Cook, senior vice president, finance and assistant treasurer
What he says:
"Kelly often goes above and beyond to take on challenges outside of her 'core' responsibilities … Over the past year, she has become the leading voice for diversity and inclusion within our team, specifically participating in Walmart's 'Race Ahead Series' and actively mentoring two internal female associates."
