CEO Insights Magazine

Strong leadership is critical to the success of any company, especially in the fintech sector, where strategic decisions can define a firm’s trajectory. A CEO’s vision and decisions guide a company through industry changes and global expansion. Lewison Chen, the Founder and CEO of PhotonPay, embodies this leadership. With a background in computer science and over a decade of experience, Lewison has led PhotonPay through key milestones.

Founded in 2015, PhotonPay provides innovative financial infrastructure, offering global payment solutions, card issuing, online payments, and embedded finance. In 2017, facing uncertainty in China’s mobile payment market, Lewison made the bold decision to take PhotonPay global, a choice that proved pivotal in 2018. Headquarters in Hong Kong and providing localized services through nine international offices, PhotonPay partners with a network of top-tier banks and global financial institutions and serves more than 200,000 enterprises globally. Recognized for its innovation, PhotonPay continues to simplify global payments and drive operational efficiency worldwide. Let’s get to know more from this one on one interaction.

What type of strategic insight and governance expertise are you using to lead the company? The financial services industry is a multi-trilliondollar sector, dominated by thousands of banks, with a primary focus on combining unique scenarios to create tailored solutions.  From day one, PhotonPay has been committed to developing a global digital financial infrastructure, which is an ambitious challenge that also represents our greatest opportunity. Unlike a traditional payment business, this vision requires a long-term approach, where we continuously refine our products while solving a critical problem for our customers.

My team and I have faced a challenging growth journey, but it has also provided us with the opportunity to build a company within a trilliondollar industry, positioning us to accelerate our success over the next decade and beyond.

How do you keep yourself updated on the latest technological advancements and growth opportunities in the market? PhotonPay stays ahead of market trends by staying attuned to regional preferences and payment processing needs. To address the fragmentation in payment methods, the company has developed a seamless, one-stop solution that integrates various payment methods into a user-friendly interface. This solution offers low fees, high efficiency, and robust security, empowering businesses globally.

To tap into growth opportunities, PhotonPay emphasizes the importance of global standardization and compliance. The company has proactively obtained payment licenses in multiple regions, including Hong Kong, the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and partners with tier-one banks and financial institutions to ensure secure, reliable infrastructure. Meanwhile, PhotonPay is a Mastercard issuer in Hong Kong and a fintech card issuer for Discover Global Network in Greater China, marking significant progress in the multi-currency corporate credit card space.

PhotonPay's innovative solutions include virtual cards and an embedded finance API that allows businesses to customize payment processes. The company is expanding into emerging markets like Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, adapting to local policy and compliance risks while anticipating major product breakthroughs in the near future. 

How do you cultivate a culture of innovation within your team? PhotonPay, founded in 2015, is a dynamic team of over 200 professionals focused on empowering businesses to drive the digital economy. We explore emerging markets, design financial infrastructure, and deliver innovative solutions to ambitious businesses worldwide. Embracing change, we cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, fostering curiosity and a drive to break barriers while thinking from 0 to 1.

Through extensive market research and user feedback, we identify core customer needs and rapidly optimize product features for localized markets. We also stay attuned to global trends in fintech and payments, ensuring our products evolve with the latest technological advancements to maintain international competitiveness.

These efforts have enabled PhotonPay to successfully expand into global markets. Our team's creativity and product innovation keep us agile and ahead of the curve in the fast-evolving fintech landscape, allowing us to continuously meet the needs of businesses worldwide.

How would you characterize your leadership style? What principles or methods guide your approach as a leader? I have strong confidence in my team, offering them complete trust and support. I encourage them to embrace a learning mindset, take risks, and challenge themselves to innovate. I also believe in fostering their growth by providing guidance and creating opportunities for development whenever necessary.

What key qualities do you seek in market leaders when considering collaboration and partnership opportunities? First, I look for independence and creativity. Second, I appreciate a commitment to continuous learning, the ability to stay ahead of industry changes and technological advancements, and the ability to adjust strategies in response to emerging challenges. Additionally, I value a willingness to challenge the status quo and push boundaries to drive innovation and progress. Finally, the ability to embrace trial and error, learn from setbacks, and quickly adapt strategies to navigate rapid market shifts. These qualities foster mutual growth, help us overcome challenges in a complex and dynamic global environment, and pave the way for long-term success.

How do you envision the long-term trajectory of your professional journey moving forward?  I am committed to continuous learning and growth alongside my team, maintaining a mindset of lifelong learning to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

PhotonPay has made significant strides in integrating into the international market and achieving key milestones. Looking ahead, I have three primary goals for our strategic direction. First, we aim to expand internationally, helping Chinese companies globalize while providing payment services to local businesses worldwide. Second, we focus on ecosystem development, deepening partnerships across industries to offer tailored solutions for businesses in global markets. Finally, we will integrate artificial intelligence to enhance our capabilities in areas such as risk control, anti-money laundering, and customer service, ensuring PhotonPay remains at the forefront of innovation.

By constantly updating our knowledge and skills, PhotonPay will continue to lead the global payments sector and help more businesses succeed internationally through expanded networks and cutting-edge technology.

Lewison Chen, Founder & CEO, PhotonPay Lewison Chen, a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in computer science and over 10 years of experience in the internet and payments industries, is focused on building financial infrastructure and delivering innovative solutions for ambitious businesses globally.