Innovation is driven not only by great ideas but by leaders who bring them to life. These five fintech CEOs are redefining how we think about finance, building solutions that challenge the status quo and open new paths for businesses and consumers alike.
From reshaping credit systems to democratizing wealth management, here are five fintech leaders you should be watching. Each of them offers a unique solution that sets them apart in the industry, making their innovations not just worth paying attention to, but also sparking curiosity about how these solutions could change the financial landscape.
Ran Cohen of BridgerPay
Ran Cohen is on a mission to simplify and streamline global payments. As CEO and founder, Cohen has built a powerful SaaS payment orchestration platform that empowers businesses to manage multiple payment providers within a single, unified system. BridgerPay eliminates the friction from payment processing by providing smart routing, failover strategies, and real-time analytics, all within a no-code interface.
What makes Cohen’s work stand out is his commitment to accessibility. BridgerPay levels the playing field by providing businesses of all sizes with the tools to manage complex payment operations without the need for developers. Under his leadership, the company has expanded rapidly, enabling merchants in over 120 countries to optimize their payments and enhance conversion rates. As digital commerce becomes increasingly global, Ran Cohen is proving that payments don’t have to be complicated, inspiring others to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fintech.
Craig Lewis of Gig Wage
Craig Lewis is addressing a blind spot in the financial ecosystem: the needs of gig workers. As founder and CEO, Lewis is building a modern payroll platform designed specifically for the gig economy. With millions of people working freelance, contract, or part-time jobs, traditional payroll solutions often leave these workers underserved. Lewis saw this as an opportunity, and he’s turning it into a movement.
Gig Wage enables companies to pay gig workers instantly and manage compliance effortlessly. The platform also offers financial tools directly to workers, including faster payments, banking services, and access to credit. Backed by investors like Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Fund and Green Dot Bank, Lewis is redefining payroll for a new kind of workforce. In a world where flexible work is the new normal, Lewis is building the infrastructure to support it.
Cristina Junqueira of Nubank Brazil
Cristina Junqueira is the powerhouse behind Nubank Brazil, the largest digital bank in Latin America and one of the world’s most valuable fintechs. As co-founder and now CEO of the Brazilian arm, Junqueira helped grow Nubank into a banking giant with over 100 million customers and a valuation north of $50 billion. Her vision disrupted Brazil’s entrenched financial system by offering no-fee, digital-first banking to millions of underserved consumers, many of whom were accessing financial services for the first time.
With a background at Itaú Unibanco, Junqueira pairs deep institutional knowledge with a bold, customer-centric approach. She’s also a vocal advocate for women in tech and finance, helping Nubank set industry benchmarks for inclusion and innovation. As fintech reshapes the global economy, Junquiera is proving that purpose-driven leadership and scale go hand in hand.
Ankur Jain of Bilt Rewards
Ankur Jain is redefining the relationship between rent and rewards. As the founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, Jain has created the first loyalty program that allows renters to earn points on their monthly payments without transaction fees. In a market where rent is often the largest monthly expense and yields no benefits, Jain saw a massive untapped opportunity and built a fintech product that bridges real estate and rewards in a way no one had before.
Bilt has quickly gained traction, partnering with major property owners across the United States and establishing relationships with prominent travel and lifestyle brands, including American Airlines, Hyatt, and Amazon. The Bilt Mastercard, launched in collaboration with Wells Fargo, lets users earn points on rent and everyday purchases.
Anne Boden of Starling Bank
Anne Boden made history in 2014 when she founded Starling Bank, becoming the first woman to launch a new bank in the UK. At 54, she entered the male-dominated world of baking startups with a bold vision: build a fully digital, customer-first platform from scratch. Despite early skepticism, Boden raised £163 million and grew Starling into one of the UK’s top digital banks, now serving over 4.2 million users. Her efforts were recognized with an MBE for services to financial technology, and Startling has been named “Best British Bank” multiple times.
Boden’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and conviction. She not only reimagined what a modern bank could look like but also broke barriers for women in finance and tech along the way. Even after stepping down as CEO in 2023, her influence remains central to the bank’s culture and the wider fintech landscape. Anne Boden didn’t just build a bank. She redefined what it means to lead one.
The Future of Finance Is in Good Hands
These fintech leaders aren’t just building companies. They’re shaping the financial systems of tomorrow, ushering in a future of finance that is more inclusive, efficient, and customer-centric. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or someone trying to stay ahead of the curve, these are the CEOs worth watching in 2025 and beyond.