FinTech Female Fridays: Meet Dr. Angela Murphy, VP. of Marketing and Solutions at Pidgin

Dr. Angela Murphy began her career in academic research, earning her Ph.D. and focusing on complex systems and innovation strategies. She soon transitioned into fintech, finding the perfect intersection for her passion for technology and her desire to implement real-world solutions in payments and financial services. Over the years, Angela has worked on several groundbreaking projects, including the commercialization of one of the largest closed-loop card products in the U.S., and the development of a partner program at a Fortune 100 company.

Currently serving as the VP of Marketing & Solutions at Pidgin, Angela is instrumental in helping financial institutions implement real-time payment systems for their account holders. She thrives on the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the fintech industry and is driven by the opportunity to effect substantial change. As she puts it, "For me, it’s all about connecting strategy with impact—and helping modernize payments in ways that truly make a difference."

Pidgin is on a mission to revolutionize how financial institutions approach real-time payments, making it easier for banks and credit unions to connect to faster payment networks like FedNow and RTP. These innovations are rare and transformative—entirely new payment networks don’t come along often, and Pidgin is at the forefront of helping institutions stay relevant and competitive in this new landscape. Their vision is to create a seamless payments ecosystem where financial institutions can benefit from faster payments while delivering better experiences to their account holders. The culture at Pidgin is collaborative and forward-thinking, with everyone energized by the challenge of modernizing payments and driving real impact for both institutions and their communities.

In her role, Angela drives awareness and adoption of real-time payments, helping institutions understand their potential and implement them effectively. Beyond her primary responsibilities, known as “Payments Elsa,” she contributes to thought leadership in fintech by sharing insights on payment innovation and mentoring others in the industry. It’s exciting for her to be at the intersection of strategy and execution, where she turns ideas into tangible solutions that improve people’s financial experiences. Angela adds, "I constantly challenge myself to stay ahead of trends and anticipate what financial institutions and account holders will need next. It’s about balancing strategic thinking with actionable insights. I also focus on being an advocate for creativity and innovation in every conversation, encouraging teams to explore ideas without fear of failure. For women looking to grow in fintech, my advice is to bring your unique perspective to the table—being authentic and adaptable has been key to my success."

"This year, I’m excited about how real-time payments are transforming how people and businesses move money—it’s truly a game-changer," Angela explains. One trend she notes is financial institutions leaning into partnerships to navigate the complexities of implementing faster payments. Looking ahead, Angela believes there will be even more emphasis on creating seamless, intuitive experiences that integrate payments into everyday life, making them nearly invisible to the end user.

More on Angela

Where you currently live: Kansas City

Living arrangement: Suburbia 

Hometown: Heidelberg, Germany

Favorite hobby: Baking

Favorite show to binge: Selling Sunset or Top Chef

Favorite fintech media:  Sam Boboev’s newsletter is great! I read it 1-2 times per week and it helps me dig into top tier research on important topics in payments and fintech.   

What is one piece of advice someone told you that resonated with you that can give to other women in FinTech?     

“Don’t be afraid to take up space in the room.” Early in my career, someone reminded me that my voice and perspective were valuable, even if I wasn’t the most experienced person in the meeting. That advice has stuck with me, and I hope it encourages other women in fintech to share their ideas confidently—they matter.

What's the best job decision you ever made?

Joining the fintech industry was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It gave me the opportunity to combine my passion for problem-solving with a field that’s constantly evolving and making a real impact on people’s lives. At Pidgin, I see this impact every day—we’re helping financial institutions bring real-time payments to their customers, allowing people and businesses to access their money faster and more securely. Knowing that our work directly improves financial experiences for communities across the country makes the journey all the more rewarding.

Can you tell us about a time someone encouraged you to try a task or take on a project you didn’t think that you would know how to do/or be good at? 

After earning my Ph.D., I was asked to build a partner program from scratch at a B2B payments company. At the time, I didn’t think I had the experience for such a monumental task, but my mentor believed in my ability to connect the dots and deliver results. That experience taught me the importance of trusting myself and leaning on others for support when needed. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned from a mistake you’ve made in the past?

One mistake I made early on was trying to do everything myself instead of asking for help. I learned that collaboration isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential to achieving the best outcomes. The best leaders know how to delegate and bring the right people together to tackle challenges effectively.

Do you have any productivity hacks?  What keeps you motivated? How do you maintain a work/life balance? 

One productivity hack I swear by is blocking out time on my calendar for focused work—it helps me stay on track and avoid distractions. What keeps me motivated is knowing the work I do has a tangible impact on communities across the country. For work/life balance, I make it a priority to set clear boundaries and carve out time for family/friends and personal hobbies - I am an avid baker and love to read. It's all about being intentional with your time and relentless prioritization. 

Daily Diary

7:30 AM: - Take my German Shepherd, Roscoe to the dog park for his morning walk/fetch time

9:00 AM: - Writing time (absolutely KEY for creating content)

10:30 AM: - 12pm - Meetings/emails 

12:00 PM to 1:30 PM - Gym and lunch

1:30 PM to 3:30 PM - Deliverables/meetings/emails

3:30 PM to 5:00 PM - Video editing/studying; LinkedIn; review and planning

5:00 PM to 6:30 PM - Walk with Roscoe; reading; dinner prep

6:30 PM: - Dinner

7:30 PM to 9:30 PM - Relaxation time (TV, movie, journaling, reading, painting, etc.)

10:00 PM  - SLEEP