In my latest CEO Corner, I want to share the thinking behind a new project I’m genuinely excited about—my upcoming fintech podcast, Beyond the Transaction.
At its core, this series is about a simple but important belief: payments have to evolve beyond basic acceptance. For years, the industry has done a solid job delivering “allinone” POS solutions that help SMBs run their daytoday operations. Those systems matter, and they’ve created real value. But too often, that’s where the story ends. Payments become a utility rather than a strategic driver.
Beyond the Transaction is meant to challenge that mindset.
Through conversations with fintech leaders and industry experts, we’ll explore how integrated payments can—and should—play a much bigger role in helping businesses grow. That means looking beyond transactions and asking harder questions about how payments can support smarter marketing, expansion into new channels, improved operational efficiency, and the adoption of alternative and emerging payment methods.
Each episode will dig into how payments can act as a true engine for business strategy, not just a cost of doing business. We’ll talk candidly about what’s working, what isn’t, and where the ecosystem needs to go next. Just as importantly, we’ll focus on the responsibility we all share—as processors, technology providers, and partners—to deliver a more expansive and meaningful value proposition to merchants.
The podcast will feature a diverse group of voices, including fintech innovators, seasoned payments professionals, policymakers, and Clevel leaders from across the acquiring and payments landscape. These are people who are shaping the future of the industry, and they’ll bring honest perspectives on where we’re headed and how greater collaboration across the ecosystem can unlock the next generation of value in payments.
My hope is that Beyond the Transaction sparks new thinking, real dialogue, and a renewed focus on how we can help businesses do more—not just process payments, but build better, smarter, and more resilient operations for the future.
-Todd Linden, CEO of Woodforest Acceptance Solutions
