Vidya Mani Mamallan is a visionary leader with an unwavering commitment to growth and innovation. Her strategic approach builds robust industry partnerships and cultivates an accessible, learning-focused culture. Through mentorship and transparent decision-making, she drives continuous talent development, positioning EPS as a leading industry influencer.
In an insightful interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Vidya shares insights on redefining success as a woman entrepreneur: challenging norms, turning obstacles into advantages, fostering a culture of risk-taking and stability, and empowering diverse voices to shape her company’s direction.
Women in tech often face invisible hurdles—biases, access to networks, and funding challenges. How have you turned these obstacles into strategic advantages for your leadership and business growth?
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry meant I had to work harder to prove credibility—not just mine, but of the company we were building. But leadership is not about proving a point; it’s about delivering results.
Bias exists, but I have always believed that the best way to break it is through excellence. Instead of waiting for the industry to acknowledge my place at the table, I focused on making our company indispensable.
Being an outsider can be an advantage—it allows you to see problems differently. I turned challenges into opportunities by surrounding myself with people who believed in the vision rather than the hierarchy. Instead of relying solely on traditional funding routes, we built a sustainable business model that proved its value.
Early in my journey, I noticed that many women hesitate to tap into networks, feeling they must first prove their worth. I took a different approach—leveraging my network not just to raise initial capital, but to open doors, forge partnerships, and create lasting opportunities in the industry.
Payment technology is a high-risk, high-reward space. How do you create an organization that embraces risk-taking while ensuring long-term stability?
In the payments industry, the balance between innovation and trust is crucial. Early on, I realized that stability comes from strong processes and good governance, not just great people. While we encourage experimentation and bold ideas, it’s always within a framework of accountability.
We invest in cutting-edge technology, but more importantly, we invest in our people—empowering them to drive innovation and lead with integrity. The payment landscape moves quickly, but our commitment to governance, security, and reliability ensures we remain resilient in the face of change.
How have you intentionally built a culture where diverse voices are not just included but actively shape the company’s direction?
My leadership philosophy is simple—when you uplift others, you rise with them. When we founded, we set out to create a company where talent, not gender, defines opportunity. Today, women hold critical roles across key functions like finance, HR, and technology. But inclusion goes beyond just representation—it’s about ensuring that diverse voices influence decisions and drive change.
Many of our women leaders started in entry-level positions and have risen into decision-making roles because we foster a culture where contributions are valued over titles. I firmly believe that organizations should evolve to support both career ambitions and family commitments, so women don’t have to choose between the two. This mindset is at the core of how we empower everyone at EPS to lead and shape the future.
As the industry shifts towards embedded finance, blockchain, and AI-driven payments, what unique perspectives do women bring to these innovations that could reshape the future of financial transactions?
Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about who technology serves. Women bring a unique ability to align innovation with human needs, which is critical in a financial ecosystem that still struggles with inclusion.
Embedded finance, for example, is transforming how individuals and small businesses access credit, insurance, savings, investments, etc. At EPS, we built the MSME Digital Platform which supports a cash-flow-based lending model, ensuring that small business owners—many of whom are women—can access credit based on business performance rather than just collateral. This is how innovation becomes empowerment—by making financial services more accessible, efficient, and tailored to the unique needs of small businesses.
Similarly, as AI and automation continue to reshape the payments landscape, women’s leadership will be crucial in ensuring that ethical, inclusive, and consumer-friendly solutions remain at the heart of fintech’s evolution. Women in leadership roles will help guide innovation with a focus on equity and human-centered design, ensuring that the financial ecosystem works for everyone.
As someone who has built and led from the ground up, what does legacy mean to you, and how are you ensuring that the next generation of women in fintech is better positioned to lead?
Legacy, to me, is not just about what we build; it’s about who we empower along the way.
Our focus has always been on empowering businesses and financial institutions through our innovative payment solutions, helping banks and financial organizations better serve their customers. From deploying ATMs in rural India to creating digital platforms for small businesses, our work has been about bridging gaps and creating opportunities.
I believe that leadership is about enabling others to rise, and I am committed to creating an environment where women in fintech have equal opportunities to excel.We encourage the next generation of women leaders by fostering a culture of diversity, mentorship, and continuous learning. By empowering women with the right skills and support, EPS ensures that the next wave of leaders is not only well-equipped for the challenges of fintech but is also ready to drive meaningful change within the industry.
Due to the growth of QR code-based transactions, industry expert believes ATM industry is going to shrink and eventually die. However, at the same time, RBI granted you a license to operate WLA. How does your company plan to change this mindset?
The future of payments is not about cash vs. digital—it’s about coexistence. While Scan and Pay solutions have gained popularity, cash continues to hold its significance as a store of value and represents an essential means of transaction for many. This is one of the reasons why cash circulation in India remains high, at over ₹35 lakh crore. Additionally, the scope of ATMs is broadening; they are no longer just cash-dispensing machines but hubs for accessing a variety of digital services.
At EPS, we are adapting to this shift through eps BANCS™ our White Label ATM initiative, which aims to transform ATMs into multi-service hubs. These hubs will go beyond cash access, offering services like bill payments, Aadhar Seeding, Mobile Registration Card-to-card transfers, and many more. We believe that ATMs will continue to play a vital role in providing inclusive financial services, and eps BANCS™ will be a frontrunner in this.
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
Ambition is important, but great businesses are not built overnight—they are built with patience and purpose.
My advice to young entrepreneurs is simple: Master the fundamentals before scaling the vision. Technology, funding, and networks can give you a head start, but resilience, ethics, and discipline determine how far you go.
Dream big but build strong. The most enduring success is always rooted in hard work, ethics, and long-term thinking.
