Influential Women: Libby Roy announces her biggest role yet

Libby Roy, former head of corporate super at AMP, has joined PayPal Australia as vice president and managing director. Roy will lead PayPal's Australian business while also sitting on the Australian board and serving as an executive committee member of the PayPal APAC leadership team. Libby tells Industry moves what has led her to this point in her career, as well as some inspirational people she's met and some great advice she's been given along the way.

What excites you most about your new role?

Everything! PayPal is a dynamic company in the fast moving payments industry. Payments literally powers commerce and is the back bone for businesses and consumers in their day-to-day lives. What is exciting is how much the payments industry has changed in the last decade and PayPal has very much been at the forefront of that change leveraging technology to improve both the merchant and the consumers experience. We expect to see even more change in the next five years as we move to a cashless society so it's an exciting time to be a part of a digital payments company. In addition I am delighted to join a very strong professional team that are passionate about their customers and working with them on the next stage of the journey.

What do you regard as your greatest achievement in your career to date?

This is a difficult question. I think it is important to keep growing and learning in one's career. I have been very fortunate and had the opportunity to work in different geographies and industries. I think that experience is invaluable as it has helped me to think laterally about my businesses risks and opportunities and continue to drive growth despite the fast pace of change and disruption we are seeing in many industries. What I am most proud of is having been part of great teams that have achieved success from a business perspective but also supported one another personally. This is true for the teams I have been part of at AMP and American Express, and I am sure it will be true of my new team at PayPal.

How did you choose your career path?

My career path has changed over time so I can't actually say that I had a grand vision from the start. I have never really planned beyond 4-5 years and my focus has always just been on what is the next opportunity that will help me expand my capabilities and keep me interested and learning. My career has also been greatly influenced by a number of strong mentors who have been incredibly generous with their time. And, to be honest I have also had a fair amount of luck.

I started as an occupational therapist but quickly realised that I was interested in the business economics behind what I was doing. A former boss and mentor of mine suggested that going back to school and completing an MBA might help me get a broader perspective on my interests. From there I joined the consulting firm, Booz and I developed a passion for strategy and business problem solving. Eventually I decided that I would like to actually run a business and was lucky enough to be approached by American Express where I spent 10 years. American Express are really focused on developing their talent and I was a recipient of this focus and held a variety of roles within their Asia Pacific finance and travel businesses. Five years ago I decided that I wanted to broaden my capabilities in financial services and moved into wealth management with AXA and AMP in order to do that. In my most recent move to PayPal the drivers were the opportunity to join a fast moving innovative company that is leading the payments sector and reimagining the customer experience beyond what we might have considered possible five years ago. I see this as a fabulous opportunity.

Who has inspired you (in your career) and why?

A number of people have inspired me. Many are not well known names but rather leaders and mentors that I have worked with, that have seen my potential and helped me along the way. I am also inspired by people that use their commercial skills to give back to less fortunate communities like Audette Exel. Audette founded the Adara Group which is a corporate advisory business that is run to fund Adara Development, an organisation focused on communities and children in remote Nepal and Uganda to improve their lives through health and education.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you've been given?

"If you want something, then make it happen but know that the path may be difficult and can't always be planned." This initial advice came from a family friend a long time ago. I have consistently applied it both personally and in my career. Setting goals and then working towards achieving them, recognising that it is quite likely that there will be roadblocks that will waylay me and that sometimes what success looks like changes along the way. I think this curiosity and resilience has helped allow me to have such an interesting and varied career.

What was your very first job?

Check-out at the local supermarket.

Do you have a secret skill/hidden talent

No I really don't think I have any secret talents. I have always been passionate about sport, health and fitness. A long time ago I was a fitness and aerobics instructor.

Do you have a favourite charity

I have always felt a connection to the Salvation Army. My parents and grand-parents always pointed out the Salvation Army during a Red Shield Appeal and made special mention of the great work the organisation does across so many Australian communities.