Fintech company Payoneer highlights how empowering SMEs and championing diversity, equity and inclusion are missions that go hand in hand.

Payoneer, a fintech company that empowers small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to send and receive payments online globally, recently marked Pride Month with an event that focused on building an inclusive workplace in a growing borderless economy. The event was called “Championing Diversity in Teams and Payments: Empowering SMBs with Pride.” 

Payoneer is a company that allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to send and receive payments over 190 marketplaces globally. Founded in 2005 with $2 million in seed money, it has come a long way since its startup days, with more than 2,000 employees in over 25 offices all over the world. The company came to the Philippines in 2019.

Empowering SMEs with Pride

During the event, the company held a panel discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in today’s workplace. The discussion featured prominent business leaders in the online space such as Katherine Antunez, Chief People Officer of GoTyme; Jaycee Tan, Chief Executive Officer of JT Virtual Assistants; and Jeff Hunter, the founder of Virtual Assistants.

“Businesses have the power to create a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Chris Eugenio, board advisor at Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) said in his keynote address. “Being more inclusive, being more socially aware and responsible, casting a wider net, and making sure that you are providing equal opportunities to everyone is the right thing to do.”

Eugenio went on to detail PFIP’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion Report, discussing how the role of DEI in companies is two-fold: it can both help improve the performance of teams and propel businesses forward.

In that regard, the Philippines has much to look forward to. Eugenio explained, “Thankfully, we are seeing a great development for business leaders in the country in terms of DEI. There are more dedicated DE&I leaders in the workplace, and we have seen an improvement since 2021.”

Payoneer’s own Senior Director of Customer Success, Monique Avila, shared how Payoneer is leading the charge in DEI and in empowering SMBs. She said, “Payoneer has always been committed to empowering SMBs to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace. The LGBTQIA+ community is a valued member of businesses in every market, and we continue to recognize and celebrate their contributions to a better and more inclusive global market.” 

Commitment to an Inclusive Marketplace for SMEs

Payoneer is a leader in empowering growth for entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Its global payments platform partners with freelancers, SMEs, marketplaces and enterprises to solve their biggest payment challenges by leveraging technology, compliance, operations and banking infrastructure. Simply put, Payoneer makes global commerce easy and secure.

The company’s mission is to enable entrepreneurs and businesses to participate and succeed in an increasingly digital global economy. Its event, “Championing Diversity in Teams and Payments: Empowering SMBs with Pride” highlights Payoneer’s commitment to providing an inclusive global marketplace for small businesses to grow and develop.

This is embodied in Monique Avila’s closing statements. According to Avila, “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to succeed and be heard. When businesses give everyone a voice, the sector can succeed and grow globally.”