Peggy Bekavac Olson President & CEO
Peggy Bekavac Olson is a seasoned leader in financial services and electronic payments marketing, with more than 25 years of industry experience.
In 2009, she founded Strategic Marketing to empower businesses across the payments ecosystem.
Her expertise lies in crafting strategies, building brands, enhancing communications, promoting products and services, and optimizing lead generation, all aimed at driving revenue growth.
Olson's Background
Industry Impact
Olson is a sought-after trade show speaker and is frequently quoted in numerous payments publications.
She currently serves as a Board Director for the Western States Acquirers Association (WSAA), leading the organization's marketing and operations committees, and assists in financial management and planning as well as sponsorship fundraising.
As a past Board Director of Women's Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet), now PayTech Women, Olson continues to guide women through the organization's mentoring program.
Previously, Olson was a marketing advisor for Commerce.Innovated, the Fintech accelerator jointly run by Silicon Valley Bank and First Data Corporation.
She has served the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) in numerous roles over the years, including as mentor for their Young Payments Professional (YPP) program, as member of the sales and strategy committee and technology council, and as a volunteer for the organization's retail technology, communications and trade show program planning committees.
Olson is currently an ATM Industry Association approved consultant. ATMIA has honored Olson as an ATM Industry Champion, and she earned the organization's 2017 Exceptional Achievement Award. Additionally, Olson has served on the Association’s International Marketing and Withdraw Cash Wednesday campaign committees.
A prolific writer, Olson was a monthly guest columnist for the popular electronic payments magazine The Green Sheet for more than seven years.
Fintech Savvy
Olson’s career includes extensive experience in developing marketing strategies for a broad swath of financial technologies, including core banking, teller platforms, ATM networks, remittance and tax processing, lockbox, merchant acquiring, payments, point-of-sale, e-Commerce, mobile and SaaS and BaaS solutions.
Her expertise extends across credit, debit, prepaid, ACH, and alternative payment forms.
She has also held marketing, sales, and product management roles with software providers supporting IBM, NCR, Unisys, and BancTec hardware.
TSYS Roots
Before founding Strategic Marketing, Olson was Vice President of Marketing and Communications at TSYS Acquiring Solutions. She managed a multi-million-dollar budget and staff responsible for brand strategy, public relations, investor and employee communications, product and partner marketing, sales promotion and industry and internal events.
During her tenure, Olson led the launch of innovative payment solutions and partner sales toolkits for gift cards, multi-currency and dynamic currency conversion, mobile and contactless payments, and compliance and insurance programs.
She was pivotal in the company’s rebranding from Vital Processing Services to TSYS Acquiring Solutions following a major ownership transition as a Visa/TSYS joint venture company to being wholly-owned by TSYS.
Education
Olson earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Background
Industry and Leadership Impact
Olson serves as a Board Director for the Western States Acquirers Association (WSAA) and is a sought-after speaker at industry trade shows. Her insights frequently appear in leading payments publications. A past Board Director of the Women's Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet), now known as PayTech Women, Olson continues to mentor women through the organization’s programs.
Previously, Olson was a marketing advisor for Commerce. Innovated, a fintech accelerator from Silicon Valley Bank and First Data. She has also contributed to the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) through its sales, strategy, retail technology, communications, and program planning committees. Additionally, Olson was a frequent columnist for The Green Sheet, a prominent electronic payments' magazine, for over a decade.
The ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) has recognized Olson as an ATM Industry Champion, awarding her the 2017 Exceptional Achievement Award for her contributions to international marketing and advocacy campaigns like Withdraw Cash Wednesday.
Corporate Marketing Expertise
Before founding Strategic Marketing, Olson was Vice President of Marketing and Communications at TSYS Acquiring Solutions, where she managed a multi-million-dollar budget. Her role encompassed brand strategy, public relations, investor communications, product marketing, and events. During her tenure, Olson led the launch of innovative payment solutions such as gift cards, multi-currency and dynamic currency conversion, mobile and contactless payments, and compliance and insurance programs. She was pivotal in the company’s rebranding from Vital Processing Services to TSYS Acquiring Solutions following a major ownership transition.
Broad Industry Experience
Olson’s career includes extensive experience in developing marketing strategies for financial technologies, including core banking, teller systems, ATM networks, remittance, and point-of-sale solutions. Her expertise extends to credit, debit, prepaid, ACH, and alternative payment platforms. She has also held marketing, sales, and product management roles with software providers supporting IBM, NCR, Unisys, and BancTec hardware.
Education
Olson earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. Through her leadership, Peggy Bekavac Olson has become a trusted partner and advocate in the payments' industry, driving innovation and success for businesses at every stage of the payments value chain.