In fintech, the stories we tell shape who gets heard. Today, we introduce Mirela Ciobanu, Lead Editor at The Paypers, whom Drofa Comms spoke with for our Women Leading the Way series. For years, she has been helping audiences understand complex financial concepts, emerging technologies, and the people driving them.

Her path into fintech wasn’t planned. Starting in teaching and customer support, Mirela developed a deep understanding of communication and empathy — skills that later defined her editorial voice. “Back then, I didn’t know much about payments; I thought you just tap a card on a POS terminal and voilà.” she recalls. “I started writing news about mobile payments and gradually learned how payments really work.”

At The Paypers, she covers everything from payments and compliance to crypto, fraud, and digital identity — always connecting technical innovation with its social impact. As a strong advocate for inclusion, Mirela believes women and other underrepresented groups must be involved in building financial and digital systems that work for everyone.

Mentorship and community are central to her message. Having participated in the Rise Up programme and worked with the European Women in Payments Network, she emphasises how support networks help women advance. “My advice is to have a clear goal, stay disciplined, and don’t get discouraged. Being part of a supportive group or having a mentor is crucial, because going it alone is hard.”

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in empathy and discipline, inspired by her mother’s example. As she looks ahead, Mirela emphasises that visibility and equal recognition must become a constant priority in fintech, instead of an occasional theme. Mirela’s outlook on the future is pragmatic yet optimistic: “Be more vocal, trust your work, stay up to date with trends, developments, and geopolitics. Now is our time to shine and shape Web3.”

👉 Read the full interview with Mirela Ciobanu in Women Leading the Way by Drofa Comms: https://womenlead.co.uk/ideas/mirela-ciobanu