Last updated on March 1st, 2024 at 09:45 am
We’re incredibly proud to announce that Saema Somalya, Remitly’s EVP of Legal and Risk, has been named one of American Banker’s 2024 Most Influential Women in Payments. This accolade is awarded to senior executives at the forefront of the global payments industry, who are also leading the way in leadership, mentorship, and inclusivity.
Saema was born in England and raised in the United States, with many summers spent in Karachi, Pakistan. As a member of the Indian diaspora, Saema’s family history of immigration not only informs her identity, but her work at Remitly—where she is committed to blending innovation and protection in a way that serves customers.
As the EVP of Legal and Risk, Saema’s outstanding leadership, her ability to collaborate effectively, and her unwavering initiative have led to significant milestones—including overseeing Remitly’s IPO, the company’s Pledge 1% commitment, and the successful expansion of Remitly’s global footprint to serve customers and their loved ones in more than 75 new countries. During her tenure, Saema has also established Remitly’s government affairs function from the ground up and emerged as a thought leader on de-risking and financial inclusion.
Saema’s work is consistently guided by Remitly’s cultural values, including customer centricity and earning trust through integrity. “Financial problems are some of the most important and difficult to solve, so I always keep the human impact of getting it right and getting it wrong top of mind,” she says. “Earning and maintaining trust—of our customers and regulators, who determine so much of our operating environment—is important to me.”
Reflecting on her career, Saema highlights the Remitly IPO as a pivotal achievement. “I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects that mean a lot to me. The Remitly IPO certainly ranks high on that list because it has enabled us to continue scaling through economic headwinds and have an immense impact on the lives of customers and employees,” she says. “The work we do at Remitly is more than financial transactions. It’s about transforming lives by leveraging technology and innovation to spread prosperity more efficiently around the world. That opportunity motivates me every day, and I’m very proud to be a part of Remitly.”
Saema Somalya, along with the other honorees, will be celebrated during American Banker’s annual Payments Forum, taking place March 27-28 in Hollywood, Florida.
Visit Remitly.com or the Remitly blog to learn how Remitly is working to transform lives with trusted financial services that transcend borders.
