Payments isn’t just about technology. It’s about the people making decisions in fast‑moving, high‑pressure environments, where every choice shapes how businesses scale, partner, and compete. And yet, the human side of payments is often overlooked, reduced to job titles instead of the thinking behind them.
In this episode of Inside Aevi, Sierra McMillen, Head of Partnerships US at Aevi, joins Nathan to share her journey into payments and what partnerships really mean in an increasingly complex ecosystem. From an unexpected start in Oklahoma to building relationships that drive growth, she brings a practical, people-first perspective to one of the industry’s most important roles.
Drawing on experience across PSPs, ISVs, and merchants, Sierra explores the realities behind some of the industry’s biggest conversations. From the ongoing build versus buy debate to the rise of AI and agentic commerce, she breaks down what is changing, what is being overhyped, and where businesses need to focus if they want to scale without losing control. Along the way, the conversation moves beyond the professional, touching on travel stories, personal habits, and what it means to stay curious in an industry that never slows down.
This episode covers:
- How Sierra’s unconventional path led her into payments
- Why partnerships sit at the centre of growth in a fragmented industry
- The reality behind the build versus buy conversation
- How trends move across regions and what the US can learn from global markets
- What AI and agentic commerce actually mean in practice
- Why vendor lock-in is becoming unacceptable for merchants
- The human side of payments, from decision-making to day-to-day realities
If you are navigating partnerships, rethinking your payment strategy, or trying to make sense of where the industry is heading next, this episode offers a grounded, real-world perspective.
What is AeviPod?
Hosted by Aevi, this podcast explores how in-person payments are evolving across retail, ISVs, banking, and fuel & mobility.
Each episode brings together industry leaders, product owners, and operators to challenge established thinking, share practical product updates, and unpack the biggest learnings and obstacles they’ve faced along the way.
From payment orchestration and estate management to emerging payment technologies, regulatory change, and new in-store use cases, the focus is on what’s actually working, and what’s slowing progress down.
The conversations cut through fragmentation and legacy constraints to examine how modern payment ecosystems are being built, scaled, and operated across regions. Expect honest perspectives on decision-making, execution, and the trade-offs enterprises face as they modernise in-person payments.