We are excited to welcome Amanda Estiverne-Colas as the newest Partner at NextWave Americas, where she will focus on Retail Banking and Payments. With her vast experience in driving digital transformation and innovation within the payments ecosystem, Amanda will be instrumental in building and managing a portfolio of clients that includes banks, fintechs, and payment organisations.
At NextWave, our people and commitment to client excellence are at the core of everything we do. We prioritise partnerships that foster growth, drive innovation, and deliver impactful solutions. Amanda’s addition to our team reflects this commitment and strengthens our ability to offer transformative services to our clients.
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A leader in Retail Banking & Payments
In her new role, Amanda is focused on building a portfolio of clients that includes banks, fintechs, and payment organisations, driving digital transformation and innovation across the payment ecosystem.
Amanda is also the founder of AGE Advisors, an advisory group specialising in financial guidance for startups and fintech founders. She also serves as a startup financial advisor for TrubAI and offer strategic insights tailored to emerging companies.
With deep expertise in the payments space, Amanda previously served as a Delivery Partner at Endava, where she led strategic direction, vision, and growth for a diverse portfolio of retail banking clients across North America. In this role, she delivered transformative solutions in emerging payment technologies, AI, financial inclusion, account-to-account (A2A) transfers, bill pay, and core modernisation of payment infrastructures.
Before Endava, Amanda worked at Synchrony and sharpened her expertise by managing key relationships with industry giants such as American Express, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, FIS, and PayPal. Working within the Synchrony Payment Networks Team, she played a pivotal role in developing and executing Synchrony’s payment growth strategy. Amanda identified opportunities and challenges for strategic clients, positioning herself as a critical link between financial institutions and technology partners. Her strategic initiatives included driving the adoption of contactless cards ( 2018-2020)—widely used globally but less prevalent in the U.S.—as well as launching premium credit card products like VISA Signature and Mastercard World. Additionally, Amanda owned Synchrony's relationship with Worldpay, helping to establish a new program that enabled Synchrony’s CareCredit healthcare payment card to be accepted at Walgreens, significantly expanding its reach and utility for consumers
Named BTA's 2024 Diversity Champion, Amanda is a dedicated advocate for women and professionals of color in the payment industry. She is a Global Mentor with Women in Payments, represents Money20/20 as an ambassador, and is an alumnus of the Amplify cohort '22. As a global speaker, Amanda has delivered keynotes in cities such as Amsterdam, Bangkok, Colombia, and Mexico.
"I’m excited to join NextWave at such a pivotal moment in the fintech and payments industry. The firm’s dedication to innovation, its client-first approach, and its track record of driving transformative change resonate deeply with my own professional values. I look forward to collaborating with this exceptional team to deliver cutting-edge solutions that help our clients stay ahead in an increasingly complex and dynamic payments landscape."
Natalie Behan, Managing Partner of NextWave Americas, stated:
“I am excited to welcome Amanda to the NextWave team. Her deep expertise in payments and retail banking, combined with her proven track record of driving transformative solutions, will be instrumental in expanding our client partnerships and delivering cutting-edge innovations. Amanda’s passion for fostering growth and her commitment to advancing financial inclusion make her an exceptional addition. With her leadership, we are well-positioned to accelerate digital transformation and unlock new opportunities for our clients across the evolving fintech and banking landscape.”
Meet Amanda:
Why did you choose to join NextWave?
NextWave’s commitment to innovation in banking and emerging technologies resonates deeply with my career focus. Their track record of helping organisations navigate transformative change aligns perfectly with my passion for integrating cutting-edge solutions into payment infrastructures. The opportunity to collaborate with such a forward-thinking consultancy, known for pushing boundaries in the financial space, was a key attraction.
What has been a career highlight for you?
One of the highlights of my career was leading the strategic direction for a diverse portfolio of banking and payments clients such as PayPal, TD Bank, Mastercard, VISA, and Worldpay. I had the privilege of spearheading initiatives that modernized payment infrastructures, incorporating technologies like AI while advancing financial inclusion. A standout project involved expanding Synchrony’s CareCredit healthcare payment card through a partnership with Walgreens, significantly increasing its utility. My broader work driving innovation with leaders like VISA and PayPal continues to be a defining moment.
How will you contribute to NextWave Americas?
At NextWave Americas, I plan to leverage my expertise in strategic relationship management, product development, and emerging payment technologies to drive innovative solutions for our clients. I look forward to building a portfolio of fintech and banking clients to deliver digital transformations that advance the payments ecosystem.
Where can we find you when you’re not in the office?
When I’m not in the office, you’ll likely find me mentoring emerging professionals, especially women and people of colour, in the fintech space. I’m also a frequent speaker at global fintech events, sharing insights and learning from the brightest minds in the industry. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, and exploring new cultures.
If you are a client who is interested in connecting with Amanda, or would like to learn more about working with NextWave Americas, please feel free to reach out at amanda.estiverne@nextwave.com and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Moving forward...
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