profile

WIA Profile: Melody L

How did you get into the business?

It certainly wasn’t a business that I thought I would be in. I was introduced to L3 Payments when I worked for a bank and payment processing company in the Midwest. In all of my interactions with L3 Payments, I was completely impressed with their payment expertise, professionalism, their openness and their desire to do what is right for all the parties involved. When an opportunity was presented to be more directly involved with L3 Payments, I couldn’t resist. I have never regretted that decision.

One of the biggest challenges I find in working in online adult is that these merchants are held to a higher standard then mainstream verticals.

What in your background prepared you for what you are doing now?

Having spent over 15 years in the electronic payment space, I have been able to get an intimate knowledge of how people make payments from every perspective: Bank, Merchant, Consumer, Processor, Regulator. I am able to take this experience and use a consultative approach to create a payments strategy that meets the needs of our industry and clients. I can talk with the banks and understand their issues and challenges and mitigate those for my merchants processing. I have a 360 degree view from which to approach a payment strategy for a merchant.

What do you see as the challenges of working in online adult and how do you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I find in working in online adult is that these merchants are held to a higher standard then mainstream verticals. As a result, these accounts have higher scrutiny in underwriting and have to not only stay compliant in an ever-changing environment but have to do so with the additional challenge of friendly fraud. To overcome this, it is important for L3 Payments to be active in the payment regulatory space to be able to speak on behalf of online merchants as well as anticipate what the future challenges will be in the payments space. L3 Payments helps our industry overcome these challenges by maintaining close relationships with our banks to ensure that our merchants are being represented well during the introduction, underwriting, setup and processing phases of the account. Couple that with our access to SBW gateway and its fraud engine to scrub out questionable transactions from the start, we are well positioned to assist merchants with their payments needs worldwide.

Does your work affect your personal life?

In relation to work, L3 Payments is full of good, fun people that I enjoy spending time with both inside and outside the office resulting in a blending of both my personal and my business life. As for the rest of the world, I’ve always been the type of girl you could tell anything to without having judgment laid on you. From that background, I do not hesitate to tell people the type of payment processing I perform and those who know me can’t think of a better advocate in the payments space.

Do you have a personal motto or slogan that you live by?

Although I can think of scores of slogans that suit my life, I do not have one in particular that I live by. If I were to put my daily outlook into words, they would be, “Look at each day as an opportunity to learn, teach and be happy.”

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Segpay Marks 20 Years of High-Risk Triumphs

Payment processors are behind-the-scenes players in the world of ecommerce, yet their role is critical. Ensuring secure, seamless transactions while navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape requires both technological expertise and business acumen.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

The SCREEN Test: How to Prepare for Federal Age Verification

For those who are counting, there are now 20 enacted state laws in the United States requiring age verification for viewing online adult content, plus numerous proposed laws in the works. This ongoing barrage has been exhausting for many in the adult industry — and it may be about to escalate in the form of a potential new AV law, this time at the federal level.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How to Master Team Dynamics for Business Success

Having the right team in place is everything. Whether getting a startup off the ground and thriving, or safeguarding an established company, the right — or wrong — people can mean the difference between a successful venture and a failed dream.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

Eight Steps to Fast-Track AI Site Approval for Processing

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days. AI technology is speeding up the way we do business across all industries and offers numerous benefits, from automating processes to increasing efficiency and scalability.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How to Secure High-Risk Transactions With Network Tokenization

Ensuring the security of data as it moves through digital channels is the foundation of safe transactions, and crucial for your success. If your business can’t secure transactions, you’re exposed to myriad processing traumas.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Reba Rocket

As chief operating officer and chief marketing officer of Takedown Piracy, long at the forefront of intellectual property protection in adult entertainment, Rocket is dedicated to safeguarding the livelihoods of content creators and producers while fostering a more ethical and sustainable industry.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Protecting Content Ownership Rights When Using AI

In today’s digital age, content producers have more tools at their disposal than ever before. Among these tools, artificial intelligence (AI) content generation has emerged as a game changer, enabling creators to produce high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Payment Orchestration Can Help Your Business

An emerging payment solution is making waves in the merchant world: the payment orchestration platform (POP). It’s quickly gaining traction as a powerful tool for managing online payments — but questions abound.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Fine-Tuning Refund and Cancellation Policies

For adult websites, managing refunds and cancellations isn’t just about customer service. It’s a crucial factor in maintaining compliance with the regulations of payment processors and payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Laurel Bencomo

Born in Cambridge, England but raised in Spain, Laurel Bencomo initially chose to study business at the University of Barcelona simply because it felt familiar — both of her parents are entrepreneurs. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sales and marketing management at the EADA Business School, while working in events for a group of restaurants in Barcelona.

Women In Adult ·
Show More