As Webbilling accurately reports in its online marketing literature, the French love their wine and champagne, the Belgians their pommes frites, the Spanish their tapas and the Germans their beer.
That’s why it’s important to note that just like there are different cultures, traditions and perceptions, there are numerous avenues for online payment methods, says Eva Zankel, Webbilling’s B2B senior sales manager who joined the company in its Hamburg office in April.
In the competitive market of payment processing you have to not only listen to the needs of your merchants, but you also have to deliver the best and most reliable products.
Webbilling’s specialty, she says, is the ability to convert the European customer by offering an advanced payment gateway using SEPA Direct Debit, SOFORT, PaysafeCard, iDeal and other methods for ecommerce transactions.
Not only can Zankel offer online businesses sensible solutions, the processing veteran conducts business with pure grace.
“Everyone I work with or cross paths with leaves their mark and inspires me in one way or another,” Zankel says.
XBIZ is pleased to spotlight Zankel as WIA Woman of the Month for January 2017.
XBIZ recently sat down with the Webbilling exec for this Q&A interview to learn more about her drive, spirit and passion for her work.
XBIZ: What’s the best part of the job?
Zankel: Besides working with great people and business partners, what really drives me is being an active part with our partners and merchants, helping them to increase their revenues and creating a real added value while working hand in hand with them in a vital sector of their business.
XBIZ: What in your background prepared you for what you are doing now?
Zankel: When I chose my studies back then in Germany I did not know which direction I would take or where I would see myself in the future. But moving to the U.S. allowed me to open myself to new opportunities. I think life in general prepares us and we simply grow into it by learning and doing. I took on the challenges, learned and kept practicing my craft with love and passion.
XBIZ: How do you answer the question of whether women lead differently than men?
Zankel: I think each and everyone has a different way of leading, no matter of the gender. I love to think that we are considered equal than our male peers, where respect and results are delivered with vision and passion, where we listen more and talk less.
XBIZ: Who inspires you in this industry?
Zankel: To be honest, I am inspired by many successful people around. Everyone I work with or cross paths with leaves their mark and inspires me in one way or another.
But I can truly say that people like Ines Petersen, with her impressive career, or Michael Reul, who had the vision and passion to build not only Webbilling but Traffic Partner — one of the top tech companies in Germany — make me proud to be part of this industry. And, last but not least, Ines and Wolf Kring who gave me my first shot at this business and believed in me. They opened the door and gave me something we all want in life — an opportunity to show who we are and what we can accomplish.
XBIZ: How important is it for you to attend trade shows and speak on panels?
Zankel: Attending trade shows helps tremendously by not only staying connected to the industry, creating our circle of trust and seeing new directions the industry is going, but it also helps meeting new potential business partners as well as building strong relationships.
The thing I like about panels on a personal level is that they push me out of my comfort zone. Each panel allows me to not only add some interesting and useful information to the participants, but I actually learn a lot myself as great minds and tremendous knowledge and experience are part of those panels.
XBIZ: What’s a typical work day like?
Zankel: Drinking coffee, drinking coffee and drinking coffee. No. I am kidding. But that helps as we work within so many time zones with our partners. With our offices spread over the world we work long days and have short nights. My days are filled with many different tasks and responsibilities as I assist managing the sales team from our main office in Hamburg and also work constantly with the product team. So, it never gets boring.
In the competitive market of payment processing you have to not only listen to the needs of your merchants, but you also have to deliver the best and most reliable products. We are a vital part of their revenues, and we can make a real difference for their bottom lines.
XBIZ: When not thinking about the biz, what do you like to do?
Zankel: Music is a big part of our family, and we love traveling around the globe to see great concerts. But what really allows me to disconnect is spending time with my amazing son Bastian, who is 20 months old, and my amazing husband. This gives me the balance I need to power through life! I could not do it without this foundation.
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.