Building Connections, Driving Possibilities: Si’s Journey in Payments

Over the years, Si’s journey at Discover® has been defined by growth, curiosity, and a drive to make meaningful connections—both in data and in business.

Today, as Director of Advanced Analytics, Si leads three high-impact teams across Marketing Analytics, Fraud/Risk Analytics, and Data Solutions & Modeling. But her path wasn’t a straight line. She took every opportunity to rotate through different functions, from Pricing and Marketing to Fraud and Risk, to build valuable institutional knowledge and business understanding that only comes from saying yes to new challenges.

Si’s work now helps power the Discover Network and PULSE®, the backbone of seamless, secure transactions between merchants, acquirers, and issuers. “We connect both ends of the transaction,” Si says. “That means it’s essential we stay close to our partners—listening to their needs, challenges, and priorities. Our client-facing teams regularly engage with issuers to understand their effort to improve cardholder experiences, then work with merchants and acquirers to better understand their acceptance concerns and technical hurdles. Armed with these insights, our payments teams collaborate to enhance products, refine operating rules and strengthen security. My team has a vital role in supporting the Discover Network by driving smarter, data-informed decision making at different stages across the payments ecosystem.”

One area that energizes her most? The rapid pace of innovation. “We’re seeing so much experimentation across the industry. AI is unlocking new ways to approach product development, marketing, and fraud detection,” she shares. “The energy that comes from continuous learning and adapting alongside our partners is what excites me every day.”

As a leader of three teams with widespread impact, Si’s leadership style is unique and purposeful. “My leadership style is detail-oriented, collaborative, and focused on knowledge sharing. I set high standards for analytical deliverable quality, but I also prioritize building a culture where insights are shared across teams to drive broader impact,” she shares. The most rewarding part of being a leader? “Seeing people grow both technically and through cross-functional learning, while ensuring our work influences real business decisions.”

From navigating global moves to building influential analytics teams, Si’s career has been shaped by adaptability, vision, and a passion for connection. Her story is an example of how data, partnership, and purpose come together to drive real change, and how meaningful progress begins with saying “yes” to new challenges.