In this latest instalment of Women in Commerce, we spoke to Michaela Weber, SVP (Payments & Financial Services) at Commerce.
Michaela started out in financial services but, with a bent for technology, she found herself gravitating towards payments as an industry that combines both finance and tech but also innovation. The payments experience may seem niche but is crucial to growth in commerce organisations of every shape and size.
For our Q&A, Michaela actually moves away from the question of tech and into reputation. In an industry where knowing people and being known is vital to securing the best talent and ideas, she lands on the importance of building relationships and getting yourself out there. She also feels the death of the ‘manel’ can’t come quickly enough!
Tell us about your role and career journey so far
I started my career in financial services working on an equities trading floor before moving into corporate finance and then strategy consulting, working with businesses across financial services, technology and retail. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to payments because it sits at the intersection of finance, technology and innovation. It’s an industry that’s constantly evolving and one where you can have a tangible impact on how businesses operate and how customers experience brands.
Today, I lead global payments product and strategy at Commerce, where I work with merchants ranging from SMBs to large enterprises. My role is focused on shaping the company’s global payments strategy, developing products that improve the payment experience, and working with partners across the payments ecosystem to help businesses grow. It’s a role that brings together my background in finance, strategy and partnerships, while keeping me close to the innovation that’s transforming commerce.
What achievement are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of leading the development of BigCommerce Payments, an embedded payment solution for BigCommerce merchants, from idea to launch. Building a native payments solution that simplifies how merchants accept, manage and reconcile payments was a hugely rewarding experience.
I love seeing theproduct come to life and become something merchants use every day, and also knowing the hard work that a large cross-functional team put in behind the scenes to make it a success. Seeing the value BigCommerce Payments delivers for businesses and knowing I played a key role in bringing it to market has been especially fulfilling.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned during your career?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you never know when people will reappear in your professional life That’s why it’s so important to build a good reputation, be approachable and always be willing to help others.
The person you step in to help by joining a webinar panel at the last minute could easily end up being the key decision-maker at an important partner six months later! The payments industry is surprisingly interconnected, and I’ve found that investing in relationships and networking pays off in the long run.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the industry?
Not necessarily because I’m a woman, but I do think the ecommerce industry can sometimes feel quite clubby. You often see the same groups of people together at networking events, which can make it difficult for those who are newer to the industry or earlier in their careers to break into conversations and build connections.
I’d love to see more people make a conscious effort to welcome new faces and start conversations with people they don’t already know. The industry is built on relationships, and a small gesture at an event can make a big difference to someone who’s just starting out.
What advice would you give to women looking to build a career in commerce or technology?
Get comfortable with public speaking and do it as often as you can. Nothing will raise your profile internally and externally more than being able to confidently present at an all-hands meeting or speak at a customer or industry event.
Public speaking is scary, but it gets much easier with practice. Start while you are in school or university, join a local Toastmasters club, or simply look for opportunities to present more frequently at work. Push yourself outside your comfort zone – it will pay dividends throughout your career.
Who has inspired or influenced your career?
My biggest influences have been the mentors I had early in my career. They taught me the importance of putting the customer first, working as a team, being disciplined in your approach, and taking accountability for your decisions and results. Those lessons have stayed with me and continue to shape how I lead today.
What excites you most about the future of commerce?
The pace of change is what excites me most. Commerce is evolving incredibly quickly, and we’re only just beginning to understand how technologies like agentic AI will change the way people discover, buy and interact with brands.
There are a lot of known unknowns when it comes to customer adoption, and that’s what makes it so interesting. Being part of an industry that’s helping to shape what the future of commerce looks like is incredibly exciting.
What’s one thing you’d like to see change in the industry?
I think it’s really important to bring different perspectives onto conference panels. I’m always disappointed when I attend an event and the panel is made up of four people – often all men – who have all worked together before or who have the same role at the same type of company.
The most interesting discussions come from people with different backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints. It adds far more depth to the conversation. I love being asked to recommend speakers, and I have a 100% success rate of suggesting panellists who end up taking part – so send those requests my way!
Quick fire
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, lots and lots of coffee
Most-used app?
WhatsApp, probably followed by Focus Keeper as my 2026 work resolution was to get more disciplined about blocks of deep work
Favourite AI tool?
WisprFlow AI for voice to text
A brand you admire?
The Fold, which is a customer of Commerce and makes gorgeous clothes for busy women
A woman in business everyone should follow?
Reshma Saujani – the founder of Girls Who Code. She posts really interesting comments about women in tech and the workforce.
One word to describe the future of commerce?
Bright!
