2023 Star Women in Convenience winner: Shawna Bickford

Sales manager

Now Prepay, by Payment Source

How did you get into this business? 

I started with Payment Source back in 2008 when I was only 19 years old. I was very young but knew I wanted a career in dealing, speaking and helping people. As the years went by, the company grew significantly, and my role changed within many different departments. Once I moved into a sales position, I knew I was in the right place. Not only did I love the fast and stressful environment it came with but also the satisfaction of closing deals, hitting quota, and overcoming any obstacles that came my way. 

What do you like most about your job?

I love building new relationships, I genuinely enjoy making new contacts and spending time talking and getting to know new people. I also enjoy developing and streamlining new processes and workflows. Now as a sales manager, I get to help my team embrace and love sales as I do. The best part of my job is when my team hits or overachieves their quota and I receive the positive feedback from their customers that shows just how much my team cares about the clients they serve. I adore the people I work with. Payment Source is definitely my second family. Payment Source also provides me with in-depth learning and technology development opportunities that help me to continue to keep my skills sharp, and that’s something I really appreciate.

What's the best advice you ever received?

Listen more. To always seek to understand what is being said to you before having (and sharing) an opinion. You have two ears and one mouth. There’s a reason for that.

What trends or innovations are keeping an eye on right now? 

Product innovation in the digital gift card market is a major trend to keep an eye on. Major companies operating in the market are introducing new technologies, such as allowing customers to trade cryptocurrency into their favourite retailers and tracking sites to ensure cards don't go missing. The market for gift cards is expected to expand as more people adopt smartphones, which offer greater payment flexibility and convenience. 

What's your career highlight/biggest achievement?

This year has been a big one for me. Not only was I promoted to sales manager, but after being part of the convenience store industry for 15 years, receiving this award has been a true highlight for me.