As seen in Millionaire MNL, Stephanie Ferris has become one of the most influential figures in global fintech. Since stepping into the role of CEO and President of FIS in December 2022, Ferris has not only made history as the first woman to lead the $50B financial services titan but has also launched a sweeping transformation agenda designed to shape the future of fintech.
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) is a Fortune 500 powerhouse that powers banking, payments, and capital markets technology across the globe. Under Ferris’ direction, the company is taking a bold leap forward, combining client-centric innovation with major digital reinvention.
A Fintech CEO With Vision – and Velocity
Ferris’s leadership has been marked by decisive action. From executing a $24 billion corporate restructuring deal to expanding FIS’s next-gen platform Atelio™, she has positioned FIS as an engine of fintech access and AI-powered infrastructure.
Her public mantra is clear: “We’re here to unlock financial technology for the world.”
That statement is more than a tagline. It reflects her belief in using fintech to reach the underbanked, fuel business growth, and make systems more human-centered.
Accolades That Back Up the Impact
Ferris has earned recognition at the highest levels of industry and media. In 2024, she was named the Most Influential Woman in Fintech by American Banker – the only public-company CEO on the list. In 2025, CNBC included her on its prestigious Changemakers list, citing her strategic clarity and bold reinvention of a legacy institution.
Earlier in her career, Ferris received the PaymentsSource Most Influential Woman in Payments honor (2018), YWCA Career Women of Achievement (2019), and Stevie Awards Silver Honoree (2016).
Redefining Corporate Culture, One Conviction at a Time
Ferris isn’t just a fintech operator – she’s a cultural architect. On LinkedIn, where she boasts thousands of engaged followers, she posts regularly about team accomplishments, innovation milestones, and gratitude for her employees.
In one recent post, Ferris wrote: “Make decisions with conviction. Stay human. Never stop learning.” It received over 1,300 likes, a testament to her ability to connect business goals with emotional intelligence.
She’s also a vocal proponent of financial literacy for younger generations, spotlighting FIS research that revealed how Gen Z and millennials are increasingly turning to social media for financial guidance – a trend Ferris believes should be met with responsible education and product innovation.
Building a Future-Focused FIS
At the heart of Ferris’s leadership is a focus on AI, platform partnerships, and sustainable long-term growth. She often refers to generative and agentic AI as “the internet of our generation”, indicating her belief that we’re on the brink of a new financial paradigm.
Under her watch, FIS’s Horizon platform has already earned industry recognition, including the Celent North American Retail Banking Core Systems award, and is being deployed as a flexible, AI-native solution for retail banks.
