What is your name and job?
My name is Pooja Raykar and I am a Senior Certification Specialist working on Interac’s core products and mobile services.
What does a typical day at Interac look like for you?
On a typical day at Interac, I manage testing and certification of our customers’ implementations of Interac services and products, as well as overseeing questions and concerns coming from our internal and external stakeholders. I constantly read and review requirements and specifications to be able to resolve questions coming my way. I also am part of the designing and drafting of process documents for my team.
I also have a key responsibility of housekeeping and maintaining assets for the team.
Although my day is typically planned, a greater part of it is taken up by new projects that I am currently part of.
What is your favourite part of your job?
For me collaboration is key. I get to work with a lot of internal and external stakeholders while I perform testing and certifications. This has helped me build a very good network at Interac and a professional network externally.
My favourite and most exciting part of the job is being part of the deployment and implementations that happen overnight, where my team gets to test the newly launched service or product firsthand!
What comes to mind when you think about your journey at Interac?
I’ve been at Interac for six years and three months now and it’s been a rollercoaster ride! My time spent at Interac has given me some of the best projects/products that one could have asked for in this industry. My days are filled with so much energy and every day has brought with it new learnings, opportunities and challenges! The time just seems to have flown by with accomplishing so much in the time spent here.
My journey at Interac so far has been very fruitful with memories of the wins, accomplishments, and milestones that I’ve been a part of, whether it was the excitement to be able to pay with my phone and watch to being part of the Interac e-Transfer for Business project launch.
What has been your favourite project you’ve worked on at Interac?
I wouldn’t call out anyone one project as a favourite as each one has been as exciting as the other, but the journey to get Interac e-Transfer for Business to see the light of day is by far a highlight in my career. This was the first time ever that a process was introduced for certification and the feedback received from industry-wide partners was amazing. This speaks volumes for itself that I along with my team may have done a good job!
Where would you like to see your career grow at Interac?
For me being part of the Interac workforce, itself is a matter of pride. To be able to work on some great Innovative products that have been game-changing in the Canadian payments space is the cherry on top! Personally, I feel that I have grown and come a long way from where I was six years ago. I feel there is scope for more growth from a personal and professional point of view at Interac.
What is an interesting fact about you?
Not many know of my love for various forms of art. And I’m self-taught! I’m currently hooked on Zen-doodling.
I have some good ones in my collection and working towards bringing up my own “wall of art” at home.
What makes Interac a unique place to work?
I see Interac as a “community giver” in many senses because the focus here is to furnish the needs of its people! A giver to not only its employees but also to the community and on a larger scale to Canadians. I value this attribute to the highest level.
At Interac, we are totally spoiled by the gifts and surprises that we receive! In the summer, our executive team let us prioritize our mental health by offering us extended wellness weekends.
We also have a Women at Interac Employee Resource Group where women across the organization connect, cheer and celebrate each other’s achievements and share knowledge and resources that come our way.
