Risk UnZipped: Q&A with Mohamed

Meet Mohamed, based out of our NYC office, who's leading our Enterprise Risk Management strategy at an exciting point in the journey for Zip in the US.

Mohamed tell us about yourself, how long you’ve been with Zip and a little bit about your day to day work here

I’m based out of Jersey City, NJ and have been with Zip for 8 months now as the Enterprise Risk Officer for Zip in the US. I enjoy staying active and working out regularly. I also love to snowboard in the winter months and cycle outdoors when the weather permits.

My day to day at Zip is exciting as I can honestly say that two days are rarely ever the same. I frequently engage with different stakeholders and partners in various business units to move forward program objectives as we continue on our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) journey.

You’ve held numerous roles in technology and supply chain consulting in your previous career. What was the pull of joining Zip in the Enterprise Risk Management space?

I’ve always had a desire to join an innovative company where I can make a positive impact. With BNPL growing substantially over the past few years in the US and millions of consumers now seeking more flexible payment options, risk management has never been more important for a business like ours.

The opportunity for me to lead our enhanced ERM strategy feels like the perfect match. It’s not a new concept, but it’s an evolving practice. I see this as a very cool opportunity to come in and help mature the ERM program alongside a great group of people.

Why is your work fundamental to Zip’s future success?

As Zip continues on its journey, it’s now more important than ever to develop the building blocks for a robust ERM function. It means effectively managing risks across Zip through the use of a common risk management framework.

As we grow, so too do the volume of internal and external threats that need to be identified, assessed and mitigated. ERM is the foundation to help leaders and the business not only monitor risks, but also ensure we’re implementing treatment plans to either mitigate or remediate those risks.

What are some of the exciting work challenges that are keeping you up at night and how are you approaching tackling them?

Third-Party Risk Management is a hot topic for me and an area that I’m passionate about, and it’s a continuous focus area for Zip. With the evolution of cybersecurity threats and organized crime it’s of the essence that Zip appropriately manages its risks associated with doing business with not only third-parties but fourth-parties as well. These can include a variety of different bodies, from SaaS Service Providers to Cloud Data Storage platforms.

It all starts with understanding the complex web of third and fourth-parties that we have servicing Zip, then building out the right mechanisms to screen and monitor suppliers proactively.

What one thing that people outside of the organisation may not know about Zip that makes you excited about your future here?

Our US business is effectively turning a new page, having achieved positive cash flow EBTDA results in November and December last year. It’s been a fantastic eight months so far, working alongside a great group of people who share a common goal. We’re on an exciting path of taking control of our destiny and I’m really enjoying the ride!