After dedicating 13 years to the financial heart of the global banking system, working closely with central banks on three continents in the treasury department of a tier 1 bank, Michael Brinker felt a profound call to serve beyond the confines of traditional banking.
“The onset of the pandemic illuminated a path where I could deliver greater social impact,” said Brinker. “Motivated by this realization, I transitioned from finance to directly addressing the urgent health crisis, focusing on sourcing PPE and medical equipment to combat the virus.”
Within just six months, Brinker successfully negotiated contracts totaling approximately $2.4 billion at Edma Group. An experience that exposed vulnerability with current systems galvanized his commitment to combat fraud more vigorously, so he transitioned to GiveCorporation Inc. as the chief financial officer.
GiveCorporation Inc. is the technology leader in fraud protection for payments in the U.S. and leads the payments and fintech industry. The firm’s mission is to rebuild the middle class by giving them the ease of luxury to operate their businesses and eliminate fraudulent attacks on their finances.
In his role, Brinker will help lead initiatives that include launching GivePayments Inc., enabling large partners to white-label advanced payment and fraud prevention technology while revolutionizing the sponsor bank model.
Brinker is known for leading teams with a steadfast commitment to excellence, striving to be among the best, combined with kindness, believing in defeating adversaries with compliments, and an unyielding curiosity that drives him to seek better understanding. “These core values guide my daily actions, and any day I advance in any of these areas is a day well spent, making a meaningful difference to both me and those around me,” he said.
Committed to mentoring others, Brinker has dedicated over a decade to educating future leaders in financial markets at universities and business schools where he revels in the enthusiasm of young students learning the pivotal role of cash flow in an economy. “In business negotiations, I firmly believe in the value of one’s word and the integrity of a handshake over the mere formalities of contractual ink,” he said. “To me, the true measure of a person’s credibility is reflected in their actions and commitments, not just the documents they sign.”
If he could give his younger self advice, Brinker said he would stick to the two paths that his grandfather shared with him. “When you walk into a room and you feel you are among the smartest, turn around and leave that room,” he said. “Always help others before you help yourself.”
