Business Strategist
Mastercard · Paris, Île-de-France, France
- On site
- Full-time
- $120,000 / year
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
Job highlights
- Develop product strategy and roadmaps for data products.
- Create business cases for strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams for solution development.
- Communicate progress to executive stakeholders.
- Support go-to-market initiatives for new products.
About the role
Business Strategist
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Senior Specialist, Product Management
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential.
Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Role Overview
The Business & Market Insights team is looking for a Senior Specialist to support building top-notch data-driven products leveraging Mastercard and third-party data assets. The ideal candidate has experience crafting data products in Big Tech, Retail & Commerce, or Fintech, is highly motivated, intellectually curious, analytical, and possesses an entrepreneurial mindset.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Strategy: Support the Global Product Manager in crafting the product strategy from feature to go-to-market and maintain an accurate product backlog.
- Business Case Development: Build comprehensive business cases tailored to different geographies and use cases, supporting strategic decision-making.
- Sparring Partner: Ensure smooth and transparent collaboration across various teams (Tech, UX/UI, Legal, Privacy, BD, etc.), particularly around solution development discussions.
- Internal Communication: Develop and manage internal communication channels, including newsletters, email updates, and alignment with the corporate communications team to maintain high engagement on the initiative.
- Executive Reporting: Deliver frequent and accurate reports to executive stakeholders, providing clear insights and progress updates.
- Go-To-Market Support: Assist with GTM initiatives, including internal and external discussions, document preparation, pitch presentations, and communication strategies.
Qualifications
- API/data product experience (real‑time decisioning, authorization flows).
- Comfort with complex ecosystems; ability to operate in a global matrix.
- Data quality, security‑minded design.
- Stakeholder communication and executive updates; crisp narrative skills.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience in business case development and reporting.
- Ability to work cross-functionally with technical and business teams.
- Familiarity with innovation processes and GTM strategies and execution.
Knowledge Which Would Be a Plus For This Role:
- Payment ecosystem
- Data privacy/compliance awareness
- GenAI model deployment and maintenance cycle
All About You
The ideal candidate for this position should have a mix of capabilities:
- Can translate complex technical concepts into crisp narratives, executive summaries, and board‑ready updates; strong slide-writing and data storytelling.
- Proven ability to align and influence diverse stakeholders (Tech, Product, Finance, Sales, Corp Comms) and manage expectations across geographies.
- Builds robust multi‑scenario business cases (TAM/SAM/SOM, cost‑benefit, sensitivity analysis) and ties models to strategic outcomes and measurable KPIs.
- Comfortable running cadences (standups, steering committees), driving decision logs, risks/assumptions tracking, and keeping initiatives on time.
- Always looks for potential solutions to solve problems.
- Experience in roles like Product/Program Manager, Business Operations, Strategic Communications, GTM/Enablement, or Management Consulting.
- Advanced and structured storytelling, ability to craft narratives with visuals and data (pivot tables, scenario analysis), familiarity with financial modeling principles.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All Activities Involving Access To Mastercard Assets, Information, And Networks Comes With An Inherent Risk To The Organization And, Therefore, It Is Expected That Every Person Working For, Or On Behalf Of, Mastercard Is Responsible For Information Security And Must:
- Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
- Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and;
- Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.
Key skills/competency
- Product Strategy
- Business Case Development
- Data Storytelling
- Stakeholder Management
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Financial Modeling
- API Product Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Executive Reporting
- Innovation Processes
Skills & topics
- Business Strategist
- Product Management
- Data Products
- Business Case Development
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Fintech
- Payments
- API
- Stakeholder Management
- Mastercard
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight API/data product experience, business case development, and stakeholder management skills relevant to a Business Strategist role at Mastercard.
- Showcase your data storytelling: Emphasize your ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear executive summaries and board-ready updates.
- Demonstrate cross-functional leadership: Provide examples of successfully aligning and influencing diverse teams (Tech, Product, Finance, Sales) in previous roles.
- Research Mastercard's culture: Understand their commitment to financial inclusion, DQ, and global impact to align your application with their values.
- Prepare for case studies: Be ready to discuss how you would approach building a business case or developing a product strategy for a fintech solution.
Technical preparation
Practice API/data product scenario analysis.,Prepare examples of security-minded design.,Familiarize with GTM strategy frameworks.,Review payment ecosystem basics.
Behavioral questions
Describe influencing diverse stakeholders.,How do you handle complex data translation?,Share an experience driving initiatives forward.,Explain your problem-solving approach.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Business Strategist role at Mastercard?
- The Business Strategist role at Mastercard focuses on supporting the development of data-driven products. This involves crafting product strategy, building business cases, ensuring cross-functional collaboration, and facilitating go-to-market initiatives.
- What kind of experience is most valued for a Business Strategist at Mastercard?
- Mastercard highly values candidates with experience in API/data product development, complex ecosystems, strong stakeholder communication, business case development, and a proven ability to work cross-functionally. Experience in Big Tech, Retail & Commerce, or Fintech is a plus.
- How does Mastercard's 'DQ' (Decency Quotient) relate to this Business Strategist position?
- Mastercard's DQ drives their culture and operations. For a Business Strategist, this means a focus on ethical data handling, transparent communication, and a commitment to building solutions that benefit everyone, aligning with their mission of an inclusive digital economy.
- What are the key responsibilities of a Senior Specialist, Product Management at Mastercard?
- Key responsibilities include supporting product strategy, developing business cases, acting as a liaison between teams (Tech, UX/UI, Legal, etc.), managing internal communications, providing executive reporting, and assisting with go-to-market plans.
- What technical skills are essential for the Business Strategist role at Mastercard?
- Essential technical skills include experience with API/data products (like real-time decisioning or authorization flows), understanding of data quality and security-minded design, and familiarity with innovation processes and GTM strategies. Knowledge of the payment ecosystem and data privacy is beneficial.
- How can I best prepare my resume for a Business Strategist application at Mastercard?
- Tailor your resume to highlight specific achievements in product strategy, business case development, cross-functional collaboration, and executive reporting. Quantify your impact wherever possible, especially concerning data products and go-to-market success.
- What does Mastercard look for in terms of 'soft skills' for this Business Strategist position?
- Mastercard seeks candidates with strong communication and stakeholder management skills, the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives, influence diverse teams, and manage expectations across geographies. An entrepreneurial mindset and intellectual curiosity are also highly valued.
- Are there any specific knowledge areas that would be a bonus for this Mastercard role?
- Yes, knowledge of the payment ecosystem, data privacy/compliance awareness, and experience with GenAI model deployment and maintenance cycles are considered a plus for this Business Strategist role.