Dr. John Hoffmire: Nrupal, it’s a delight to be back in touch with you. I want to start by talking about your work at Paysafe, which involves leading payment solutions for North and South America, along with anti-fraud initiatives. Could you tell us about the challenges you face in this space and how you navigate them?

Nrupal Das: Certainly.  The payments ecosystem is both dynamic and complex, especially with ever-evolving regulations and technology. One of the primary challenges we face is staying ahead of sophisticated fraud and money laundering schemes. In 2024, we focused extensively on fortifying Paysafe’s fraud prevention measures in the US. This involved refining our technology stack to detect anomalies and identify loopholes often exploited by fraudsters. My role involves working with talented teams to ensure a robust, data-driven approach to protecting our merchants and users, and we’re constantly innovating to stay one step ahead.

John: That sounds very challenging. Before joining Paysafe, you co-founded two successful startups, Diffion and Ziplr Technology, and were recognized by institutions like the World Trade Centre and the Government of India. How did these experiences shape the way you approach product management today?

Nrupal:  Starting my own ventures was an invaluable experience that taught me to understand customers at a deeper level, from their explicit needs to the unarticulated ones. At Diffion and Ziplr, I led teams in product development and digital marketing, which sharpened my strategic vision and taught me to navigate both high-level planning and granular execution. Today, I use those insights to drive product adoption and revenue growth at Paysafe, ensuring that our solutions resonate with the unique challenges of our markets.

John: I remember from previous conversations that mentorship is clearly important to you and that you support several incubation centers in India, including Weneurs, which focuses on women entrepreneurs. What advice do you typically offer to these budding entrepreneurs?

Nrupal: I always emphasize the importance of customer understanding and resilience. For new entrepreneurs, it’s crucial to build products that address real pain points, rather than falling in love with an idea. I also encourage them to focus on execution, which often requires flexibility and the willingness to adapt based on customer feedback. At Weneurs and other centers, I mentor women and student entrepreneurs, helping them develop a growth mindset, which is vital for overcoming early problems as well as challenges that come up along the way. I always ask them to understand the real point that is troubling users and go all in to solve that in the best possible way.

John: Alongside your professional work, you’re also a published author of both academic papers and children’s stories, with one of your stories even becoming a bestseller. What inspired this creative journey, and how does it intersect with your career?

Nrupal: Writing has always been a passion of mine. The ability to tell stories, whether through fiction or academic research, allows me to share insights and perspectives in unique ways. Publishing children’s stories was a joy, as it gave me a platform to connect with young minds. I believe that the skills I develop in storytelling—empathy, communication, and structuring complex ideas—translate well into my work as a product leader, where understanding diverse viewpoints and articulating a vision are key.

John:  You’ve studied at prestigious institutions like MNIT Jaipur, ISB Hyderabad, and NLSIU Bangalore and are also a 2022 Chevening Fellow at St Cross College, Oxford University.  I would love to ask you about your experience as a Chevening CRISP Fellow and how you perceive it has impacted your work and your life.

Nrupal: The CRISP fellowship was an incredible experience with learning and growth in multiple dimensions. The experience of the course itself was wonderful – with: esteemed faculties and guest lectures; opportunities to visit centres of excellence in the UK; amazing course director, Richard Briant; and my project faculty guide, John Hoffmire. I can still distinctly remember the key learnings of numerous lectures even after more than two years now. I can almost exactly remember the feedback that I got for my project presentation. I really gave 100% in the short time I had to build a project. Through that process, I interviewed multiple people, did research across many sources, and finally built a business plan that I was really proud to complete. Many of the course instructors are also life-long mentors to me.

I was equally amazed by being at Oxford and at St Cross College. The ability of the university to provide an incredibly rich ground for intellectual growth is unmatched and one can feel a different energy at Oxford with its incredible history and amazing architecture.The CRISP fellowship and its location at Oxford is deeply inspiring.

I must also say that I had a really productive collaboration while I was in Oxford. Dr Kamal Gulati, my dear friend and fellow CRISPer, and I wrote a peer-reviewed research paper while we were in Oxford together.

Although I don’t have published papers with my other fellow CRISP batchmates, we have built amazing intellectual and social connections which serve us till this day and I am sure will remain forever. For any prospective applicant to Chevening fellowships, I would say this – If you use your time wisely, these can change your life.

John:  Thank you, for all that you have just said. And, in concluding, I must say, Nrupal, how proud I am of you. Not only have you succeeded in a broad swath of endeavors, but your current work has so much social impact. There is no doubt that scammers are having such a terrible influence on so many. I am especially grateful that your work to make payments more secure is protecting the old and others who are vulnerable. I wish you nothing but success and happiness.

Nrupal Das is a Director at Product Management at Paysafe, a fintech company headquartered at London and listed at NYSE. He is also a as a Chevening CRISP Fellow at Oxford University 2022.

John Hoffmire is a Research Associate at the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Co-owned Business.