When Tamica Payne, Perth resident, thinks back to her early years in Australian investment banking and stockbroking, she remembers how quickly she was pulled into the work. The fast pace, the analytical side of the markets, and the responsibility of supporting institutional and high-net-worth clients gave her a reason to stay curious.
She wanted to understand how systems worked, how decisions were made, and why certain patterns in the market mattered. Although she didn’t know it then, that curiosity would end up steering her entire career.
“I ask questions, learn quickly, and never assume I know everything,” she said. “Especially in finance, where things change constantly.”
Her growing experience eventually led her to London, where she transitioned into roles at Morgan Stanley and Coutts & Co. Watching people handle complex situations with both skill and integrity left a strong impression and set a standard she tried to uphold in her own work.
As she moved from stockbroking into entrepreneurship, she began building businesses from the ground up. What started as an effort to find high-quality, reliable outsourcing and financial services solutions grew into a broader vision for how companies could operate and scale more effectively.
She went on to co-found several international ventures in financial services, foreign exchange, and business process outsourcing. Today, those businesses include licensed entities in Mauritius, South Africa, and Cyprus and serve clients in Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Payne hadn’t expected her work to reach so many parts of the world, yet looking back, she can see how each step naturally built on the one before it. And at every point in her career, one trait influenced her direction more than anything else.
“Staying genuinely curious has taken me further than any formal strategy ever has,” she said.
Even now, as her companies evolve, she depends on that same sense of curiosity to stay open to whatever the industry demands next.
Leading With Equal Parts Logic and Instinct
As Payne moved from technical roles into leadership, her days no longer revolved around tasks to check off a list but around the choices that determined the direction of the business. In finance, conditions are hardly ever perfect, so she learned to base her decisions on what she could measure.
She looks at the level of risk, reviews the compliance requirements that may slow things down, pays attention to timing, and considers how each decision might affect the people who rely on her.
“I look at the facts first,” she explained. “But I always check in with how the decision feels.”
If a decision seems rushed or just doesn’t sit right, she takes a moment to pause. When it feels aligned with the team’s goals, she proceeds with confidence.
Good leaders rarely separate how they make decisions from how they treat people, and Tamica Sharon Payne sees both as reflections of the same values. Finance may seem vast, but it is a close community where people cross paths again and again, sometimes decades later.
Payne keeps that in mind, approaching every interaction with intention. She believes consistency builds trust, so she shows up, offers help when it’s needed, and treats people with genuine respect. She also understands the power of a positive reputation, which is why she stays connected, checks in regularly, and makes sure people know they can count on her.
Creating the Conditions for Teams to Thrive
Inside her own companies, those same values set the tone for the environment she works to maintain. Expectations are explained in plain language, and when milestones are reached, she acknowledges them so people understand that their work is appreciated.
“People do their best work when they feel valued, supported, and clear on what success looks like,” she said. “I make sure my team knows their work matters, I give them autonomy, and I celebrate wins, even the small ones. A little encouragement goes a long way.”
Payne gives her team space to own their responsibilities, but she will step in whenever someone hits a roadblock, offering guidance before a small issue becomes a larger one. Her goal is not to do everything herself, but to help her team feel trusted and capable.
“If something requires my judgment, industry knowledge, or experience, I own it,” she said. “If someone else can do it 80% as well as I can, I delegate it and let them grow into the remaining 20%.”
In her experience, most tension in the workplace comes from unclear communication or a lack of information rather than true disagreement. Because of that, she listens first and leads with kindness, which often resolves issues faster. If someone continues to be unreasonable, she prevents the situation from escalating by staying professional.
Turning Potential into Performance
As a leader, Tamica Sharon Payne always does what she says she’ll do. She considers empathy, clarity, and follow-through the three most important qualities of effective leadership, and she works to embody each one every day.
“I think leadership is less about being in charge and more about creating an environment where people feel capable and supported,” she said.
She was reminded of this while mentoring a young team member who joined one of her companies when it was still growing. The new hire came in without much experience, yet she had strong potential and a real desire to learn.
“With guidance and encouragement, she developed confidence, mastered complex operational processes, and eventually took on a leadership role within the organisation,” Payne explained.
The experience reminded her that leadership often shows its impact through people rather than numbers. Helping someone recognize their abilities and grow into a role they once thought was out of reach reaffirmed her belief that investing in others creates a lasting influence that goes far beyond any single business accomplishment.
She recalls another employee who started doubting herself after making a handful of small mistakes. Payne helped her break the work into manageable steps, and with some structure and a couple of early wins, her confidence returned. Eventually, she became one of the strongest performers on the team.
Payne uses the same approach when setting goals for herself.
“Large goals feel overwhelming, so I carve them into small steps with clear milestones,” she said. “I also love structure, so I use simple dashboards and weekly check-ins to keep myself accountable. It keeps the momentum moving without feeling stressful.”
A Future of People-First Growth
With more than two decades in finance and investment behind her, Tamica Payne, Perth entrepreneur, has reached a point where she thinks about her work through a wider lens. The companies she has helped build demonstrate technical knowledge and operational strength, but they also reflect her personal philosophy on success.
“Success, to me, is the ability to create, to lead with purpose, and to make a meaningful impact on others,” she noted.
For her, that sense of impact is not defined by titles or external recognition. It grows from consistency, integrity, and the feeling that her work is contributing to something larger than herself. When her professional goals align with her personal values, she sees that as the truest measure of success.
Payne continues to draw inspiration from entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, Gabrielle Chanel, and Melanie Perkins, women who built well-known companies while staying connected to their families and principles.
“[They] exemplify the blend of innovation, resilience, and empathy that I strive for,” she said. “Their ability to grow with purpose and lead without losing their sense of self continues to motivate me in my own journey.”
A fierce advocate for women, she supports initiatives that help them gain confidence through education and entrepreneurship, believing that financial knowledge can uplift individuals as well as the families and communities around them.
As a mother of three who built businesses while raising newborns, she understands what it takes to pursue ambitious goals while also taking care of herself and the people who depend on her.
“Over the years, I’ve come to see balance not as a luxury, but as a non-negotiable foundation for clarity, creativity, and effective leadership,” she said.
She loves spending time with her family, being in nature, enjoying good food, traveling, and exploring new cultures. Staying active through tennis, padel, and exercise also keeps her grounded and energized.
As she looks ahead, she remains focused on expanding internationally, developing teams that share her values, and building businesses that perform well while staying connected to the people they serve.