We experience payments in seconds. A tap. A PIN. Approved.
For the person paying, it feels effortless. Behind that moment sits technology, security, compliance and people who analyse requirements, spot gaps, and quietly protect the systems businesses rely on.
This Women’s Month we’re introducing one of them: Safoora Patel Simpson, Information Security Analyst at Ecentric. Her story isn’t a carefully planned career path. It’s about following opportunities, staying curious, and discovering that the job you never expected can become the one you love.
Finding her way into Information Security
Safoora started in IT in 2013, though Information Security wasn’t the plan. She began in banking, then moved into payments, which showed her how technology, business and financial services connect. From there, her security interest grew naturally.
The real shift came in a compliance role working on SOX, PCI DSS and P2PE audits. That’s when she saw the links between compliance, technology, processes and security. Working in FinTech also exposed her to the pieces behind every secure payment: policies, controls, HSMs, cryptography, key management and audits.
The more she understood how those pieces fit, the more the work drew her in.
“I’ve found that I really enjoy analysing requirements, understanding how things work, identifying gaps and solving problems.”
She didn’t map this path from the start. She found it. One useful lesson for anyone starting in technology: you don’t always have to know exactly where you’re going.
The work behind the transaction
When someone taps a card, they’re not thinking about the control’s underneath, and they shouldn’t have to. Simple experiences for customers usually mean real complexity behind the scenes: standards, risk assessments, and audits that demand preparation, detail, and collaboration.
That’s part of what Safoora enjoys. The field keeps changing, so there’s always something new to learn. She values working with different stakeholders and learning from their expertise. Some of the best lessons come from asking questions and understanding how other teams operate.
Being a woman in Information Security
“It has been both challenging and rewarding.”
In a traditionally male-dominated field, Safoora has sometimes felt she needed to prove her technical ability. Assumptions that she might not fully understand certain aspects have surfaced. Her response has been consistent: keep learning, ask questions, build knowledge, and let the work speak for itself.
Those experiences strengthened her belief in confidence and in supporting others rather than treating them as competition. Visibility matters to her. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage other young women to consider technology and Information Security. If her journey motivates even one person, that will mean a great deal.
Growing at Ecentric
Since joining Ecentric in May 2019, Safoora says the people and sense of community have been defining. She describes it as feeling like a family and credits supportive colleagues and leaders with helping her grow. Mentorship from managers, executives, and even external vendors has played a big role, as have the supportive men who treated her with respect and believed in her ability.
At Ecentric, “Be the best people to work with” is about more than customers and partners. It’s about sharing knowledge, welcoming questions, and recognising that everyone brings something different. Safoora’s experience reflects that.
The moments that matter
Ask her about the achievement she’s most proud of, and she doesn’t name an award. She talks about the quieter wins: a successful audit, positive feedback from auditors or stakeholders, months of careful work coming together. She sees those moments as team successes.
“It’s not just about an individual achievement. It’s about knowing that everyone’s contribution helped us get to that outcome.”
Advice for the next generation
To young women considering technology or Information Security, Safoora’s message is simple:
“Don’t be intimidated by how vast the field is. There are countless areas and career paths available, and you don’t have to know everything from the beginning. There is a place for you in this field.”
If she could speak to her younger self, she would say: don’t let someone else’s age, experience or position make you doubt yourself. Trust the journey. Stand firm in what you know. Speak up and balance that confidence with respect. Don’t let anyone make you feel you don’t belong in the room.
Beyond the transaction
Technology will keep evolving. Security requirements will grow more complex. One thing stays constant: people remain at the centre.
Safoora describes herself as shy and introverted. She prefers working behind the scenes. Being behind the scenes does not mean being without impact. Sometimes the most important work is the work customers never see, the gap found before it becomes a vulnerability, the control strengthened before it becomes a problem, the question asked at the right time.
These are the moments that build trust.
This Women’s Month we celebrate Safoora and the many people behind the payments that keep businesses moving. Because beyond every transaction, people are making it possible.
