Mihaela Dumitru

About Mihaela Dumitru

I lead at the intersection of complex Payments architecture, enterprise data strategy, and high-stakes business transformation. My career has been a deliberate evolution from a foundation in Journalism and Public Affairs to architecting the data backbone for one of the world’s largest financial ecosystems. This unique blend of skills allows me to do what few can: translate trillions in transaction flow and \"impossible\" regulatory hurdles into clear, revenue-driving product roadmaps.At Citi, I focus on the \"connective tissue\" of global finance. As Head of Payment Data Solutions, I don’t just manage data—I productize it. I lead the shift from legacy complexity to AI-ready, scalable architectures that enable multi-billion-dollar flows across 90+ countries while ensuring absolute systemic integrity.I am a \"0-to-1\" builder by nature. I believe that the most resilient systems are those built on a \"customer-obsessed\" culture—a philosophy that has earned my teams regional trophies and transformed how we protect and serve the global user.What I bring to the table:Scale: Navigating the intricacies of cross-border data for the world’s largest institutions.Clarity: Using my roots in communication to align C-suite vision with technical execution.Innovation: Architecting the next generation of FinTech through a data-first, AI-ready lens.I am passionate about the future of money movement and building seamless, secure digital ecosystems that empower people and economies at a global scale.

Experience

1. Global Payment Data Solutions Director

   Citi

   Jan 2024 — Present · NY, US

   The Mandate: Architecting the data backbone for one of the world’s largest payments ecosystems, enabling seamless and secure multi-billion-dollar transaction flows.Data Strategy and AI Readiness: Designing scalable architectures that move data from legacy complexity into high-velocity analytics platforms. This work directly fuels the enterprise’s AI, Machine Learning, and predictive analytics roadmap.Global scale: Championing multi-year frameworks for data governance and risk mitigation. I turn \"regulatory requirements\" into \"operational excellence,\" ensuring trillions in value move frictionlessly. Product and Business synergy: Partnering with executive stakeholders and Product Owners to translate mission-critical data into measurable ROI.Modern leadership: Built and currently leading a high-performing global team. I focus on a culture of \"data-first\" thinking, breaking down silos across Product, Compliance, and Engineering to solve high-stakes challenges.

Education

• University of Bucharest

  Bachelor's degree, The Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies