BridgerPay COO: "Every workplace is unique and it’s important to be adaptable and open-minded"

Ben Cohen, Chief Operations Officer at payment operations platform BridgerPay, talks about his move from Israel to Cyprus, which he says was “definitely the right decision” both professionally and personally, while he also offers his perspective on the business environment in the payments industry, where he sees many exciting opportunities for growth and innovation but are also plenty of challenges to navigate.

Describe your current job in Cyprus.

As the COO of BridgerPay, I oversee all the operations of the business to keep the company culture and vision on track. This includes implementing business strategies, plans and procedures, as well as measuring the efficiency of operational processes and taking steps to improve them.

What led to your move from Israel to Cyprus?

The opportunity to join the executive team at BridgerPay was exciting for me, taking my career to the next level while working with a dynamic team of professionals. I found that Cyprus had a lot to offer both professionally and personally and, now that I’ve been here for a while, I can say that it was definitely the right decision. People are friendly, the culture is welcoming and the work/life balance is fantastic.

How does the professional environment in Cyprus differ from that in Israel?

In Cyprus, building relationships and personal connections are important, while Israelis are more direct and focused on achieving results. Communication is another area: Israelis tend to be very direct, whereas Cypriots value diplomacy and often use indirect language to get their message across. In Cyprus, there is also a strong appreciation for maintaining a healthy work/life balance and people generally work reasonable hours. In Israel, however, it’s common to work long hours, and work can take up a significant portion of your life. Despite the differences, it’s important to remember that every workplace is unique and it’s important to be adaptable and open-minded.

How do you view the business environment in your particular industry?

I have a unique perspective on the business environment in the payments industry. Overall, I see many exciting opportunities for growth and innovation but there are also plenty of challenges to navigate. One of the biggest is keeping up with rapidly changing technology. As the industry evolves, it’s important for companies to stay up to date with the latest trends to remain competitive. Another challenge is attracting and retaining top talent. The fintech industry is highly competitive and there is high demand for skilled professionals. But, overall, I’m very optimistic about the industry’s future!

How do you find working and living in Cyprus? How easily did you adapt to life here?

I love living and working in Cyprus. The warm weather, gorgeous beaches and having a family that lives close by make it a fantastic place to call home. Adapting to life here was easy, as the people are friendly and welcoming and English is widely spoken. I highly recommend considering Cyprus as a place to live and work!

• Country of origin: Israel
• Job Title: COO
• Company: BridgerPay
• Office Location: Limassol
• Time in Cyprus: 1.5 years • Other countries he has lived/worked in: Israel • Favourite restaurant in Cyprus: Golden Monkey Thai Restaurant, Limassol • Favourite bar in Cyprus: Gin Garden, Limassol
• Activities he enjoys in Cyprus: Travelling and exploring the island with his family.

This interview first appeared in the March issue of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.