I work across Stripe teams and functions to grow our business in the Travel & Leisure industry - from marketing, to sales, product, technology and risk. Payments is now a strategic part of the business & technology stack, so I try and drive awareness of some of the ways our solutions improve the traveller experience, unlock new revenues and simplify things for ops, finance and tech teams behind the scenes.
James Lemon
Global lead for Stripe's growth in Travel & Leisure
Bio
With a career spanning a healthy mix of corporate life; technology businesses; entrepreneurship and start-up foundering, I specialize in unlocking growth potential for ambitious leaders and exciting founders - whether it's 'intrapreneurship' in a bigger business, or leaders in startups. My expertise lies in business development, go-to-market strategies, and building high-performing teams, usually with a vertical industry focus. Much of my career has been spent in business development and corporate strategy roles in the hospitality and travel industries. Core Competencies: 1.Business Development & Go-to-Market Planning - Enterprise and industry-focused strategies - Proposition development - International expansion - Network Building & Event Management 2. Creating impactful professional presence - Developing strong industry networks - Using events effectively - Optimizing LinkedIn and social media presence - Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration 3. Virtual team management - Enhancing productivity and work rate - Stakeholder engagement and communication - AI Integration for Business Efficiency 4. Implementing AI solutions for productivity - Guiding teams on AI adoption strategies 5. Start-up Growth & Scaling - Team building and expansion - Fundraising and investor relations - Operational efficiency and productivity enhancement Background: With a broad background in the travel and hospitality industry, including founding and successfully exiting a mentoring platform start-up, I can share experiences in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. I'm a big beliver in getting out there at events for your business and your own profile, so can share experiences from major industry events such as Websummit, ITB Asia, and Phocuswright, as well as broader ideas on innovation, growth strategies, and the future of business in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Mentoring Approach I'm definitely here to listen so please come with some ideas of what you want to discuss. My mentoring style focuses on practical, actionable advice, where I've faced similar situations, tailored to each mentee's unique situation. I emphasize the importance of clear communication, strategic thinking, and leveraging technology to drive growth. Whether you're looking to refine your go-to-market strategy, build a stronger team, or explore international expansion, I'm here to guide you through the process with proven methodologies and real-world insights.
Expertise
Go to market strategy
Have built Stripe's strategy for the Hospitality, Travel and Leisure industry - from annual planning, proposition, winning repeatable solutions and sales content/enablement.
Toolkit

HiveBrite
5 years of experienceBuilt a 2000+ global community on Hivebrite - from initial product strategy, trough build vs buy decisions, to high degree of customisations. Aware of its strengths and limitations as a community building tool, including how you can/can't commercialise with it.