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When Annica started her career, she was focused on patients, not platforms. As a nurse for over a decade, she spent 12 years in healthcare - providing care, implementing electronic medical record systems, and developing a deep understanding of how-to bring structure to chaos. What she didn’t know at the time was that her skillset, rooted in service and systems thinking, would eventually pave the way for a thriving career in financial technology.
The transition from nursing to finance might seem like a sharp turn, but for Annica, it was a natural evolution. After moving into a management role at U.S. Bank, she was introduced to the world of technology through a robotics process automation project. It lit a spark. The intricacies of systems, the challenge of implementation, and the opportunity to problem-solve through technology reminded her of the very same instincts she used in healthcare: triaging problems, identifying priorities, and creating solutions that serve people.
In fact, the principles of nursing continue to guide her work today. “Airway, breathing, circulation,” she joked, referring to a foundational triage framework in nursing. “It still helps me determine what’s most urgent. That skill never left.”
Annica’s curiosity and adaptability led her deeper into the financial technology space. She began working with commercial card implementations and data mapping, helping clients extract the most value from their technology platforms. She found her niche not just in learning new systems, but in teaching them, translating complexity into clarity, so that clients could build their own internal efficiencies and reporting.
Her love for learning didn’t stop there. Currently, Annica is back in school pursuing her third degree, this time in Information Technology. The program allows her to apply her work experience toward academic credit, blending her professional world with her educational goals. She’s on track to graduate in 2027 and says the journey has reinvigorated her passion for innovation. “Technology is everywhere,” she says. “I want to stay on the cutting edge.”
Annica’s journey with Blend began after a previous contract ended. “Blend actually reached out to me right after my previous project wrapped up,” she recalled. “They had a client who needed someone with my exact experience. It was perfect timing.”
She joined a large card implementation project and was quickly offered a team lead role, overseeing a group of 30 employees. It was her first experience with Blend, and the support she received stood out immediately.
“I worked really closely with Lori Murphy, and she was just fantastic,” Annica said.
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Now on her second engagement with Blend, Annica continues to thrive, currently supporting Visa on a project she calls her dream role. Having spent years immersed in Visa’s Spend Clarity platform, she’s become a subject matter expert on their systems, migrations, and data frameworks. “It just clicks for me,” she shared. “I love being able to help clients see how powerful these tools can be.”
For Annica, contracting has unlocked a career full of variety, flexibility, and growth. She sees every new project as a fresh opportunity to build something better. The ability to work across companies, explore new systems, and develop deep expertise has been a defining strength of her journey.
“One of the best things about being a consultant is that you get to make the decision to stay or go,” she said. “You’re not stuck. If a team or environment isn’t the right fit, you can move on without the awkwardness of quitting. Plus, you gain exposure to so many different organizations and systems.”
She’s also quick to address a common misconception. “People think contractors don’t get benefits, but mine are just as good, if not better, than what I had in a full-time role,” she shared. “And the experience you gain, especially at large institutions like Visa, is invaluable.”
When asked who inspires her, Annica didn’t hesitate: “My dad. He always told me that if you find something you love and you’re good at it, you’re golden.”
She credits her strong work ethic to him. “There’s no point in doing anything unless you’re going to do it 100%. That’s how I approach every job. Especially in consulting, you have to bring your best every day. You’re there to make things better.”
Annica is focused on finishing her degree in Information Technology and continuing to grow her impact in the payments space. Whether through new implementations, leading teams, or pursuing future roles with organizations like Visa, she’s excited about what lies ahead.
“It would be a dream to land a permanent role at Visa,” she shared. “It’s hard to get your foot in the door at a place like that. But being a consultant has given me a chance to show what I can do, build a network, and position myself for future opportunities.”
“I tell my team every day, this is change management. The only constant is change,” she said with a smile. “And I love that.”
When Annica started her career, she was focused on patients, not platforms. As a nurse for over a decade, she spent 12 years in healthcare - providing care, implementing electronic medical record systems, and developing a deep understanding of how-to bring structure to chaos. What she didn’t know at the time was that her skillset, rooted in service and systems thinking, would eventually pave the way for a thriving career in financial technology.
The transition from nursing to finance might seem like a sharp turn, but for Annica, it was a natural evolution. After moving into a management role at U.S. Bank, she was introduced to the world of technology through a robotics process automation project. It lit a spark. The intricacies of systems, the challenge of implementation, and the opportunity to problem-solve through technology reminded her of the very same instincts she used in healthcare: triaging problems, identifying priorities, and creating solutions that serve people.
In fact, the principles of nursing continue to guide her work today. “Airway, breathing, circulation,” she joked, referring to a foundational triage framework in nursing. “It still helps me determine what’s most urgent. That skill never left.”
Annica’s curiosity and adaptability led her deeper into the financial technology space. She began working with commercial card implementations and data mapping, helping clients extract the most value from their technology platforms. She found her niche not just in learning new systems, but in teaching them, translating complexity into clarity, so that clients could build their own internal efficiencies and reporting.
Her love for learning didn’t stop there. Currently, Annica is back in school pursuing her third degree, this time in Information Technology. The program allows her to apply her work experience toward academic credit, blending her professional world with her educational goals. She’s on track to graduate in 2027 and says the journey has reinvigorated her passion for innovation. “Technology is everywhere,” she says. “I want to stay on the cutting edge.”
Annica’s journey with Blend began after a previous contract ended. “Blend actually reached out to me right after my previous project wrapped up,” she recalled. “They had a client who needed someone with my exact experience. It was perfect timing.”
She joined a large card implementation project and was quickly offered a team lead role, overseeing a group of 30 employees. It was her first experience with Blend, and the support she received stood out immediately.
“I worked really closely with Lori Murphy, and she was just fantastic,” Annica said.
Now on her second engagement with Blend, Annica continues to thrive, currently supporting Visa on a project she calls her dream role. Having spent years immersed in Visa’s Spend Clarity platform, she’s become a subject matter expert on their systems, migrations, and data frameworks. “It just clicks for me,” she shared. “I love being able to help clients see how powerful these tools can be.”
For Annica, contracting has unlocked a career full of variety, flexibility, and growth. She sees every new project as a fresh opportunity to build something better. The ability to work across companies, explore new systems, and develop deep expertise has been a defining strength of her journey.
“One of the best things about being a consultant is that you get to make the decision to stay or go,” she said. “You’re not stuck. If a team or environment isn’t the right fit, you can move on without the awkwardness of quitting. Plus, you gain exposure to so many different organizations and systems.”
She’s also quick to address a common misconception. “People think contractors don’t get benefits, but mine are just as good, if not better, than what I had in a full-time role,” she shared. “And the experience you gain, especially at large institutions like Visa, is invaluable.”
When asked who inspires her, Annica didn’t hesitate: “My dad. He always told me that if you find something you love and you’re good at it, you’re golden.”
She credits her strong work ethic to him. “There’s no point in doing anything unless you’re going to do it 100%. That’s how I approach every job. Especially in consulting, you have to bring your best every day. You’re there to make things better.”
Annica is focused on finishing her degree in Information Technology and continuing to grow her impact in the payments space. Whether through new implementations, leading teams, or pursuing future roles with organizations like Visa, she’s excited about what lies ahead.
“It would be a dream to land a permanent role at Visa,” she shared. “It’s hard to get your foot in the door at a place like that. But being a consultant has given me a chance to show what I can do, build a network, and position myself for future opportunities.”
“I tell my team every day, this is change management. The only constant is change,” she said with a smile. “And I love that.”
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Sit sit vel eu sed proin. Arcu bibendum in mauris urna erat magna volutpat eget. Lectus commodo consectetur egestas quis ut lobortis nunc.
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