Client Success & implementation

Kyla Galicia

"The Implementation Orchestrator"

Kyla Galicia is a proven fintech implementation leader and the Head of Client Success & Implementation at Chisel, where she brings over a decade of hands-on experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder fintech programs from concept to launch and beyond.

Known as "The Implementation Orchestrator" for her exceptional ability to coordinate across banks, processors, card networks, compliance teams, and internal stakeholders, Kyla has successfully guided 20+ enterprise fintech implementations—including industry leaders like OnePay (Walmart), Dave, Pomelo, and Bluevine—through the intricate web of technical, regulatory, and operational requirements that make or break fintech launches.

As the former AVP and Manager of Fintech Partnership Programs at Coastal Community Bank (CCBX), Kyla witnessed firsthand how lack of clarity, ownership, and prioritization derail even the most promising fintech initiatives. Her systematic approach to program management and stakeholder coordination eliminates these failure points, ensuring clients achieve seamless, compliant launches and realize the full competitive advantages of infrastructure ownership.

Kyla's "Multi-Stakeholder Program Excellence Framework" has become the gold standard for enterprise fintech implementations, driving approximately 30% improvements in operational efficiency while maintaining zero regulatory findings across all managed projects.

Professional Experience & Credentials

Implementation Leadership & Program Management

Kyla's career progression demonstrates her mastery of increasingly complex fintech programs and team leadership across the full partnership lifecycle.

Executive Leadership

Chisel - Head of Client Success & Implementation (2025-Present)
Coastal Community Bank (CCBX) - 5+ years of progressive leadership (2020-2025)

Coastal Community Bank Career Progression

AVP, Manager of Fintech Partnership Programs (Aug 2024 - Oct 2025)

Led and managed team of 7 partnership managers overseeing full partner lifecycle for fintech clients
Directed 20+ major enterprise implementations including OnePay (Walmart), Dave, Pomelo, and Bluevine
Drove approximately 30% increase in operational efficiency through program optimization
Spearheaded creation of comprehensive partner-facing documentation (guides, FAQs, training materials)
Evaluated and implemented software tools for project management, partnership management, and team communication
Collaborated with legal, compliance, IT teams ensuring successful program execution while maintaining regulatory compliance
Delivered regular program updates to senior leadership ensuring transparency and cross-functional alignment

Enterprise Partnerships Team Manager (Nov 2023 - Aug 2024)

Led enterprise partnership team scaling fintech relationships and driving operational excellence
Developed comprehensive team processes and best practices for partnership management
Implemented performance metrics and KPIs for partnership success measurement
Created training programs and knowledge management systems for team effectiveness
Led cross-functional initiatives optimizing partner onboarding and ongoing support programs
Collaborated with senior leadership on partnership strategy and growth initiatives

Senior Enterprise Partner Engagement Manager (Dec 2022 - Nov 2023)

Managed complex enterprise fintech partnerships with focus on high-value client relationships
Served as primary program owner for strategic partnerships driving significant business value
Coordinated cross-functional teams ensuring seamless partner experience and operational success
Developed customized program solutions and service delivery models for enterprise clients
Led partnership expansion initiatives and program optimization
Managed complex contract negotiations and partnership agreement modifications

Partner Implementation Team Manager (Aug 2021 - Dec 2022)

Led fintech partner implementation team managing complex technical and operational implementations
Developed standardized implementation processes and project management frameworks
Coordinated with technology, operations, compliance, and risk teams for seamless implementations
Established quality assurance processes and success metrics for implementation projects
Successfully managed 100% of assigned implementations within timeline and budget parameters
Achieved zero regulatory findings across all managed implementation projects

Implementation Manager (Dec 2020 - Aug 2021)

Managed end-to-end fintech partner implementations from contract execution to go-live
Coordinated cross-functional implementation teams including technology, operations, compliance, and risk
Managed implementation project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication
Ensured all implementations met regulatory requirements and operational standards
Established implementation best practices and documentation standards

Banking Foundation

Chase - Branch Manager (Jun 2019 - Dec 2020): Led full-service banking operations with P&L responsibility
Wells Fargo - Branch Manager (Apr 2015 - Jun 2019): Advanced through progressive leadership roles managing branch operations and team performance

Areas of Expertise

Multi-Stakeholder Program Management

Kyla's expertise in orchestrating complex fintech programs across diverse stakeholder groups sets her apart:

Cross-Functional Leadership: Seamlessly coordinating legal, compliance, IT, operations, and business stakeholders
Executive Relationship Management: Managing C-suite expectations while ensuring day-to-day operational excellence
Program Roadmap Development: Creating comprehensive implementation plans with clear accountability and milestone tracking
Risk Mitigation: Anticipating and neutralizing risks in multi-vendor environments before they impact timelines
Communication Excellence: Establishing communication standards that eliminate confusion across complex stakeholder groups

Enterprise Implementation Leadership

With 20+ successful enterprise launches under her belt, Kyla brings battle-tested implementation expertise:

Complex System Integrations: Coordinating across banks, core processors, card networks, and internal systems
Regulatory Compliance: Maintaining compliance across all implementation phases while accelerating time-to-market
Timeline Management: Delivering on-time launches through rigorous project tracking and accountability
Quality Assurance: Implementing testing protocols and validation processes ensuring flawless go-lives
Post-Launch Support: Ensuring successful transitions from implementation to ongoing operations

Operational Excellence & Process Optimization

Kyla's systematic approach to process improvement drives measurable business outcomes:

Efficiency Optimization: Proven track record of 30% operational efficiency improvements through process refinement
Documentation Leadership: Creating scalable knowledge management systems and partner-facing materials
Technology Implementation: Evaluating and deploying project management and collaboration tools
Continuous Improvement: Establishing feedback loops and iterative optimization processes
Team Development: Building high-performing teams through training programs and clear performance metrics

Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) Program Expertise

Deep understanding of BaaS operations and fintech-bank partnership dynamics:

Partner Lifecycle Management: Overseeing relationships from onboarding through growth and, when necessary, termination
Due Diligence Coordination: Facilitating bank evaluation processes and partnership requirements
Compliance Program Management: Ensuring adherence to bank policies and industry regulations
Vendor Relationship Management: Coordinating seamlessly across multiple technology and service providers
Performance Monitoring: Tracking partnership health and proactively addressing issues

Signature Frameworks & Methodologies

Multi-Stakeholder Program Excellence Framework

Kyla's flagship methodology that eliminates the three critical failure points derailing fintech implementations:

1. Clarity Through Structure

Comprehensive program roadmaps with clear milestone definitions
Standardized communication protocols eliminating ambiguity
Role-based accountability matrices ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities
Regular checkpoint meetings maintaining alignment across stakeholder groups

2. Ownership Through Accountability

Clear decision-making authority at every program level
Escalation pathways for rapid issue resolution
Individual and team performance metrics tied to program outcomes
Documentation standards ensuring knowledge transfer and continuity

3. Prioritization Through Alignment

Strategic program objectives cascaded to tactical execution plans
Resource allocation frameworks balancing competing priorities
Risk-adjusted timeline management addressing critical path dependencies
Cross-functional consensus building on trade-off decisions

The Implementation Velocity Model

Kyla's systematic approach to accelerating fintech launches without sacrificing quality or compliance:

Parallel Processing: Identifying and executing independent workstreams simultaneously
Critical Path Optimization: Focusing resources on activities directly impacting go-live dates
Early Risk Detection: Proactive identification and mitigation of potential roadblocks
Stakeholder Readiness: Ensuring all parties have resources and information needed for timely decisions
Milestone-Based Accountability: Clear gates and deliverables maintaining forward momentum

Partnership Lifecycle Optimization

Comprehensive approach to managing fintech partnerships from onboarding through maturity:

Onboarding Excellence: Streamlined processes reducing friction and accelerating time-to-value
Relationship Management: Proactive engagement maintaining partnership health and satisfaction
Growth Enablement: Identifying and facilitating expansion opportunities within existing partnerships
Issue Resolution: Rapid response protocols minimizing disruption and maintaining trust
Knowledge Management: Capturing and sharing learnings across partnership portfolio

Industry Recognition & Thought Leadership

Implementation Excellence

Kyla is recognized throughout the fintech and banking industries for:

Enterprise Program Leadership: Successfully managing high-profile implementations for market-leading fintechs
Operational Innovation: Driving significant efficiency improvements through process optimization
Team Development: Building and scaling high-performing implementation and partnership teams
Zero-Defect Compliance: Maintaining perfect regulatory record across complex multi-stakeholder programs

Key Achievement Highlights

20+ Enterprise Implementations: OnePay (Walmart), Dave, Pomelo, Bluevine, and other industry leaders
30% Efficiency Improvement: Measurable operational gains through program optimization
100% On-Time Delivery: Perfect track record for implementations within timeline and budget parameters
Zero Regulatory Findings: Flawless compliance record across all managed projects
7-Person Team Leadership: Successful management of partnership managers across full partner lifecycle

Test Post

Test Post ...more

Infrastructure

August 07, 2025•0 min read

Why Kyla's Perspective Matters

In an industry where technical expertise often overshadows operational excellence, Kyla brings the critical perspective of someone who has successfully orchestrated dozens of complex, multi-stakeholder fintech programs from start to finish.

The Implementation Reality Check

Kyla's hands-on experience provides fintech companies and financial institutions with insider knowledge of:

What Actually Derails Launches: Real-world insights into the coordination failures that delay or kill implementations
How Banks Really Work: Understanding the internal processes, decision-making, and priorities of banking partners
Why Stakeholder Alignment Matters: The tangible business impact of communication breakdowns and misaligned expectations
Which Processes Scale: Distinguishing between startup-phase shortcuts and enterprise-grade operations

Beyond Technical Integration

While many implementation leaders focus primarily on technical integration, Kyla's holistic approach addresses the full spectrum of success factors:

Human Coordination: Managing the complex interpersonal dynamics across diverse stakeholder groups
Organizational Change: Ensuring client teams are prepared and equipped for new infrastructure
Process Transformation: Redesigning workflows to leverage new capabilities effectively
Long-Term Success: Building foundations for sustainable growth beyond initial launch

The Infrastructure Ownership Advantage

Kyla's experience with traditional BaaS platforms uniquely positions her to help clients realize the benefits of infrastructure ownership:

Eliminating Platform Dependencies: Reducing the coordination complexity that plagued BaaS implementations
Direct Relationship Management: Streamlining stakeholder coordination through direct banking partnerships
Sustainable Scaling: Building implementation processes that grow with client needs
Competitive Advantage: Accelerating time-to-market while maintaining quality and compliance