In this episode of Pay It Forward, Ronan Brady, VP, EMEA Legal Entity Outsourcing Governance and Oversight Team at J.P. Morgan Payments, sits down with Michael Fox, Head of Payments Ireland, and Mark Bennett, a J.P. Morgan Payments Finance and Business Management Apprentice, to talk about our apprenticeship program and the people whose careers it has helped shape. What started in Luxembourg, in partnership with a local university, has grown into an industry-wide program that now spans multiple countries. Along the way, it has welcomed people from all kinds of backgrounds into Payments, creating new role models and opening up a path many might not have thought possible. Michael and Mark share their own stories — where they started, what the program has meant to them, and why one good opportunity can change everything. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of J.P. Morgan, its affiliates, or its employees. The information set forth herein has been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the author nor J.P. Morgan makes any representations or warranties as to the information’s accuracy or completeness. The information contained herein has been provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, advice or recommendation, to make any investment decisions or purchase any financial instruments, and may not be construed as such. Any mentions of third-party trademarks, brand names, products and services are for referential purposes only and any mention thereof is not meant to imply any sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation.© 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode of Pay It Forward, Ronan Brady, VP, EMEA Legal Entity Outsourcing Governance and Oversight Team at J.P. Morgan Payments, sits down with Michael Fox, Head of Payments Ireland, and Mark Bennett, a J.P. Morgan Payments Finance and Business Management Apprentice, to talk about our apprenticeship program and the people whose careers it has helped shape.
What started in Luxembourg, in partnership with a local university, has grown into an industry-wide program that now spans multiple countries. Along the way, it has welcomed people from all kinds of backgrounds into Payments, creating new role models and opening up a path many might not have thought possible. Michael and Mark share their own stories — where they started, what the program has meant to them, and why one good opportunity can change everything.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of J.P. Morgan, its affiliates, or its employees. The information set forth herein has been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the author nor J.P. Morgan makes any representations or warranties as to the information’s accuracy or completeness. The information contained herein has been provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, advice or recommendation, to make any investment decisions or purchase any financial instruments, and may not be construed as such. Any mentions of third-party trademarks, brand names, products and services are for referential purposes only and any mention thereof is not meant to imply any sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation.© 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved.
Narrator (00:02):
Welcome to Pay It Forward, a podcast by J.P. Morgan Payments for J.P. Morgan Payments. Get to know our business and gain a better understanding of where we sit at the intersection of technology and finance. Did you know we move nearly $12 trillion dollars globally each day? Through over 170 countries and 120 currencies at more than 5,000 transactions per second?1 Join us as we take you inside the stories, technology, and people that make it all happen.
Ronan Brady (00:38):
Welcome to Pay It Forward, a podcast by J.P. Morgan Payments for J.P. Morgan Payments. I'm Ronan Brady, vice president of the EMEA Legal Entity Governance and Oversight Team based in Dublin, and I'm your host for today. I'm joined by my two colleagues, Michael Fox, head of J.P. Morgan Ireland Payments franchise, and Mark Bennett, who is a J.P. Morgan Payments Apprentice here in Ireland. Michael has spent a number of years supporting the apprentice program both here and across other businesses and locations, and Mark is representing the first apprenticeship cohort here in Payments Ireland.
(01:12):
Today, we're taking a step back from the usual discussion about products and technology to talk about something a little closer to home, the people behind our business, and how our apprenticeship program helps open a door into payments for talented people from all kinds of backgrounds.
(01:28):
Michael, Mark, welcome to the show.
Mark Bennett (01:30):
Thanks for having us.
Michael Fox (01:31):
Super.
Ronan Brady (01:32):
Michael, for anyone who hasn't met you, can you give us a quick overview of you and your role?
Michael Fox (01:37):
Yeah, of course. Thank you. I feel like you've already given me a great introduction. So I've been in the role a couple of years now, and it means that I am accountable for delivering our services to clients here within Ireland and ensuring that we continue to develop that franchise to meet the needs of those clients. We operate here with about 150 people now in the payments business, so a very large part of my role is the day-to-day operations here, including for ensuring a sustainable platform, and that means people-wise as well. So making sure they have the right talent to deliver our business for our clients into the future. And that's why I'm very involved in the apprenticeship program.
Ronan Brady (02:16):
Thanks, Michael.
(02:17):
Mark, moving over to yourself. How about you? Could you tell us a little bit about you and how you became an apprentice here at J.P. Morgan?
Mark Bennett (02:24):
Yeah, thank you. Well, I originally started studying food science and health in university, and then COVID happened, there was lockdown, and I started gaining a lot of interest in finance. It was through initially just investing. Then I started doing more research into all aspects of finance. But while I was in college, I was also working full-time as a pizza chef. And while I was there, I just had a passion for one, like the communication, the teamwork, the intensity of it all. And I thought that was a lot more feasible to go into, because if you go back to college years behind your friends, you're not making money you have to finance it all yourself, it just didn't seem feasible. So I went through the chefing routes where I loved to interact with people.
(03:03):
And then after about a year of that, I left food science, became a chef full-time, and then that's where I discovered there was a financial services apprentice. I saw J.P. Morgan were advertising for it, that was kind of the stamp for approval I need. I explained to them my passions and just how, although I would've loved to have done finance, it just didn't seem feasible, like I said before. But I've learned so many skills over my previous culinary experiences, work ethic, just intensity and teamwork. And I just really portrayed how I could carry that over to the team. And they took a chance, brought me on, and then I joined the Finance and Business Management team. Been smooth sailing ever since.
Ronan Brady (03:42):
We're glad you responded to that LinkedIn post. Just an incredible journey from chefing to the Finance and Business Management team based here in Ireland. And it's quite a story. So Michael, I've worked with you in Luxembourg and in Dublin, and I know from working with you that people, as you said, are close to your heart and the talent development. Take us back to the start and why that means so much to you and how you pay it forward today.
Michael Fox (04:09):
Yeah, happy to do so. When I think about our apprenticeship program and here within Ireland and what we started over in Luxembourg, then there's certainly personal passion that I've got in this area to help sponsor these programs. When I think about my own background, I've certainly been afforded opportunity, and I certainly have been fortunate to have a great career at J.P. Morgan, but I too have come from a very non-traditional path. Many might assume that have a career at J.P. Morgan or any large financial firm, then you need to come with a typical profile and certainly includes for having a full and extended academic career. I'm certainly not with that. And I left school at 16. I kind of struggled a bit, but I think it's important for others to hear it. And certainly as I was growing up, I had a very dysfunctional family background, and that involved periods in care and certainly a poor background, very unstable background.
(05:09):
Where that led me is that as I kind of progressed through secondary education, then the opportunity to leave school at 16 and have my own independence was really important for me. And so I think it was a combination of that, my upbringing. I'm even now not sure that academic learning is something that I succeed as opposed to technical learning. And so there was a number of different dynamics. So what happened at me at 16 is that I did leave and I joined a retail bank in the UK for a short number of years. And so then I left to go travelling for a year, age of about 21. Traveled, came back, got the opportunity to reapply to work back within NatWest. This was on the, call it the Wednesday. I’d actually seen an advertisement in the Evening Standard, which is a kind of UK newspaper publication that has employment opportunities within it.
(06:02):
And I'd seen an opportunity for a role at an American investment bank, but it was for a data entry person for a contracting role. I always wanted to work for an investment bank, so I just knew that's where the action was. When it came to applying for this role, it was for a data entry person. So I went along, though, what's there to lose? And so I'd done the test, and by the time of Friday evening, I was getting a call from the consultants to say, would I like to join this American investment firm? So I had the choice. Do I rejoin the retail bank or do I take a chance? Even though it's contracting role, data entry, you couldn't get any more a basic role at that time than that. But it gave me the opportunity to walk through a door you know of an institution, otherwise I may not have been seen to be qualified to enter.
(06:46):
And so I took that chance and I walked through the doors of J.P. Morgan 25 plus years ago, and that's where I started. And it could be described as being at the bottom, but I really just knew that by walking in the door at J.P. Morgan that I could be in the environment to succeed, that I could realize my potential. And I tell that story because it's not directly in the apprentice path, and many of those people on the apprenticeship program would look different and have different personal backgrounds, so I did. But I just kind of bring that to the table because it's all just about diversity really, and everybody's got their personal stories. And my entry into J.P. Morgan was very different. At the end of the day, I've had a very long and what others may call a successful career at J.P. Morgan.
(07:29):
I've thoroughly enjoyed it, and I would just like to encourage others. And if I can personally sponsor apprenticeship programs, then I also want to pay forward the opportunity I got so that I can bring in and encourage talent that looks different as well. That in the mix, all of this produces for great business outcomes for J.P. Morgan too. So that's a reason, Ronan, I'm passionate. I've got a personal story, but also it makes a lot of business sense too.
Ronan Brady (07:58):
It's an incredible story and really appreciate you. Not many people will share those stories, but to your point, that's what the apprenticeship and any other early careers program is all about. It's getting talented people from all kinds of backgrounds. So Michael, thanks a million for that. Inspiring words, no doubt.
(08:16):
Then today when you look at the program, obviously, you were involved in Luxembourg, you helped establish or bring in the apprenticeship program into Luxembourg. You then moved back to Dublin. And what led you to continue that thirst for getting the apprenticeships here then?
Michael Fox (08:33):
If I took a step back and actually when I was in Luxembourg, and I'm really fortunate to be in a position that I can really help sponsor an influence for these programs. But again, you have to find like-minded people. So I was sitting there in Luxembourg. I thought, well, there's great opportunities to launch an apprenticeship program here. And peers said to me at the time, "You'll never make that happen at J.P. Morgan in Luxembourg." And if there's one thing I'd love to hear that really spurs me into action, it's when somebody tells me I cannot do something. So then I had to find like-minded people because it takes a team to make it happen. And so I did. And thing about apprenticeship, and I do realize this, that if you give that opportunity to someone who otherwise may not have that opportunity, then you're not only changing their lives, potentially you're changing the lives of their families.
(09:20):
And you are also setting role models in parts of society that may not exist about what is possible despite backgrounds. So again, the point of the apprenticeship program is to make sure that we're really scouring and accessing the opportunity and giving it the opportunity to succeed at J.P. Morgan. So we launched that within Luxembourg. It was a great success. The community of J.P. Morgan in Luxembourg really wrapped their arms around those people and helped them be a success. We went back in for a second year. We took in another five apprentices.
(09:53):
But what we done in the second year, which was different as well, is I reached out to my peers across at the banks and financial institutions. So what started from being a kind of lone J.P. Morgan as a financial institution by the time I left in year three, I think it was year three or four, there was 10 financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan that were engaging in the program.
(10:16):
So fast-forward to Ireland, therefore only made sense. And one of the people that were helping me as a team at J.P. Morgan in Luxembourg came from Ireland and also then encouraged our franchise within Ireland, the whole of J.P. Morgan, to think about an apprenticeship program. And that's where, again, a local team here accessed the universities here within Ireland to actually understand that there were programs that J.P. Morgan could link into and again, take talent. And we started that program here, I believe, about four years ago now. And last year was the first year that Payments engaged in that program. And that's where Mark became one of our original cohort apprentices into the payments business.
(11:00):
So I know that's a rather long way of answering your question, Ronan, but hopefully it gives you a degree of history and what it takes to make these programs happen and the success and the reason why we do these things.
Ronan Brady (11:12):
Definitely. And as you say, you lead by example, but you get a team of people around that also help deliver on that. So maybe Mark, coming back to you now, having heard Michael's journey, you’re a year into your apprenticeship now, what's surprised you most about your experience so far?
Mark Bennett (11:30):
First thing is how helpful and accommodating people were. And I was assigned a mentor buddy system, and then just the amount of people that you could just ping on Teams and ask them questions. And everyone's so happy to just really help. There's no one that looks down at you as, "Oh, you're this apprentice not worth this time." And so everyone's just more than happy to share about their role or their experience, especially compared to a previous work experience where it's kind of you either sink or you swim and that's how you survive.
(11:55):
And then I'd say the variance in the work, when I got it from my experience, I assumed it could be a very back-office role. Here's an Excel sheet and you're just filling it out all day for the two years. And then once they're done, you go off. But the amount of people and opportunities that you get here, whether it's creating a strategy with all the senior leaders or a monthly meeting, the amount of people you interact with and opportunities you have to interact with people across the business and hear their stories.
(12:22):
And that was another thing that shocked me was people's backgrounds. When I came in here, I was still somewhat unsure of how far this qualification would help me because you don't hear about that often people coming in without any degrees this day and age. And then the amount of people like Michael, especially when I heard that story, that gave me a boost of encouragement because I'm coming in thinking even after this, I don't have a degree, I might still be behind. And then hearing Michael's story of coming up through, I would say a similar way, but just non-traditional routes, I thought was amazing. Just everyone I interact with they all talk about how high you can reach in the company.
Ronan Brady (12:55):
Mark, if I could, if you had a friend who was curious about the program now, why would you tell them to apply and why should they choose us?
Mark Bennett (13:05):
I mean, if you have any doubts, just whatever you do don't discount your experiences and how they can carry over. Like I was saying about no matter where you worked, you built up something, whether that's communication, work ethic, just ability to work and work with other people, they're all so much more valuable than you might think even in a bank. I think what folks are looking for is communication skills. There's so many things you can bring to the table. You need backgrounds, innovative ideas. Since I got here, I've been given nothing but opportunities here. And I think I've only found that my alternative background has been nothing but an asset here as opposed to a liability. So I say, yeah, take that risk and apply if you can.
Ronan Brady (13:40):
Absolutely. And Michael, I think Mark has touched on there you know some of the, call it, transferable skills that we always talk about. And it's important, as we say, that the apprentice program is one door in, but it's a very important door into payments. But I guess a lot of people would have myths about an apprenticeship program, and with a chance to debunk those myths. What's one thing that you wish more people could understand about the importance of an apprenticeship program?
Michael Fox (14:08):
It's hard to kind of nail it to one thing, but an important area is to acknowledge the value of the diverse backgrounds that the apprentices bring. Mark touched upon it there. If we truly believe in diversity, which I do, then that diversity represents for different opinions and perspectives at a table. And that collection of different opinions, decisions, perspectives creates for better outcomes. There's empirical evidence that will tell us that. So if you believe in that, then you need diversity of thoughts, representation at a table. We do at J.P. Morgan so that we make the right decisions in order that we can deliver the right services to our clients who are themselves, of course, diverse.
Ronan Brady (14:58):
There are great points. And if I look at it from my own point of view of offering a framework, I think you touched on your introduction that early doors start when somebody gave you an opportunity. And that's how I see it today as well is that I was given an opportunity at one stage when I was starting out on my career. Somebody took an opportunity to give me my first job, or throughout my career I've changed roles. It's a very tangible way of paying the trust and the chance that people took on me on paying that back to others.
Michael Fox (15:29):
And doesn't it feel great, Ronan, you know, to know that we have that impact?
Ronan Brady (15:33):
It is great. And again, I just think about it a little bit around making that ability for people to succeed so that they can learn, they can challenge themselves. And it's just so rewarding to see Mark and his cohort come through the program. Again, Mark, a perfect example of someone who's pivoted his career completely from a chef to now working in finance and business management in J.P. Morgan. And Michael, go all the way back to your story as well. People take these opportunities, you never know when they come up, but if we give the framework for that, Michael, with your drive with a little bit of organization, and the buy-in from everyone who supports the apprentices, it just makes it such a great success.
Michael Fox (16:16):
I think as I observe myself and actually as I've looked at other apprentices, then there's certain characteristics that you can quite commonly identify. And I would say one of those is actually the willingness to take a chance. And maybe that's kind of emblematic of walking through a door or seeing that LinkedIn post that you did that encouraged you to eventually apply, but you took a chance.
Mark Bennett (16:39):
Yeah, definitely. I'd say that's something I've noticed across all the apprentices. They all do have this drive to take initiative for it, not take it for granted, because it's a very unique opportunity that was out because I think that actual big jump you take to switch careers is really what sets apprentices aside because it is a big risk for them and it can be scary, but if you're willing to make that jump, I think you've already got the first foot in the door. You've already shown you are willing to switch things up. You are willing to put in the work, stay to earn your place, especially when you don’t have the traditional background. It really does feel like you have to show why my unique experiences add to this.
Michael Fox (17:17):
Beautifully said. Maybe you want to share about, I think it was day two that you were here at J.P. Morgan. We talk about taking a chance. And I do remember saying that this could either make or break your career, Mark.
Mark Bennett (17:30):
Yeah. Yeah, that was interesting. It's my first week, a few days in, all the country heads were over having a meeting, and then some mix up with the bags that was meant to be delivered to the hotel. And I hear Michael telling my team member, Jose, at the side, and they were both wondering, "You don't have enough people to carry these bags." When one of them walks over to me, I said, "Don't worry, I have it handled." And then Michael tells my team member, he's been here a lot longer, they're like, "Would you like to come to dinner? Any conversation could make or break your career." And then as I'm going down the elevator with that colleague, I was like, "Oh, you must be nervous. It's been a lot of pressure." And then I get out, Michael says, "Oh, Mark, you got two places. You're coming too." I said, "It's a bit early for me to make or break my career."
(18:11):
No, they brought me out the second week here and just pouring Guinness for all the senior members of all of EMEA some in the US. And then just tell them my story, they tell them their story. They have teams of a hundred people and I was telling them I want to be in finance for a week. And then they all quite enjoyed the story of how you got here.
Michael Fox (18:28):
And I'm pleased to tell you that you did not break your career. Ronan, I spoke earlier on about the fact that it takes a team of people to actually make this happen and afford these opportunities and welcome people like Mark into the organization. Ronan, you've done the heavy lifting in creating a framework that allows us to operate here for payments within J.P. Morgan and Ireland. So again, what's your experience been like of that? And particularly as we think about advice to our colleagues within J.P. Morgan, but also those outside of J.P. Morgan. How do you make the magic happen, Ronan?
Ronan Brady (19:06):
Yeah, thanks. I think it touches more on some of the experiences I called out earlier, but really it's just rewarding. I just love to pay it back and give people their chance to move ahead and give them a framework to challenge themselves. I'm not looking to be the star, but if I can help someone else be a star, then I get great enjoyment from that. So providing that framework and giving them, Mark and his colleagues, that ability to progress in their career gives me a great reward. As I said, that goes back to my whole background, both I guess in and out of work and predominantly out of work where I was involved in the coaching and stuff. I just like to help people show the best of themselves. As I say, people took an opportunity on me when I moved in. And as I said, I look at my kids now and I want them to get the best opportunity.
(19:59):
And do you know what? We might make a mistake. They might make a mistake. They might take the wrong turn at some point. But that doesn't define you at any stage. And you've got to be open to taking constructive feedback as well. Because again, when we put the framework around it's not always going to be the right thing, the right thing that supports Mark and Co, but generally it does. And as long as we're doing that, and as long as Mark comes on a podcast like this and is able to speak so eloquently and articulately about his experiences, that's a reward. I'm happy.
(20:33):
So Michael, Mark, it's been absolutely brilliant discussion there. Really, really enjoyed it. Enjoyed the stories. There is a tradition in the Pay It Forward podcast, and we always ended up with a fun fact about each of you. So Mark, maybe I'll start with you first. If you could have taken any other path in life, what would it have been?
Mark Bennett (20:53):
Maybe culinary-wise, I would like to try doing Asian cuisine for a bit, but other than that, I don't think I would've made much changes.
Ronan Brady (21:01):
Very good. Well, we look forward to tasting your culinary cuisine in your future. And Michael, after a long, and as you say, some people might say illustrious career in J.P. Morgan. If you were to start over again, what would you be?
Michael Fox (21:14):
I always wanted to be a doctor. I always wanted to be a surgeon. I was always fascinated every time a program came on with any kind of open surgery, open heart surgery, et cetera. Oh, yes. Love to watch these things.
Ronan Brady (21:26):
Super. Michael, Mark, again, thank you very much for your stories. Thanks for sharing them with us. Really enjoyed the time.
Mark Bennett (21:34):
Thanks for having us.
Narrator (21:36):
Thank you for tuning in to Pay It Forward, a podcast by J.P. Morgan Payments for J.P. Morgan Payments. If you're interested in exploring career opportunities at J.P. Morgan Payments, please visit jpmorgan.com/careers and enter the word payments for relevant opportunities. Stay up to date on the latest stories, technology, and people powering payments by subscribing on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Keep pushing boundaries, and we'll keep moving the payments world forward one transaction at a time.
Sources
1: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/ir/annual-report/2025/ar-ceo-letters