April Cole plays a key role in equipping Mastercard’s workforce with the knowledge and skills to navigate an increasingly digital world. As part of the Sales Excellence team, she has partnered with Decoded for many years to break down complex digital technologies — including APIs, AI, Gen AI, cybersecurity, open banking, and blockchain — and their impact. Together, we run workshops globally, giving Mastercard teams the insights they need to stay ahead in the digital space.

Patrick Walsh sat down with April to find out more.

Patrick: We’ve known each other for ages, April, so I feel like I could probably guess some of your answers! But let’s start from the top…

What are you watching or streaming right now? Anything binge-worthy we should check out?

April: So, okay, there’s a new soap opera that just started on CBS called Beyond the Gates, and I’m completely hooked! I love reality shows like The Real Housewives, but there’s something about starting a proper soap opera from the very beginning.

When I was a kid, my grandma and aunts would always watch soaps, but I never got to start one fresh. This show is all about a big, fancy family living in D.C., and of course, there’s scandal. It opens up with the wife discovering her husband left her for her daughter’s best friend! She shows up to the wedding and—well, it’s ridiculous, but so entertaining.

Now I understand why my grandma was glued to the TV at 1 PM every afternoon! I love that it airs every day, so I can binge it on the weekend. I’m also trying to get into White Lotus—I finished Season 1, but I still need to catch up on Seasons 2 and 3.

Honestly, I hope Beyond the Gates runs as long as my grandma’s soaps did, so I can be an old lady one day saying, “I remember when Danny did that!”

What’s on your Spotify ‘recently played’? Any guilty pleasures or go-to anthems?

April: Oh, my goodness! I love anything Beyoncé.

I haven’t even told you, I have Cowboy Carter tickets for both Chicago and Atlanta! She’s not coming to St. Louis, so I had to travel for it.

Some of my go-to Beyoncé tracks? Run the World (Girls), Single Ladies, absolute classics. From the Cowboy Carter album, I’m obsessed with 16 Carriages, such a beautiful song.

But no playlist is complete without Usher!

Patrick: I knew Usher was coming!

April: Of course! No playlist is complete without him.

Patrick: Okay, what’s your go-to Usher song? Actually, let’s make it harder—if you were at a wedding and an Usher song came on, what’s the one that would get you up on your feet?

April: Oh, Yeah!—hands down. You have to get up for that one.

But I love all his songs. The ballads—Confessions, Let It Burn—even Papers, which was about his divorce, are some of my favorites.

Patrick: Alright, putting you on the spot—what’s your least favorite Usher song?

April: I don’t think I have one! I don’t skip Usher. Sorry, we don’t do that!

You currently live in St. Louis and went to college there as well, you’re clearly a proud St. Louisan! What is it about the city that makes it home for you?

April: I am! All my family is here, well, except for my niece and some cousins. But my mom and sisters are here, so it makes it easy to stay. I love being close to family.

That said, I’m not retiring here. I need to retire somewhere with sand. You guys will just have to come visit me!

Patrick: I love that. If I were to visit St. Louis for a weekend, what are the must-do things?

April: If you come with your kids, you have to go to the St. Louis Zoo. It’s one of the best in the country, and it’s free! There’s this huge endowment from a wealthy family who left their assets on the condition that the zoo stays free forever.

The zoo is in Forest Park, which also has our Art Museum, History Museum, and free Shakespeare in the Park during the summer. It’s a beautiful place.

And if you love Italian food, you have to visit The Hill, great food, and we have our own take on toasted ravioli!

Patrick: Alright, let’s dive into your career.

You’ve always been in and around Learning & Development and HR. What drew you to that field?

April: I kind of fell into it! In college, I had a job at a financial services firm working at the front desk with the HR team. I really enjoyed helping people along their career paths.

I started in recruiting, helping people land that perfect job, and then transitioned into Learning & Development. I love helping people get what they need to grow in their careers.

I especially love working in tech. Every year, something new is happening, big data, cybersecurity, AI. It keeps me from feeling like I’m doing the same job every year.

What’s the best piece of advice a colleague or manager has ever given you? And how has it shaped the way you work?

April: Always be curious.

It’s easy to get stuck in your corner of expertise, especially in HR. But things are changing so fast, and if you don’t push yourself to stay open to new things, you’ll get left behind. Staying curious helps you stay relevant.

Patrick: Let’s talk tech!

What’s a piece of technology—whether it’s a gadget, platform, app, or tool—that has truly changed the way you work or live?

April: My smartphone.

I can’t imagine life without it. I do everything on it, banking, shopping, doctor’s appointments, security, even controlling my lights. I think back to my first work phone, where I could only do emails, and now I can’t imagine life without all these apps.

It’s made me more efficient, though it’s also contributed to my shoe-buying habit, because now I never have to leave my house to shop!

With AI and automation evolving so quickly, is there a tech trend you’re particularly excited or skeptical about?

April: I’m excited about AI, but also a little afraid of it.

I’ve heard a lot of what Geoffrey Hinton, “the Godfather of AI”, believes, and it scared me a bit. But I think the benefits outweigh the risks. We’ll figure out governance, just like we always do.

My biggest concern is the people who will be left behind because they are slow or stubborn to engage with AI. I don’t want people to be afraid of it, I want them to learn about it so they can adapt with it.

If you could invent a piece of technology to make your work or life easier, what would it be?

April: A virtual clone!

Since we work globally, I have a lot of 2AM meetings. I would love an AI clone to do my intros so I could actually get some sleep!

Patrick: That’s not far off! If you start recording all your sessions, a program could probably replicate your tone and responses sooner than you think.

April: That would be amazing. Maybe then I could actually take a vacation!

Patrick: This has been fantastic, April! Thank you so much for your time.

April: This was fun! Thanks, Patrick!

 

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