NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Payal Dalal is the Executive Vice President of Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. In her role, she spearheads the Center’s global philanthropic initiatives, guiding investments that span Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. Payal leads a dynamic team dedicated to program delivery, directs cutting-edge thought leadership encompassing research, insights, and learning and drives the Center’s data, AI and tech for good efforts.

Previously, she was Global Head of Community Programs for Standard Chartered Bank. In this capacity, she designed the Bank’s new community investment strategy and oversaw all programs related to education, girls’ empowerment, global health, emergency response, employee volunteerism and disaster relief. Payal joined Standard Chartered in 2008 as the Head of Public Affairs for the Americas.

With a professional background in international philanthropy and politics, Payal has worked for a wide range of organizations including Citi, the World Affairs Council, the Global Philanthropy Forum and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Payal also worked on foreign policy for the Office of President William J. Clinton.

Payal currently serves as a trustee for Women Win, Steering Board member for RISE and a member of the Programs and Strategy Committee for CAREUSA. She is an Executive Committee Member of the World Bank’s CGAP. She’s held official positions during the G20 Indonesia, India, Brazil presidencies and currently serves on a taskforce for the G20 South Africa presidency in 2025. She’s also held advisory positions with the G7, United Nations and the Clinton Global Initiative.

A Texas native, Payal has a BA with honors from Stanford University and an MBA and an MPA from New York University.