What motivates you?
If you asked Mallory Boulter, she might say she’s a running enthusiast, or an avid traveler. But the reality is that she’s much more than that. Inspired by the Japanese concept of Ikigai — considering what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs when figuring out your life purpose — Boulter has built hers around work that fuels her.
At her core is a belief that when people have access to opportunity, they transform their own futures. And while it’s true that she loves traveling and takes running seriously — she’s currently training for the 2025 Tokyo and London marathons — her true passion lies in showing up for others, which she has cultivated throughout her career. It has also made her an inspiration to countless other women, landing her a spot on Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders of Seattle for 2024.
When Boulter was working at PwC she became involved in the firm’s Project Belize program, which delivered financial education programs to youth in the community. As she saw the impact of teaching budgeting, savings and financial education, she decided she wanted to elevate this opportunity in other areas of the world. And so, she did just that — starting on a journey that continues to this day.
Along this journey, she has found a workplace where she can bring this purpose to life. She joined Remitly because she saw firsthand the potential of remittances in creating financial opportunity, and now, as VP of Global Impact at Remitly, she drives initiatives that expand access to, and use of, digital financial services for communities worldwide.
'More Than Just Sending Money'
Remitly was founded to make it easier to send remittances, or money payments, across borders, facilitating a critical exchange that millions of people use every day. “At their core, remittances are more than just sending money," Boulter explained. "They represent human connection, trust, economic opportunity and resilience. They tell the story of the resiliency of our customers, many of whom move across the world to create opportunities for themselves and their loved ones. In doing so, they become important contributors to economic growth both in the countries to which they move, and in communities around the world."
Following Energy to Create Lasting Impact Together
For Boulter, impact isn’t just about big initiatives — it’s about showing up, again and again, for people — by focusing on what brings you energy and meaning.
She recently returned from her 10th trip to Tanzania, celebrating a decade of friendships and partnerships with local women entrepreneurs and young leaders, centered on creating access to education and small-business expansion through digital financial services.
“I've always believed in the potential of education and economic opportunity, and in 2014, I visited Tanzania to work with the community at a local school,” Boulter said. “What started as one trip turned into ten, and now, a decade later, we've built friendships, celebrated graduations, opened bank accounts and more. On my most recent trip, I got to see how much these incredible kids have grown up — hearing about their dreams to be doctors, pilots, teachers and entrepreneurs, and seeing them bring these dreams to life.”
Boulter is especially grateful for how Remitly has transformed the way she supports these communities. Before joining Remitly, she said she would think back to the years when she used to carry cash on planes, worried the money would get lost in transit, or that she’d incur countless ATM fees.
“And then during COVID, I wondered: How would I get funds there when I could no longer travel?” said Boulter. “And that’s when I remembered Remitly. And now — just recently — I was sitting with a friend in Tanzania as she received the funds that I sent her through M-Pesa, a mobile wallet, via Remitly. It was amazing to see how quickly the money was received.”
That seamless access to financial resources is at the heart of Remitly’s vision. And it’s what fuels Boulter’s work every day.
Solving Problems That Matter
For Boulter, finding purpose comes from solving real problems.
Remitly’s co-founder, Matt Oppenheimer, once shared on a Fintech One-on-One podcast that a piece of advice from a mentor that has stuck with him, is to find a problem that pisses you off — and solve it. For Boulter, that problem is the lack of financial access for more than a billion people around the world, and the solution is creating financial services that meet real people where they are at. Her work in Tanzania has provided learnings and insights as she works to solve these challenges in her role today.
“After 10 years working with this community of incredible women and youth, I've learned so much from partnering with them — about creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership and love — and I’ve seen the true impact that financial access creates,” Boulter said. “Now, I get to work on solving these problems every day at work. That's what fuels me and what keeps me here. At Remitly we often say ‘we're just getting started.’ And that's so true."
Over $50 Billion, 18 Languages — 1 Universal Vision
Since its inception in 2011, Remitly has been laser-focused on making cross-border payments more affordable, accessible, secure and reliable, through customer-centric digital innovation — and the hard work has paid off. In 2024, over $50 billion was sent worldwide through Remitly, connecting customers and their recipients in over 170 countries, ensuring accessibility around the world. This growth is a direct reflection of how the company is driving its universal vision: “to transform lives with trusted financial services that transcend borders.”
Leading with Purpose: Lessons in Leadership
Boulter’s experiences — both globally and at Remitly — have shaped her approach to leadership.
“This work has taught me that the best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones who are deeply listening and learning,” she said. In one of my early visits to Tanzania, I learned that lasting change is rooted in trust — and that trust takes time. At first I came in with ideas, but when I stopped and asked, the women in the community told me something else. And so I learned — it wasn't about what I thought I knew, or how I wanted to help — it was about listening to the community and recognizing that they knew what they needed the best.”
This lesson has shaped her work and her leadership, translating into how she leads people, builds teams and fosters collaboration in the workplace and in local community work, where she is a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, a leading youth development organization. At Remitly, she is focused on bringing that lesson to life — from advancing financial inclusion to supporting communities through Remitly’s Pledge 1% commitment.
"We’re not just here to move money — we’re elevating opportunity by transforming cross-border financial services – making them more accessible, secure and reliable,” Boulter said. “And that’s a responsibility we take seriously every single day."
Looking Ahead
For Boulter, Global Impact isn’t just a title – It’s the foundation of everything she does. Whether she’s training for a marathon, working alongside teams at Remitly or visiting loved ones in Tanzania, the goal remains the same: to create pathways to opportunity, together.
“When people have access to the tools and resources they need, they do incredible things,” she said. “And that’s what keeps me going.”
And when asked for her best leadership advice? She said:
“I’ve truly learned that what we do every day matters — and more importantly — why we do it matters. What’s the problem that fuels your passion? What brings you energy? Lean into that, and watch what happens.”
