How It Started
I developed a strong passion for Compensation at my first job at Global Payments Inc. There I saw the power of using compensation as a tool for management to leverage. Coupled with effective management communication, it created employee alignment and focus.
During my 5-year tenure, the company moved from a struggling spin-off to a leader in the payment processing industry regularly exceeding street expectations on the top and bottom line and being rewarded with a fivefold increase in equity value.
Prior to becoming the Compensation department leader, I had one Compensation course during my Master’s degree at Georgia State University. At that time, the organization was a new spin-off and lacked foundational compensation structures—we had as many employees as jobs, no formal bonus or equity plans, and compensation decisions were largely driven by budget constraints.
Shortly after my transition, the HR leader, who had intended to mentor me, departed the company. Faced with this challenge early in my career, I took the initiative to learn directly from business leaders by asking how I could best support their needs. This perspective became the foundation of my approach to compensation: understanding the business first and designing solutions accordingly.
Joe Fusillo
Founder, PerformComp Partners