Iron Rock Payments CEO Credits Early Internships for Later Success

Iron Rock Payments CEO William Stapleton is urging students and early-career professionals to prioritize meaningful experience, persistence and lifelong learning over immediate rewards. Drawing on his path from early jobs and an unpaid internship at Salomon Brothers to roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and JPMorgan Chase, followed by founding PayFacto and Iron Rock Payments, Stapleton says hands-on work helped create later opportunities. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that more than two-thirds of graduating seniors now complete an internship, underscoring the growing importance of practical experience.