When it comes to operational leadership, Capella University alum Ted Saxman, MBA, MS, believes that structure and empathy are not opposites but a strategy. Holding an MBA in Project Management and an MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both earned while working full-time, he built a leadership philosophy rooted in accountability, emotional intelligence and measurable results. Today, that philosophy drives his work as Vice President of Operations at Koin Payments, a fintech organization serving the gaming industry.
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Ted Saxman, MBA, MS: My leadership journey is built on the belief that strong execution and emotional intelligence go hand in hand. In 2015, while working full-time at MGM Resorts International, I earned my MBA in Project Management. Leading complex, high-visibility initiatives in a demanding operational environment strengthened my ability to manage risk, align stakeholders, and deliver results under pressure. As my responsibilities grew, I recognized that projects succeed because of people, not just plans.. That insight led me to complete a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology in 2017, also while working full-time. This education deepened my understanding of motivation, communication, and emotionally intelligent leadership.
Together, these disciplines shaped my leadership style: accountable, structured, and people-focused. That foundation ultimately led me to my current role as Vice President of Operations at Koin Payments, where I lead large-scale operational programs in a fast-growing fintech organization serving the gaming industry—delivering results while empowering the teams behind them.
Please tell us about your professional accomplishment(s).
Ted Saxman, MBA, MS: My professional impact is defined by delivering measurable financial results through disciplined execution and emotionally intelligent leadership. At MGM Resorts International, I led mission-critical IT and operations initiatives supporting major casino, arena, and entertainment developments valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. I delivered complex, regulated programs across infrastructure, security, and applications while controlling risk, improving delivery predictability, and driving long-term operational value. During this time, I earned an MBA in Project Management, strengthening my ability to manage scope, cost, and schedule at scale, followed by a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, which shaped my people-centered leadership approach.
At Boyd Gaming, I directly managed and influenced portfolios exceeding $50M, including IT delivery for a $200M casino development, a $3M enterprise IT program, and a $2.7M application portfolio delivering 37 critical systems. I created PMO governance models, standardized intake and prioritization processes, and improved delivery performance while mentoring leaders and building accountable, high-trust teams—driving efficiency, transparency, and sustainable cost control.
Today, as Vice President of Operations at Koin Payments, I apply the same leadership model to a rapidly scaling fintech organization serving the gaming industry. I lead cross-functional operations, governance, and execution in a compliance-driven environment, building scalable systems that protect revenue, manage risk, and support long-term growth. Across every role, my impact combines financial stewardship, large-scale execution, and emotionally intelligent leadership, enabling organizations to deliver complex outcomes while developing resilient, high-performing teams.
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