Sara Elinson is a Managing Director and Partner in L.E.K. Consulting’s Financial Services practice and a recognized expert in fintech and payments. Based in New York, she advises clients across the value chain — including networks, processors, acquirers, issuers, fintechs, and investors — on growth strategy, innovation, M&A, and capital raising.
Sara’s work spans the full fintech and payments value chain, with expertise in embedded finance, B2B and retail payments, digital assets, and the modernization of banking infrastructure. Her approach combines analytical rigor with a pragmatic understanding of how innovation gains traction in regulated environments.
She has led numerous high-impact engagements, including developing a board-level investment plan for a sponsor bank in embedded finance, conducting TAM/SAM/SOM analysis across 100+ product areas for a global capital markets firm, and overseeing commercial diligence on fintech targets in payments, regtech, and capital markets tech. She also guided post-merger integration efforts following a $25B+ deal to accelerate and exceed expected synergies.
In addition to her consulting work, Sara is a frequent speaker at high profile industry events, where she discusses themes like tech disruption and business model innovation.
Sara holds an MBA from Cornell and a BA from the University of Virginia, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She has also completed executive programs in leadership at Harvard and blockchain technology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Education
Undergraduate: University of Virginia, BA in Rhetoric and French Literature; Phi Beta Kappa
Graduate: Cornell University, MBA, Finance, graduated with distinction
