As thoughts turn to Christmas, our ambitious Ironman participants will be juggling the festive fun and family commitments with their demanding training schedules as they prepare for next year’s event in Hawaii.
The rewarding, but daunting, challenge encompasses a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride, and a punishing 21.1 km run. We’re excited to have 15 of our employees taking part in the event; we appreciate what a huge commitment it is, and the demands it places on their personal lives.
Alongside extreme endurance, Ironman races require a balance of consistency, adaptability, and recovery. These characteristics resonate with payabl.’s approach to doing business, and help shape our collaborative style of working with clients to help them make money flow more smoothly.
With the event in Hawaii on the horizon, we’re profiling the teammates taking part to understand the parallels with their professional lives. For this edition, we sat down with Principal Product Designer, Antonios Kvamsengk-Fessaras and Executive Assistant, Viktoria Piskun.
Drawing on athletic backgrounds
“I was a rhythmic gymnast for 12 years of my life,” says Viktoria. “It taught me how to push through pain, injuries, and spend hours on mastering and perfecting tiny elements. The triathlon is a completely different kind of endurance. It’s less about talent, flexibility and clean body lines, and more about showing up every single day. And there’s zero glitter too. The only ‘style’ part is making sure your bib shorts match your jersey!”
Antonios has been running, swimming, and cycling for a few years, but never to the extent the Ironman requires. “If I were doing this on my own, I probably would have never signed up,” he explains. “The opportunity to share the entire journey – the highs and lows of training and racing – with my teammates is an incredible experience. Knowing we’re all in it together is a huge motivator.”
“I tend not to say ‘no’ to things I can push myself to do, especially if it means learning something new along the way,” adds Viktoria. “Curiosity got me into this one. I agreed within five minutes without even realising how crazy big the challenge is.”
Antonios and Viktoria are relishing the chance to test themselves. “I hope to learn what my actual limits are. I have a feeling they’re a lot further away than I think,” says Antonios. “With Hawaii 11 hours behind Greece, I’m hoping jet lag will actually work in my favour. Since I mostly train in the afternoons, I’m hoping my body will be tricked into thinking this isn’t a morning race. I strongly dislike morning races, and unfortunately for me, most of them are.”
Viktoria is keen to prove that discipline can turn the “impossible” into “done”. “On paper, 113 km of swimming, cycling, and running – all back-to-back – looks insane,” she says. “But if I cross that line, it means discipline really does get you further than talent or luck ever could.”
Overcoming hurdles over the holiday break
While others around them are set to switch off for a Christmas break, Antonios and Viktoria don’t have that luxury.
“Physically, I’m training six days a week,” explains Antonios. “Mentally, I’m coping with training six days a week. Some days are hard and most days I’m tired, but on the bright side, I get to eat a lot of food which is a big plus!”
“It’s easy to say ‘yes’ to Ironman, but it’s harder to drag yourself out for every training session,” adds Viktoria. “I guess that’s how it works. Every big goal is really just a bunch of small steps you’ve got to keep ticking off.”
The two teammates will be drawing on the Ironman principles to keep them moving forward. “Consistency is key,” says Antonios. “What truly makes a difference is showing up every day and giving whatever you have on that particular day. Some days, you have to dig deeper for extra strength, but even when you can’t, the simple act of being consistent is what will ultimately set you apart.”
Viktoria highlights the importance of adaptability. “I was terrified of the bike just three months ago, so overcoming that fear was a big one,” she explains. “I was never a cyclist or runner, and now it’s part of my daily life. I used to be the person with a gym membership collecting dust, but not anymore.”
Aligning the challenge with busy work lives
They’re also quick to point out the parallels with their professional lives at payabl.
“Design as a skill set has been in my life from very early on,” says Antonios. “I thrive in environments where problems are complex and require you to think far and wide. Fintech was an industry I wanted to get into and when interviewing with payabl., it was clear the company had an immense appetite to grow. I wanted to be part of that journey.”
“The core values of Ironman training are the same principles I apply to my work. Consistently showing up and giving my best, adapting quickly when situations demand it, and persisting through challenges. It all works the same way at the office as it does in a triathlon, albeit with less tired legs!”
As Executive Assistant to Group CEO Ugne Buraciene, no two days ever look the same for Viktoria.
“My day can start with early calls, move into coordinating projects across different teams, and end with travel logistics or last-minute problem solving,” she says. “It’s a mix of structure and chaos, but in a good way.”
“In Ironman, it often feels like only your coach (and maybe God) really knows the challenges you’re going through. All of the sweat, setbacks, and little wins no one else sees. As an EA, it’s very similar. Most of the effort stays behind the scenes, and usually only your boss truly knows the responsibility you carry, the problems you quietly solve, and the confidential details you manage. In both cases, the outside world only sees the smooth outcomes, not what it takes to get there.”
Viktoria and Antonios both say payabl.’s supportive culture helps them balance professional responsibilities with the demands that Ironman is placing upon them.
“Being at payabl. feels like being part of something bigger,” explains Viktoria. “It pushes you, challenges you, and lets you rise – a bit like training for Ironman – all depending on your commitment. Everyone is driven, but also collaborative and supportive. You’re trusted to take ownership, but never left without guidance. We move fast, create, work hard, challenge each other, celebrate, and laugh a lot.”
“The culture you feel here is one of support,” adds Antonios. “I feel empowered to experiment, try new ideas, and to grow. The ideas are bold and the people even bolder.”
Asked to sum up the Ironman experience in one word, Viktoria considers for a moment and says “Discovery.”
“Carbs,” adds Antonios – a word that will be on all our minds as we count the Christmas calories!
Stay tuned for further updates as the team prepares for Ironman 70.3 in Hawaii in May 2026.