From First-Gen Student to Payments Pioneer: How One Maverick Found Her Future at UNO

Bridget Hall—Nebraska native and first-generation college student—earned both her undergraduate and MBA degrees from UNO. Today, she leads real-time payments for North and South America at ACI Worldwide, a global payments software company headquartered in Omaha.

Choosing UNO: A Natural Fit

Bridget says she knew she wanted to stay in-state when it came time to attend college. “I was looking at the different options within state schools, and UNO’s College of Business Administration—particularly its finance program—stood out,” Hall recalls. “I found myself drawn in by the College of Business Administration’s industry-connected faculty and hands-on learning opportunities.”

The promise of real-world experience came early, with courses that offered a chance to invest real time in the market and a curriculum that went beyond theoretical concepts. At UNO, she was empowered to triple major in finance, banking, and the then-novel field of investment science – a choice that has defined her career.

From Classroom to Corporate Success

After completing her undergraduate studies, Hall embarked on a career that eventually led to a pivotal discussion with a trusted mentor. It was then that she realized a further academic challenge was needed to open new doors. With her employer, ACI, actively supporting professional growth, she enrolled in UNO’s part-time MBA program – a move that would dramatically accelerate her career.

“Time was the biggest challenge,” says Hall, “but UNO’s program structure of half-semester classes, evening options, and real emphasis on day-to-day, on-the-job relevance made it possible.”

Beyond the textbooks, it was the dedicated professors who brought a wealth of corporate experience and deep industry ties that made the difference. UNO’s commitment to bridging the classroom with the real business world was evident in every aspect of her education, setting her on a course that would lead her to her work in the payments industry.

“UNO’s professors weren’t just academics,” Hall explains. “They were professionals who had walked in my shoes. I could take what I learned in class and apply it at work the very next day in meetings and conversations with colleagues. That helped me grow and contribute more. The College of Business Administration teaches students to be problem solvers – not just to memorize a concept, but to use it to build something, fix something, improve something.”

Reimagining the Movement of Money

After earning her MBA, Hall moved into the product management organization at ACI. Today, she finds herself at the forefront of an industry undergoing rapid transformation. In a world where digital transactions have replaced physical cash and checks, she champions the modernization of the payments ecosystem. With advancements like real-time payments—where funds move almost instantaneously—she not only sees the future unfolding before our eyes but is an active part of shaping it.

Imagine buying and selling a house or paying a tuition bill in a matter of seconds instead of hours; that is the promise of the new payments infrastructure. “Payments have been around for thousands of years, evolving from simple barter to currency to digital transactions,” she notes. And now, at the cutting edge of this evolution, she leads initiatives that help banks and financial institutions adopt and leverage these new technologies, ensuring that the underlying systems are robust and ready to handle the demands of a digital age.

Giving Back to the Community

Hall is paying it forward by serving on UNO’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management Advisory Board, helping to shape the next generation meet the needs of the rapidly evolving business landscape.

“It’s exciting to see UNO leaning into what’s next in tech and business. The university is asking, ‘What will industries need five, ten, twenty years from now?’ and preparing students to meet those needs. UNO has been a huge help for me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back,” says Hall.

By sharing her experiences, Hall ensures that future generations of UNO students will be equipped with the skills and insight required for tomorrow’s workforce.

“I’m just a kid from a small town in Nebraska,” Hall says. “But UNO gave me the tools, the network, and the experience to become a leader in an emerging global industry.”