Podcasts about finovate

I'm sold! – connecting with FinovateSpring Best of Show winner Solda.ai on their award-winning solution. Detailed Summary: In this Finovate podcast episode, host Greg interviews Andrew Reese, the U.S. go-to-market lead for Solda.ai, a FinovateSpring Best of Show winner. Solda builds artificial intelligence sales representatives that help financial institutions boost revenue and cut costs by mirroring their best sales representatives at scale across phone, text, email, and chat channels. The technology resonated strongly with the Finovate audience because it addresses common challenges in scaling sales operations, including high costs, burnout, and inconsistent performance, while maintaining the human connection that's essential in customer interactions. For B2C applications, Solda's AI can handle the entire sales process from initial outreach to closing deals, including post-call tasks like updating CRMs. For B2B scenarios, the AI focuses on initial conversations, qualifying leads, and setting meetings with human sales representatives. The company emphasizes transparency about AI use while noting that less than 1% of customers actually ask if they're speaking with AI. Solda works closely with clients to train the AI on both what to say and what not to say, which is particularly important in heavily regulated industries like banking. Looking to the future, Solda aims to improve its AI's capabilities to consistently outperform human sales representatives and leverage conversation data to provide richer analytics for clients. The company had insightful conversations at FinovateSpring about potential applications in wealth management and insurance. Rather than replacing human teams entirely, Solda focuses on automating repetitive, mundane tasks that cause burnout and inconsistent performance, allowing human employees to focus on more strategic work like handling escalations and high-priority conversations. The goal is to help organizations transform to work alongside AI while giving human employees more purposeful roles. More info: Solda.ai: https://www.solda.ai/fintech; https://www.linkedin.com/company/solda-ai/ Andrew Reese: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpreese/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #AIPodcast #FinancialServices #BankingInnovation #FinTech #sales #data #AIExecution #DigitalTransformation #AI #innovation #financialservices #finovatespring

In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks host Brett King is joined by Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. As Political Leader of the City of London Corporation, Chris acts as a principal spokesperson and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. In the segment, Brett and Chris discuss The impact to date of the Trump presidency on the UK financial services sector. Wider US-UK relations and the City's view of the prospect of a UK-US free trade deal especially in services and tech. How the UK is a global gateway for US companies to access capital and advice, and Ongoing work with the UK Government to create an investment hub (a concierge service) to make it easier to channel foreign investment into the UK economy, and ongoing conversations on regulatory reform Then, sister podcast, Finovate host Greg Palmer interviews Nick Evens, President and CEO of Curql. Nick shares his journey from working within credit unions to leading Curql, a strategic investment fund focused on credit union innovation. Curql invests in startups and fosters an ecosystem where over 130 credit unions collaborate and share resources, often co-investing in companies that serve both banks and credit unions. Born from a need to support credit unions in staying competitive with big banks by pooling resources to invest in transformative financial technology, Curql bridges a gap between fintech and credit unions, helping credit unions gain access to tech solutions they otherwise couldn't afford on their own. More on the topic at FinovateSpring.

True personalization is here – connecting with FinovateSpring Best of Show winner Finalytics on their award-winning solution. Detailed Summary: This episode of the Finovate Podcast features Craig McLaughlin (CEO) and Baron Conway (CSO) of Finalytics, a Best of Show winner at FinovateSpring. They join host Greg Palmer to talk about how their platform delivers real-time AI-driven personalization across digital channels by combining behavioral data with transactional and third-party data to create uniquely relevant experiences for each user in both authenticated and unauthenticated environments. This enables financial institutions to optimize marketing spend, improve conversion rates through personalized experiences, and provide full-funnel reporting that tracks customer journeys from first click to funded dollars. Finalytics focuses exclusively on credit unions and community banks because these institutions have traditionally centered their business models around member relationships. The platform helps translate the personalized, human-centered service typically found in physical branches into the digital realm. By creating tailored experiences—such as showing refinancing tools to mortgage browsers, reminding users of abandoned applications, or displaying financial literacy content to Gen Z members—Finalytics helps these institutions maintain their relationship-focused approach in digital channels while driving measurable business outcomes. The episode closes with a look toward the future. Both Craig and Baron believe AI will fundamentally transform banking within five years. Craig predicts a shift from traditional information architecture to contextual experiences where relevant content finds the user rather than users searching for content, while Baron suggests the power is shifting from financial institutions to individuals, comparing the impact of AI to that of the Gutenberg press. Both emphasize that financial institutions must embrace these technologies to remain competitive, asserting that those who fail to adapt "won't be here" in the future. More info: Finalytics: https://finalytics.ai/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finalyticsai/ Craig McLaughlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaughlincraig/ Baron Conway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baronconway/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #AIPodcast #FinancialServices #BankingInnovation #FinTech #personalization #data #AIExecution #DigitalTransformation #AI #innovation #financialservices #finovatespring

FinovateSpring keynoter Javier Perez on taking AI out of the experimental and scaling it up for maximum impact. Detailed Summary: In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, Javier Perez, Global Director at VASS Financial Services, shares key insights from his recent keynote at FinovateSpring. He emphasizes that although AI holds immense potential for banks and fintechs, 85% of AI projects in the sector fail to reach production due to poor execution and misaligned teams. To overcome this, organizations must stop treating AI as a mere experiment and instead focus on execution, aligning business, tech, and compliance teams. Javier highlights the importance of beginning with high-impact use cases and ensuring the right mix of technical knowledge, financial expertise, and AI deployment experience. He also stresses the need for companies to build AI-ready data infrastructure, empower business teams to be AI-fluent, and approach AI as a cross-functional business transformation tool to ensure long-term success. Javier goes on to emphasize the importance of moving beyond AI experimentation toward execution in financial institutions. He outlines three core requirements for success: establishing an AI-ready data infrastructure, empowering business teams to become AI-fluent, and prioritizing a few high-impact use cases. Perez explains how VASS supports clients through its AI Academy and bootcamps, guiding executive teams through strategy, platform development, and implementation with experienced, end-to-end support. He stresses that AI should be treated as a business transformation lever rather than a siloed innovation initiative, urging firms to align cross-functional teams and begin practical application, even if their architecture isn't perfect. By doing so, institutions can ensure measurable results over the next 12 to 24 months. More info: VASS: https://intelygenz.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/vass/ Javier Perez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fcojavierperezgarcia/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #fintech #AI #innovation #financialservices #finovate #finovatespring

Blockchain at a key inflection point – where we are now in the innovation cycle, what's coming next, and where to find your next opportunity. Detailed Summary: In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer chats with Matthew Le Merle of Blockchain Coinvestors about the current state and trajectory of blockchain technology. He explains that his firm has invested in over 1,250 blockchain startups, including major players like Coinbase and Kraken. With a background in internet and fintech investing and previous leadership roles at top consulting firms, Matthew outlines how blockchain has evolved from a niche innovation into a foundational infrastructure, now at an inflection point similar to the early internet days. He notes that the industry is scaling rapidly, with 500 million digital wallets already in use and billions more expected in the near future as adoption expands. Matthew likens the rise of blockchain to the digitalization of communications through the internet. Just as we transitioned from handwritten letters to instant digital communication, blockchain enables the real-time, low-cost transfer of money and assets via digital wallets and stablecoins. This shift is especially impactful for global remittances, where traditional banking is slow and expensive. He emphasizes that current blockchain adoption mirrors the internet's mid-1990s stage, where foundational tools are in place, but mass user adoption and advanced applications are just beginning. The key enabler is access—digital wallets open the door to the broader ecosystem of digital assets and services. On the topic of tokenization, Matthew asserts that virtually any asset can be digitized through blockchain. Whether it's equities, real estate, or personal possessions, the technology allows ownership records to be placed in digital wrappers (tokens), enabling secure, flexible, and transparent transfers online. This shift not only improves speed and cost-efficiency but also unlocks entirely new functionalities such as fractional ownership and global 24/7 trading. Ultimately, he argues that blockchain will do for assets and money what the internet did for communication and content—transform how we interact, manage, and trade value in every sector. More info: Blockchain Coinvestors: www.blockchaincoinvestors.com Matthew Le Merle: linkedin.com/in/matthewlemerle; @‌mlemerle.bsky.social Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #fintech #blockchain #cryptocurrency #financialservices #innovation #tokenization #finovate #DeFi #digitization

Exploring CU-specific fintech solutions, with a preview of the CU Spotlight session at FinovateSpring. Detailed Summary: In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer interviews Nick Evens, President and CEO of Curql, ahead of FinovateSpring. Nick shares his journey from working within credit unions to leading Curql, a strategic investment fund focused on credit union innovation. He explains how Curql was born from a need to support credit unions in staying competitive with big banks by pooling resources to invest in transformative financial technology. With its roots in the credit union community, Curql helps these institutions gain access to tech solutions they otherwise couldn't afford on their own. Nick then elaborates on Curql's mission to connect credit unions with fintechs and vice versa, underscoring its role in helping credit unions adopt cutting-edge technology. He discusses the company's current and upcoming funds and how they support a growing portfolio of tech firms. Curql not only invests in startups but also fosters an ecosystem where over 130 credit unions collaborate and share resources. Additionally, Curql emphasizes regulatory modernization and strategic partnerships, often co-investing in companies that serve both banks and credit unions. Looking ahead to FinovateSpring, Nick and Greg discuss the special Credit Union Spotlight session, designed to highlight fintechs that cater specifically to CUs. This curated environment ensures that attendees from various roles—whether in lending, compliance, or cybersecurity—can discover relevant solutions. With a diverse lineup of presenting companies, including those focused on AI and member-facing technologies, the session aims to meet the broad needs of credit union professionals and further Curql's mission of bridging the gap between fintech and credit unions. More info: Curql: https://www.curql.com/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/curql/ Nick Evens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-evens-76b75316/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #fintech #CU #creditunions #financialservices #innovation #digitaltransformation #finovate #finovatespring

Building and growing winning teams – thoughts from a seasoned fintech leader on managing high-performing engineering teams. Detailed Summary: In this episode Naga Rishyender, Manager of Software Engineering at Discover Financial Services, shares his thoughts on building and managing high-performing engineering teams in the fast-evolving fintech space. He begins by discussing his career journey—from his education at UNCC to roles at Wells Fargo, Oracle, Amazon, and now Discover—highlighting the impact of his leadership on major projects like Amazon's “Pay with Affirm” feature. At Discover, he currently leads a team of engineers working on critical payment authorization systems, fraud prevention, and infrastructure modernization, with a strong focus on innovation and cloud technology. Naga goes on to detail his philosophy for assembling effective engineering teams. He emphasizes diversity—not just in background, but in experience levels—as a key to fostering collaboration, mentorship, and innovation. Psychological safety, clear roadmaps, and continuous learning opportunities are all pillars of his leadership approach to ensure team alignment and growth. The conversation also explores the evolving relationship between academia and the fintech industry. Naga praises the rise of fintech-specific courses in universities and highlights Discover's Student Rotational Program as a successful model for bridging the gap between education and real-world experience. He advocates for more industry-academic collaboration through mentorship, hackathons, internships, and curriculum development. These partnerships, he argues, prepare students more effectively for careers in fintech by offering practical experience, exposure to regulations, and insight into company cultures before graduation. More info: Discover FS: https://www.discover.com/ Naga Rishyendar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naga-rishyendar-p/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #fintech #leadership #engineering #financialservices #innovation #mentorship #finovate

Former pro athlete and founder of the Male Mogul Initiative Walter Mendenhall on the recent acquisition of Help With My Loan, and the importance of fair access to credit. Detailed Summary: In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer talks with Walter Mendenhall, founder of the Male Mogul Initiative, a Chicago-based nonprofit aimed at empowering young men through leadership, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Walter shares his unique path from the NFL to teaching, and eventually to founding his organization in response to systemic issues he witnessed in his community. What began with a handful of students in 2018 has grown into a large-scale movement impacting over 3,000 young people, producing 200+ jobs, and launching Chicago's first youth business incubator, CoLab. Walter highlights the critical issues his organization tackles—such as lack of access to capital and high rates of unemployment and gun violence among young black men in Chicago. Walter then explains how his personal experience being denied a loan, despite strong financials, sparked a deeper dive into the challenges under-resourced communities face in accessing capital. This led to his obsession with financial education and systemic barriers, eventually informing his academic work and business ventures. He emphasizes how a lack of basic financial knowledge—like understanding loan underwriting criteria—keeps many people from succeeding. His goal is to demystify these processes and educate individuals who are often left behind by traditional financial systems. The conversation turns to the recent acquisition of Help With My Loan, a Finovate alum that uses AI to speed up and streamline the commercial loan process. Walter, along with his partners, brought the company from California to Chicago to expand its reach and use it as a tool to train youth as business loan brokers. With a 95% match rate and 80% faster processing times, the platform aligns perfectly with Male Mogul's mission to increase access to capital. Looking ahead, Walter envisions expanding their lender network, integrating blockchain for community investment, and ultimately creating scalable solutions to close the capital gap nationwide. His closing advice to fintech innovators: focus on solving real problems with passion—opportunities and support will follow. More info: Male Mogul Initiative: https://malemogulinitiative.org/ Help With My Loan: https://helpwithmyloan.com/ Walter Mendenhall IV: https://waltermendenhall.com/ , https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-mendenhall-iv-55200787/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #fintech #lending #credit #FinancialInclusion #finovate

Innovate without needing to update your legacy tech stack. FinovateEurope Best of Show winner Tweezr explains how. Detailed episode description: In this episode, Greg sits down with FinovateEurope Best of Show winner Tweezr to learn more about their innovative approach to maintaining and modifying complex legacy systems. Co-founders Ohad Kotler and Lior Vernia created Tweezr to help financial institutions modernize without replacing their core systems. By enabling developers to make precise code changes without breaking critical functionality, Tweezr saves time and makes legacy systems more maintainable. The co-founders share their experiences working with banks and the significant challenges posed by outdated technology, emphasizing that the inability to swiftly update core systems hinders digital transformation efforts. The discussion also highlights the severe bottlenecks legacy systems create for banks, making even simple modifications a lengthy and costly process. Tweezr acts as a guiding tool (rather than an automated coding system), helping developers navigate millions of lines of code efficiently. It identifies necessary modifications, warns of potential breakages, and significantly reduces the time required to implement changes. By doing so, Tweezr empowers financial institutions to innovate without being bogged down by their outdated infrastructure. Tweezr's AI-driven approach focuses on bridging the maintainability gap, allowing banks to continue using their legacy systems without full-scale modernization. Instead of replacing core banking software—a process that can take years—banks can use Tweezrr to optimize and maintain their existing technology stack. The AI functions as a senior engineer, analyzing dependencies and guiding developers to implement safe, effective changes. This ability to enhance legacy systems without a full overhaul is what resonated strongly with FinovateEurope's audience. More info: Tweezr's Demo: https://finovate.com/videos/finovateeurope-2025-tweezr/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ Tweezr: www.tweezr.io, https://www.linkedin.com/company/tweezr/ Ohad Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ohad-kotler-949b4941 Lior Vernia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liorvernia Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #fintech #digitaltransformation #modernization #AI #legacytech #corebanking #finovate #finovateeurope

FinovateEurope Best of Show winner Keyless on using facial recognition without storing sensitive biometric data on a specific device. Detailed Summary: In this episode, Tobin Broadfoot and host Greg Palmer highlight the challenges of traditional authentication methods, such as remembering passwords and using SMS one-time passcodes, which are both inconvenient and vulnerable to security breaches. Keyless addresses these issues by offering a decentralized, privacy-focused solution that allows users to authenticate across multiple devices securely. Their unique approach uses zero-knowledge biometrics and secure multi-party computation to perform authentication without storing or accessing personal data. Tobin also discusses the difficulties banks face when customers lose devices and how Keyless provides a more seamless and secure solution compared to traditional device-based authentication systems. The technology reduces reliance on weak factors like SMS and email verification, which are prone to account takeovers. Tobin concludes with the thought that while AI enables more sophisticated fraud techniques, including "fraud-as-a-service," companies like Keyless are already equipped with advanced defenses to combat these evolving threats. Keyless' ability to process biometric data locally on devices while maintaining privacy gives it a significant edge in preventing large-scale fraud. More info: FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ Keyless: keyless.io, https://www.linkedin.com/company/keylesstech/ Tobin Broadfoot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobinbroadfoot/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #finovate #fintech #biometrics #security #ai #verification

Streamlining complex system integrations with FinovateEurope Best of Show winner R34DY. Detailed summary: in this episode, host Greg Palmer speaks with Márk Katenyi, CEO and founder of R34DY, a company that won Best of Show at FinovateEurope. The two talk about Ablements, an integration platform designed for banks and financial institutions to simplify IT architecture and streamline complex system integrations. Márk explains how the platform uses AI, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and agentic technologies, to ingest documentation, understand IT systems, and create deployable workflows. He highlights the industry's long-standing struggle with integration and how AI is now enabling real solutions, rather than just theoretical improvements. Throughout the conversation, Márk discusses the overwhelmingly positive response from banks at FinovateEurope, who have long awaited AI-driven integration solutions. He acknowledges that while there is still skepticism about AI's effectiveness, R34DY has been able to demonstrate real results. The discussion also touches on the broader role of AI in financial institutions, emphasizing the importance of focusing on enterprise use cases that reduce costs and improve efficiency. Looking ahead, R34DY aims to expand its platform's capabilities and address market gaps, particularly in enabling faster, more secure, and compliant financial system integrations. More information: FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ R34DY: https://www.r34dy.io/ Ablements: https://ablements.com/ Márk Hetenyi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hetenyi-64b7824/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/

Explore the evolving landscape of financial promotions and the challenges faced by companies in staying compliant with stringent regulations. A discussion with Sage Franch, CEO and Co-founder of Promo Comply at Finovate Europe. Discover how AI tools can streamline marketing efforts, mitigate compliance risks, and foster trust among investors and regulators. LINKSPromoComply https://www.promocomply.com/

We discuss how generative AI platform empowers businesses to harness their data and algorithms securely and facilitate the investment research process. It's also a broader reflection on AI fintech startups.LINKSMoonjelly AIhttps://www.jellyfishlabs.ai/

Darren Douglas, founder and CEO of RegSearch AI, explains the challenge of regulatory compliance, which costs over $200bn to the financial industry and the role of AI regulatory compliance agents. Darren explains the need for AI proprietary models that ensure data security and transparency and explains how AI agents can read, understand, and map regulatory documents to internal information, drastically saving time and reducing compliance costs.LINKSRegsearch AI https://regsearch.ai/Darren Douglas on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-douglas-6372192a/

Send us a textHere's the money question  for you to ponder: : should you close that branch on  Third Street and open a new branch in a neighboring town? Keep in mind that the ballpark cost of opening a new branch is $2.5 million. As for costs in a branch closure there always are some and there also may be remember losses.  How to do the math?Meet Steven Reider, president of Bancography - that's the company that won best in show at Finovate fall 2024 for its Bancography Plan software tool that helps a credit union alanalyze branch closings and openings and also possible mergers.Decisions that had been made based upon gut instinct now can be supported with analytical data.How hard is Bancography Plan to use? It's so easy, said Reider, even a CEO can use it.As I tell Reider in the early moments of the show I'd never heard of such a tool before combing upon a Bancgraphy press release.  But I knew when I read it I had to geet this guy on the show.Oh…the costs are surprisingly affordable.Listen up.  Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

Glen shares a pair of interviews from last week's Deluxe Exchange conference- Scamnetic co-founder Al Pascual on a startup's mission to preempt fraud earlier in the pipeline, and Deidre Campbell on a few financial services silver linings amid troubling data from the annual Edelman Trust Barometer. Also- Bingo cards and the CFPB carousel.   Links related to this episode:   Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer Our previous conversation about Edelman's Trust Barometer: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=retaining-member-trust-amid-the-decline-of-authority Scamnetic: https://scamnetic.com/ Scamnetic's Fall 2024 Finovate demo: https://finovate.com/videos/finovatefall-2024-scamnetic/ Scamnetic: YouTube overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y__BrHsi1Jc Deluxe: https://www.deluxe.com/   Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday February 26 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Industry developments keep coming fast and furious- the CU Town Hall is the place to make sense of these items together. It's free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Signing up for the Town Hall also earns you a card for our Bingo game tracking 2025 industry predictions.  Find out more here: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=did-you-have-that-one-on-your-bingo-card Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen kicks off the 2025 BIGCast season with Bancography President Steve Reider and a deep dive into branch dynamics. We all know the number of branches is declining but a close look at the data reveals several intriguing subplots (psst… it's not the credit unions downsizing). Plus the return of BIGCast move reviews!   Links related to this episode:   Bancography: https://bancography.com/ Bancography's Best of Show winning Finovate demo: https://finovate.com/videos/finovatefall-2024-bancography/ The Bancology research journal- see in particular articles in Volumes 79, 80, 84, 85: https://bancography.com/bancology/  Wallace & Gromit's AI takedown (sort of): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_%26_Gromit:_Vengeance_Most_Fowl The original Bank of Dave: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bank_of_dave Our Summer 2023 review of the original Bank of Dave: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=loyal-but-open-to-persuasion   Here's a great 2025 Resolution- Join the Innovation Club, an ideal way to stretch your credit union's limited R&D dollars and stay on top of the latest technology trends. Find out if your CU qualifies: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology   Find us on BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Episode #60 with Theodora Lau, Unconventional Ventures Based in the US, Theodora Lau or Theo as she's known, is Hong Kong born and bred and the founder of Unconventional Ventures. Her firm's mission is developing and growing an ecosystem of financial institutions, corporations, startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and accelerators to make banking better, as well as to meet the often-unmet needs of consumers, including older adults and women. Connecting founders with funders – with a specific focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs is Theo's mission. As part of her work, she regularly mentors and advises startups in both the financial services and healthcare/caregiving space. She is an advisor to B21 Ventures which focuses on entrepreneurs disrupting finance and health through artificial intelligence. Theo has been referred to by the American Banker as one of the “Most Influential Women in FinTech” and is one of few global experts providing authoritative insights on both the US vis a vis Asia.  Besides being a best-selling author, Theo is an accomplished technologist and is much sought after for her unique insights on the success of super apps in Asia, the evolution of AI and the disparity in digital adoption between regions.Theo regularly speaks on the topics of AI, gender equity, FinTech, inclusion, and longevity. She is a guest contributor for various top industry events, publications, and podcasts, including Fintech Futures, the American Banker, BBC, the Journal of Digital Banking, Harvard Business Review, Nikkei Asia, MIT Tech Review, Money20/20, Finovate, RISE, FinTech Week Hong Kong, Breaking Banks, Irish Tech News and the Forbes Technology Council  She is the co-author of “Beyond Good: How technology is leading a purpose-driven business revolution” and co-author of “The Metaverse Economy” (both books are now available in paperback edition). Theo is also the host of One Vision, a podcast on innovation and fintech, runs a weekly LinkedIn newsletter called FinTech Prose on emerging technologies (such as voice-activated/enabled software and AI), inclusion, longevity, fintech, innovation, and using technology for good. Her monthly column on Fintech Futures explores the intersection of FinTech and humanity.  As for her education, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, and a Master of Science in project management from George Washington University in Washington, DC.  In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Theo discusses the evolving fintech landscape, the digital adoption gap between Asia and the US, and regulatory challenges. She reflects on her journey from growing up in Hong Kong to witnessing the rise of digital finance in the US, noting Asia's diverse fintech ecosystem, driven by tech giants like WeChat and Tencent in China and Japan's conglomerates.Theo highlights why the US lags in digital payment adoption, with many still using cheques, compared to Hong Kong and countries like the UK and Australia, which are phasing them out. She explains how regulatory complexity and siloed systems in the US hinder progress, contrasting with global efforts like Project Nexus for seamless cross-border payments in Asia.Addressing financial inclusion, Theo critiques overpromises by tech creators, noting 4.2% of US households remain unbanked. She emphasizes that tech adoption, not innovation, is the bigger challenge, with banks and regulators often slow to adapt. The conversation also covers the potential of AI and generative tools to drive inclusion globally, along with liability and competency concerns.For more details, please visit: HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Join industry experts Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures and co-author of The Metaverse Economy and Beyond Good, and Julie Muckleroy, Global Banking Strategist at SAS as they explore the critical crossroads of AI in banking for 2025. This podcast delves into how banks are shifting from AI hype to strategic implementation, focusing on building foundational elements like data governance and trust. The conversation examines how mature approaches to AI can align investment with board priorities, select strategic use cases, and ultimately deliver meaningful return on investment while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Key Insights: - How banks can align AI strategies with business priorities - Potential benefits and risks of AI technology - Innovative applications supporting small businesses, fraud prevention, and customer experience - Social good opportunities in AI development Dive into the future of banking technology with this must-listen podcast episode. Relevant Links: 2025 Trends in Global Banking | SAS   Speakers' Bio Theodora Lau, Founder, Unconventional Ventures Theodora Lau is the founder of Unconventional Ventures, a public speaker, and an advisor. She is the co-author of The Metaverse Economy (2023) and Beyond Good (2021), and host of One Vision, a podcast on fintech and innovation. Her monthly column on FinTech Futures explores the intersection of financial services, tech, and humanity. She is named one of American Banker's Most Influential Women in FinTech in 2023. She is also a regular contributor and commentator for top industry events and publications, including BBC News, Finovate, American Banker, and Journal of Digital Banking. Julie Muckleroy, Global Banking Strategist, SAS With a background in marketing leadership roles at SaaS organizations and large US banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Julie brings extensive knowledge and expertise in global banking trends and marketing strategies. She evaluates the future state of banking as a strategist at SAS.   Over the years, GARP and SAS have partnered to bring risk practitioners unique insights on a variety of topics related to risk management. Now we present a series of podcasts focused on making financial risk-based decisions in light of the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning. About SAS SAS is a global leader in data and AI. We help organizations transform data into trusted decisions faster by providing knowledge in the moments that matter. No matter how you prioritize risk, SAS has proven solutions and best practices to help organizations establish a risk-aware culture, optimize capital and liquidity, and meet regulatory demands. SAS® provides on-demand, high-performance risk analytics to ensure greater efficiency and transparency. Strike the right balance between short- and long-term strategies.

Glen speaks with key players at TruStage Ventures' Fintech Summit: Discovery Fund Managing Director Elizabeth McCluskey on the state of early stage investing, founder Gwyneth Borden on Remynt's journey to startup funding, and Maxwell's co-founder John Paasonen on addressing the housing affordability gap. Also, surprising battle lines forming in the Illinois interchange showdown.      Links related to this episode:   TruStage Ventures: https://www.trustage.com/ventures/portfolio TruStage Discovery Fund: https://www.trustage.com/ventures/discovery-fund Maxwell: https://himaxwell.com/ Remynt: https://getremynt.com/ Glen's update on the Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=a-state-of-confusion-interchange-battles-move-closer-to-home Our 2022 interviews with Money 20/20 America's Got Access winners Dennis Cail (Zirtue) and Gwyneth Borden (Remynt): https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=americas-got-access-vegas-has-crowds   Finovate's demo archive: https://finovate.com/videos   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday October 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. This session will focus on the latest developments in Illinois interchange legislation, and why it's a national issue. It's free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/    Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Part 2 of our Finovate recap features interviews with three more standouts- Further, MoneyKit and Telesign- from an impressive batch of demoing companies. Plus- Glen reveals his Best of Show ballot, and serial entrepreneurs extend their winning streaks.   Links related to this episode:   MoneyKit: https://moneykit.com/ Further: https://gofurther.app/ Telesign: https://www.telesign.com/ Telesign's Trust Index: https://www.telesign.com/continuous-trust-authority/trust-index Last week's episode featuring interviews with Finovate standouts CardLift and Quavo: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-best-things-i-saw-at-finovatefall Our interview with Deidre Campbell on the Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=retaining-member-trust-amid-the-decline-of-authority  Glen's blog on his key takeaways from FinovateFall: FinovateFall: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/ Best of Show winners: https://finovate.com/finovatefall-2024-best-of-show-winners-announced/ Replay of our recent CU Town Hall on what constitutes a Primary Financial Institution (and whether it matters): https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-122-primary-financial-institutions   Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with two of his favorite fintechs he saw at the recently completed and highly engaging FinovateFall conference: Best of Show winner CardLift and fraud/dispute management platform Quavo. Also- an overview of the eight Best of Show winners, the inevitable artificial intelligence parade, and a pronounced shift in favor of credit unions.       Links related to this episode:   CardLift: https://withcardlift.com/ Quavo: https://www.quavo.com/ Illuma: https://illuma.cx/ FinovateFall: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/ Our recent interview with Finovate's Greg Palmer: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=big-startup-energy Best of Show winners: https://finovate.com/finovatefall-2024-best-of-show-winners-announced/   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday September 18 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. This session will focus on whether the notion of a Primary Financial Institution is myth or reality. It's free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* The launch of Klarna's bank account gift card* Affirm's killer earnings* Are niche neobanks back?* Apple opening up NFC (sort of)* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can't let go ofAlso, if you're attending Finovate next week, keep your eye out for us!I'll be taking the stage with some of my favorite industry colleagues, Alex, Jason Henrichs, and Kiah, to discuss the perennial topic in US fintech, banking-as-a-service. I imagine the brokered deposits topic may make a cameo.I'll also be attending Alloy Labs happy hour on the This Week In Fintech happy hour on Tuesday — hope to see you there!If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Glen chats with Finovate's Greg Palmer about the state of fintech investment and startup momentum in anticipation of September's Finovate NYC event. Also- soft landings, long bike rides, $2.5 billion bets and honest borrowers.   Links related to this episode:   Finovate Fall in NYC September 9-11: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/ ***Use code BIG20 for a 20% discount off registration*** TruStage's Discovery 2024 conference replay: https://trustage.registration.goldcast.io/events/414b601e-9185-426f-9877-6405088473e5 Lamont Black's bike ride from Maps to Redwood CU: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lamontblack_ai-outdoors-bikepacking-activity-7228525803385274369-XW5p BNPL's analog precursor: https://www.marketplace.org/2024/08/12/schulze-family-business-kept-old-things-running-for-82-years/ PYMNTS.com's interview with NCR Voyix digital banking leadership after its $2.5B sale to private equity: https://www.pymnts.com/news/digital-banking/2024/ncr-voyix-2-5-billion-sale-to-veritas-verifies-digital-bankings-long-term-potential/    Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with Glia's Jake Tyler about his firm's approach to delivering ethical AI solutions to financial institutions. Also- Finovate Best of Show winners, and the continuing crisis in card interchange.    Links related to this episode:   Glia: https://www.glia.com/news/glia-launches-first-responsible-ai-platform-purpose-built-for-financial-institutions Demo videos for Finovate Spring's Best of Show winners: https://finovate.com/videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateSpring&videostartyear=2024&showletters=A-Z   Our November 2022 interview with Remynt founder Gwyneth Borden: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=americas-got-access-vegas-has-crowds  Glen's blog on the flurry of state interchange legislation: Last week's BIGCast on Apple Intelligence and proposed AI legislation: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=algorithmic-discrimination-and-other-sci-fi-sounding-terms-relevant-today    Check out BIG's AI Development offerings, enabling credit unions to streamline operations, amplify member experiences and capture new opportunities in the digital financial landscape. https://www.big-fintech.com/Products-Services/AI-Development  Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors (same handles for both) You can also follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

In This Episode It's a Breaking Banks and Finovate collab! Fresh off of FinovateSpring hosts JP Nicols, Greg Palmer and Brett King talk trends, takeaways and best of show; bringing the best to you in this episode. If you missed FinovateSpring, enjoy the recap and themes, and some of the best fintech innovations covering artificial intelligence, open banking, future payments, CX and more. With new market entrants and the loosening of capital, creativity is coming back into the ecosystem, and the bar is being raised, pushing everyone forward. We also introduce you to one of FinovateSpring's Best of Show winners, Maya Mikhailov, SAVVI AI, Founder & CEO. Meeting users where they are, SAVVI AI offers a powerful AI tool to unlock data and make finserv and fintech goal driven AI use cases easier, distilling data natively into excel, to offer insights for institutions on new product offerings to benefit customers and business. In the coming weeks, tune into sister podcast Finovate for profiles, a deep dive and one-on-ones with all FinovateSpring 'Best of Show' winners: Bloom Credit, Remynt, Kobalt Labs, QuickFi, SAVVI AI, Cascading AI

Send us a Text Message.It was over two years ago that Chase Neinken was on the podcast talking up Chimney, a fintech focused on delivering cool, fun calculators to credit unions.Neinken is back and here's the reason: in fall 2023 Chimney won “best in show” at Finovate and that's because it debuted Chimney Home, a new tool for credit unions that shows a credit union member today's value of their home and also lets an institution deliver personalized offers to members.Admit it, you know how addictive the tools for telling you your home's value are.  When was the last time you checked Zillow? I'll confess: in my case it was yesterday.What homeowner doesn't do this often?  The Chimney kicker of course is enabling the FI that hosts Chimney Home to deliver targeted offers to the member, not the generic stuff sent to everybody, but offers that reflect how much equity this member actually has.How cool is that?Neinken tells all about it on the show and he also updates us on Chimney's suite of calculators and wouldn't you rather your members use calculators on your site, not BankRate?In the show Neinken refers to a Chimney study of how its calculators actually perform. Here's a link to that report.Listen up.Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

Greg Palmer, VP and Director of FinTech Strategy at Finovate, a series of FinTech conferences in Europe and the US, spoke to Rudolf Falat, founder of the Voice of FinTech podcast, about key themes emerging at the recent FinovateEurope in London. Here is what they covered in more detail:Intro - Greg's background, Finovate and Finovate London in particular - unique aspects: live demos, enterprise partners and start-ups in one place. There were more attendees and many new ones in London.Highlights from the Hot or Not session - Open Banking, Hot or not?:-)Meta FinTech –  FinTech aimed at helping banks engage with other FinTechs, which is really interesting. This frequently takes the shape of core service providers, or an add on to it, but it's helping to enable adoption of other innovations. However, are meta FinTechs another gatekeeper that stands in the way?AI: Enterprise-grade solutions for anti-fraud, customer experience and compliance/regulationTemperature check of incumbents and their take on GenAI as of nowThe funding environment taking a toll, but there are some bright spots on the horizonWhat to expect in 2024 with respect to the aboveUpcoming Finovate editions - Spring in SanFrancisco, Fall in New York and Finovate Awards online

In This Episode Todays' Breaking Banks spotlights sister podcast Finovate, featuring host Greg Palmer's recent interviews on the Future of Real-Time Payments with The Clearing House's, Jim Colassano, SVP Product Development & Strategy and a new report on Cost of Living, Lending and Insights from Tink with Jack Spiers, Banking & Lending Director, UK & Ireland. Finovate Spring is around the corner, May 21 - 23, 2024 in San Francisco, CA. Check it out!

Against the backdrop of elevated interest rates and lingering economic uncertainty brought about by layoffs and geopolitical conflicts, it is perhaps not surprising to see consumers seeking alternative ways to consume and pay. At the same time, they are also demanding more. In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Barb chat with Julie Muhn, Senior Research Analyst, and the heart and soul of Finovate, on the state of consumer fintech. What challenges will PFM tools face? And how can financial services providers leverage data and technology to help consumers navigate their financial lives?

Against the backdrop of elevated interest rates and lingering economic uncertainty brought about by layoffs and geopolitical conflicts, it is perhaps not surprising to see consumers seeking alternative ways to consume and pay. At the same time, they are also demanding more. In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Barb chat with Julie Muhn, Senior Research Analyst, and the heart and soul of Finovate, on the state of consumer fintech. What challenges will PFM tools face? And how can financial services providers leverage data and technology to help consumers navigate their financial lives? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Palmer is the host of the Finovate Podcast and head strategist for the Finovate conference series. With years of experience in the fintech space, Greg has worked with thousands of people on how to best market their companies to a wide variety of audiences, including Venture Capitalists, Bankers, and Analysts. In this episode, Greg shares his insights on BNPL, the future of Fintech, bank failures, and what makes a great startup.    0-1: Intro   1-2: Difference between the Finovate conference and others  2-4: Top Finovate Innovations   4-6: Credit Scores Innovations  6-8: FICO  8-10: Buy Now Pay Later   10-11: Buy Now Pay Later Technologie/Providers  11-14: Buy Now Pay Later Risk  14-16: Buy Now Pay Later Cons   16-19: National Debt   19-22:  Banking Industry and Innovation  22-24: Does Banking Regulation Work   24-30: SVB Failure  30-32: Bad Corporate Actors  32-38: Differentiator between successful companies and others   38-40: Ego in venture capital   40-44:  Key things founders should pitch   44-46: What makes a good pitch?  46-48: what is the best pitch you have seen?  48-50: Can students attend Finovate events?  50-52: Different ways to be successful in Fintech   52-54: Opportunities in difficult times   54-58: Upcoming innovative countries  58-: Advice to college students     

In This Episode Drumroll...it's a new series from Breaking Banks, Killing It, candid discussions with entrepreneurs sharing lessons, failures, successes and some of the tough decisions they had to make. From VCs to unicorns, it's a high stakes game with high rates of failure. Not everything goes up and to the right, and success looks different for everyone -- you can grind away and do all you are supposed to do, and get to the point that you have to deliver terrible news to your cofounder and employees who believed in you. There are lots of stories from awesome people who have been knocked to the mat multiple times and gotten back up. It's not uncommon, but how do you bounce back and what does it take to walk away from it. Listen as hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson bring these stories to life. Then, investing in the next frontier, we turn to Greg Palmer, host of sister podcast Finovate as he speaks with Tamara Steffens, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Ventures, about her perspectives on what's on tap for fintech and the funding ecosystem this year. Enjoy the show!

A preview of FinovateEurope (February 27-28) with Finovate Research Analyst Julie Muhn!

Part 2 of our Finovate recap features interviews with the founders of Best of Show winner Chimney and Top Emerging Fintech winner Union Credit. Also- Glen reveals his Best of Show ballot and the Credit Card Competition Act takes to the airwaves.   Links related to this episode:   Chimney: https://chimney.io/   Union Credit: https://www.unioncredit.app/   Finovate: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/  Last week's episode, featuring interviews with CD Valet and Best of Show winner Wysh: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=finovates-window-into-an-evolving-landscape  Our August interview with True Digital: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=fintech-hotter-than-the-headlines  Glen's Finovate recap for CUNA.org: https://news.cuna.org/articles/123055-generative-ai-deposit-gathering-are-hot-topics-at-finovate-fall  VentureTech, November 6-8 in Frisco, Texas: https://myventuretech.com/     Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

Glen's annual recap of the 66 demos at Finovate Fall includes interviews with standouts Wysh and CD Valet, reflections on each of the six Best of Show winners, and observations on recurring themes across the agenda. Also, the unexpected return of Silicon Valley Bank.   Links related to this episode:   Finovate: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/  Wysh: https://www.wysh.com/  CD Valet: https://cdvalet.com/  Our 2022 interview with Best of Show winner Debbie: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-new-guard-takes-center-stage  Our April interview with Best of Show winner Mahalo Banking: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=big-ideas-fintech-madness-cuso-optional    Join us Wednesday September 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for the latest edition of the CU Digital Town Hall, a live, lively and interactive meeting of industry leaders sharing best practices on the top issues impacting the credit union movement. Moderated by John Best of BIG and Mike Lawson of CU Broadcast:  https://www.cutownhall.com/ (a replay will be available at the site after Sept 20) Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

The Supply Chain Buzz is Supply Chain Now's regular Monday livestream, held at 12n ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!This week's edition of The Buzz was a Digital Transformers edition. It featured hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson as well as special guest Theodora Lau, Founder of Unconventional Ventures. Her monthly column on FinTech Futures explores the intersection of financial services, tech, and humanity, and she has been featured on BBC News, Finovate, American Banker, and Journal of Digital Banking.In this livestream, created in collaboration with a live Supply Chain Now audience, Scott, Kevin, and Theodora discussed:• Their personal experiences and memories from September 11th 2001 as well as the lasting impact that day has had on the country and their lives• How AI is being put to work in the supply chain to assist with demand forecasting and inspecting for quality issues• The risk that a mismatch between a technology initiatives and the business goals it aims to achieve presents to digital transformation efforts• The top three trends that Theodora sees shaping the industry todayAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comCheck out our new Supply Chain Now Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3emdLcKSubscribe to Supply Chain Now and all other Supply Chain Now programs: https://supplychainnow.com/subscribeJoin the NOW Community: http://bit.ly/41kpUSO2023 Q2 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://bit.ly/3VuwnIkWEBINAR- Unlocking the Power of Diversification in Last Mile Delivery: A Game-Changing Webinar for Logistics Professionals: https://bit.ly/445N2F2WEBINAR- 3 Proven Strategies to Level-Up Your Business with Walmart: https://bit.ly/3DUpVT5WEBINAR- A Match Made in Heaven - Your ERP and Inventory Planning Software: https://bit.ly/3sP3TyLWEBINAR- Five Steps to Getting Proactive with Digitization and Supply Chain Data: https://bit.ly/3LejfTQThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/supply-chain-buzz-digital-transformers-1170

The Supply Chain Buzz is Supply Chain Now's regular Monday livestream, held at 12n ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!This week's edition of The Buzz was a Digital Transformers edition. It featured hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson as well as special guest Theodora Lau, Founder of Unconventional Ventures. Her monthly column on FinTech Futures explores the intersection of financial services, tech, and humanity, and she has been featured on BBC News, Finovate, American Banker, and Journal of Digital Banking.In this livestream, created in collaboration with a live Supply Chain Now audience, Scott, Kevin, and Theodora discussed:• Their personal experiences and memories from September 11th 2001 as well as the lasting impact that day has had on the country and their lives• How AI is being put to work in the supply chain to assist with demand forecasting and inspecting for quality issues• The risk that a mismatch between a technology initiatives and the business goals it aims to achieve presents to digital transformation efforts• The top three trends that Theodora sees shaping the industry todayAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comCheck out our new Supply Chain Now Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3emdLcKSubscribe to Supply Chain Now and all other Supply Chain Now programs: https://supplychainnow.com/subscribeJoin the NOW Community: http://bit.ly/41kpUSO2023 Q2 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://bit.ly/3VuwnIkWEBINAR- Unlocking the Power of Diversification in Last Mile Delivery: A Game-Changing Webinar for Logistics Professionals: https://bit.ly/445N2F2WEBINAR- 3 Proven Strategies to Level-Up Your Business with Walmart: https://bit.ly/3DUpVT5WEBINAR- A Match Made in Heaven - Your ERP and Inventory Planning Software: https://bit.ly/3sP3TyLWEBINAR- Five Steps to Getting Proactive with Digitization and Supply Chain Data: https://bit.ly/3LejfTQThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/supply-chain-buzz-digital-transformers-1170

In This Episode It is always exciting when one can do good by combining personal experience, knowledge, need and work to create something for the benefit of many. This is exactly what Citizens Bank of Edmond President and CEO Jill Castilla did with Roger (think military term indicating message received). Listen as Jill and Jason Henrichs discuss how the bank launched a digital bank for military recruits -- entry-level recruits many of whom enter basic training without bank accounts. The lack of an account can delay training start date and a recruit's first paycheck, and financial stability, predatory lending and financial literacy can be threats to military readiness. It's a fascinating success story. Then, as it is FinovateFall, we feature a Finovate conversation between 'MC' Greg Palmer and Elizabeth McCloskey, TruStage Ventures, where they cover the fintech funding landscape specific to Credit Unions and DEI Initiatives. https://youtu.be/8G7zuQFBzj0

In This Episode This week FinovateFall Master of Ceremonies Greg Palmer and host of Provoke.fm's Finovate podcast gives a taste of things to come as he shares two conversations with FinovateFall keynoters Luke Williams, NYU Stern School of Business Professor and Author of Disrupt, and Manas Chawla, Founder of London Politica. No spoiler alerts here, so you'll need to listen to the episode and come to FinovateFall NYC September 11 -13th to hear Luke talk about Disrupt and Innovation, and Manas talk about Geopolitical Risk and Gray Rhinos. https://youtu.be/eg34z-Cfizc

Episode Description:In this episode, we delve into a conversation with Dr. Leda Glyptis, an accomplished fintech leader and former banker. With over two decades of experience driving transformation and technology across diverse financial sectors, Leda explores the inherent ties between banking, fintech, and the current technological surge. Discover how these domains can seamlessly integrate into the tech revolution by aligning with the established systems of traditional banks and corporations. Tune in to gain insights from this seasoned fintech veteran, as she guides us through the pivotal juncture where digital innovation and banking converge.Join us for a compelling discussion on the evolving landscape of finance in the digital age.3 Takeaways:The lagging adaptation of digital tech in banking and FintechDoing the right thing over doing the thing right and embracing failureLearning from a company's legacy and the technical debt Key Quotes: “You need to make sure that you fail fast and fix it, but you also need to make sure that you fail small and fix it.”“So increasingly who gets it for me, the people who start talking about their end customer, their data strategy, and their overall cost to serve ahead of showing me wireframes of their UX. They're the people who get it.”“Leave aside the business model and how certain players in that space make money. What happens to all the systems that need to know what happened in real time for liquidity management? For everything that happens downstream, and we've been talking about, um, real time clearing and settlement for years.We know it's coming.”“There is no such thing as an organization that doesn't have technical debt. There just isn't. There will be corners that are cut because Bobby has a date and has to ship and go out and freshen up to meet his date.There's corners that will be cut 'cause money's short, or there's a deadline looming, or because you didn't think of something. And there will always, always, always, either because you didn't think something was important or because something else was more important, or 'cause you had a blind spot. So there is no such thing as no legacy and there is no such thing as no technical debt.”Leda Glyptis:  Leda is a seasoned fintech executive and former banker, with a career spanning two decades working int transformation and technology functions across a variety of financial services verticals.Leda works as an advisor to boards and executive teams for companies of all sizes, from young startups to globally significant financial institutions, supporting leadership teams in transition: be it a process of transforming themselves, their business or their software infrastructure. Leda served as the Chief Client Officer of 10x Banking and the founding CEO of 11:FS Foundry (both in the cloud-native core banking space); she was the Chief Innovation Officer of Qatar National Bank and held a variety of innovation and transformation roles at BNY Mellon.Leda sits on the board of Flagstone IM. Over the years, she has held a number of NED positions in fintech firms in Europe and the UK including chairing the Board of Geophy (now a Walker and Dunlop company) through its successful exit. Leda is a frequent keynote speaker at flagship industry events globally including Sibos, M20/20, Finovate as well as specialist regional events; she is the author of the highly acclaimed #LedaWrites column on Fintech Futures and the book ‘Bankers Like Us: Dispatches from an Industry in Transition' published by Taylor and Francis in 2023. Leda completed her undergraduate studies at King's College Cambridge and holds an MSc and PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science.For more information:You can connect with Leda on her LinkedInFollow her on Twitter  @LedaGlyptisOrder her book “Bankers Like Us” HEREAbout the HostsMatthew O'Neill is a husband, dad, geek and Industry Managing Director, Advanced Technology Group in the Office of the CTO at VMware.You can find Matthew on LinkedIn and Twitter.Brian Hayes is an audiophile, dad, builder of sheds, maker of mirth, world traveler and EMEA Financial Services Industry Lead at VMware.You can find Brian on LinkedIn.

Glen talks with Finovate's Greg Palmer about the bumper crop of 60+ fintechs demoing at its September event despite widespread reports of a “funding freeze.” Patrick Sells, CEO/Co-Founder of True Digital (one of the presenting companies) joins to shed light on its collaborative vendor optimization platform. Also, reaction to the CUNA/NAFCU merger.     Links related to this episode:   Finovate Fall, Sept 11-13 in New York City: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/  USE CODE BIG20 for a special BIGCast discount   True Digital:  https://truedigitalgroup.com/    Patrick Sells' recent article about the hidden costs of innovation: https://www.bai.org/banking-strategies/the-hidden-costs-of-innovation/    CUNA's resource page for its merger with NAFCU: https://www.cuna.org/about/cuna-and-nafcu-merger.html    Chip Filson's thoughts on the CUNA/NAFCU merger: https://chipfilson.com/2023/08/an-initial-reaction-to-the-nafcu-cuna-merger/        Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on Twitter @154Advisors Follow John on Twitter @jbfintech

In This Episode This week Brett King and JP Nicols are joined by the infamous Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes' Author of Fintech Snark Tank. Listen as they talk about Ron's latest Forbes articles that have created some buzz! From The Checking Account War Is Over (And The Fintechs Have Won) to The Banking Crisis Has Only Just Begun, they have lots to discuss before they get into what banks need —  is it Innovation or is it Invention or Just Growth?  Then Greg Palmer host of Provoke.fm's Finovate podcast begins his FinovateSpring Best of Show winner spotlight series with a conversation on the future of biometric payments with Deepak Jain, Founder & CEO, Wink. Additional best of show interviews can be found on provoke.fm/show/finovate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZUToGk7Q0

In This Episode Next week is the 500th episode of Breaking Banks. Every week since 2013 we've been featuring the innovators, players and personalities working towards a more innovative and inclusive financial future. We received so many comments on this special milestone we feature several in the second half of today's show. Be sure to tune in next week, as you do every week!, as hosts Brett King, Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols cover industry changes, highlights and their favorite moments over the past 10 years. But first we start this episode by featuring sister podcast Finovate's interview on better understanding the competitive landscape with Financial Insights. https://youtu.be/Uqn3BCRUK0c

Glen speaks with Beyond the Arc's Steven Ramirez about the winners and key takeaways from Finovate's Spring San Francisco showcase. Also- the Regulatory Roundabout, the CFPB's busy stretch, and a deceptive headline Glen actually appreciated.      Links related to this episode:   Finovate's demo site:  https://finovate.com/videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateSpring&videostartyear=2023&showletters=A-Z    Spring 2023 Best of Show winners: https://finovate.com/finovatespring-2023-best-of-show-winners-announced/    Beyond the Arc: https://beyondthearc.com/     My favorite of Chip Filson's recent “Just a Member” blog posts: https://chipfilson.com/2023/06/credit-union-ceo-joins-iowa-bank-board/    The CFPB's warning about deposits held with PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/consumer-advisory-your-money-is-at-greater-risk-when-you-hold-it-in-a-payment-app-instead-of-moving-it-to-an-account-with-deposit-insurance/        Join us Wednesday June 21 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for the latest edition of the CU Digital Town Hall, a live, lively and interactive meeting of industry leaders sharing best practices on the top issues impacting the credit union movement. Moderated by John Best of BIG and Mike Lawson of CU Broadcast:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on Twitter @154Advisors Follow John on Twitter @jbfintech

In This Episode This week it's a Breaking Banks and FInovate podcast mashup as fintech luminaries opine on Finovate Spring (San Francisco). Listen as respective hosts Brett King and Greg Palmer, also VP and Director of Fintech Strategy, The Finovate Group dish with Mary Wisniewski, Editor at Large, Cornerstone Advisors; Alex Jimenez, Managing Principal, Financial Services Consulting; Theodora Lau, Founder, Unconventional Ventures and Deva Annamalai, Founder/CEO of  RightFrame Consulting, a Bespoke Fintech Payments Consulting firm, and talk trends, highlights, surprises, opportunities and make a few predictions along the way. Then Brett speaks with KakaoBank CEO Daniel Yun. KakaoBank, a South Korean neobank, is one of the most successful challenger banks out there today. Started in 2017 with a small team and through joint venture, it had 1 million customers within its first few days. Today, KakaoBank has 26 million customers and is one of the most profitable challenger banks globally. There's much to celebrate as it looks to the future and ways to innovate, expand and continue its success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vIgzqN13Sc

In This Episode With 80% of Americans never defaulting on a loan but less than half having a prime credit score, today we spotlight an episode of sister podcast and NextGen Banker host David Reiling's conversation with accidental banker and Leaders in Lending host, Jeff Keltner, also SVP Business Development at Upstart as they talk about using AI or predictive algorithms to improve access to affordable credit with less risk to banks, and how this technology uses larger sets of data to help understand the real risk. Tech doing its magic and continuing to make an impact. Then we turn to another Provoke.fm podcast and Finovate host Greg Palmer's conversation with Jacqueline Baker, author, podcast host and leadership consultant, about her recent book, The Unexpected Leader: Discovering the Leader Within You. To lead it's imperative to see yourself as a leader right out of the gate. There are of course always headwinds, but everyone can be a leader, and with four levels of leadership there are many opportunities. Interestingly many of the best leaders are those that have leadership thrust upon them. You may be our next great leader! Enjoy the episode! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQkLUwOrblc

This week on Breaking Banks we feature sister podcast Breaking Banks Europe as they take a sneak peek at Finovate Europe, March 14th and 15th in London. As with other Finovate conferences, get your votes ready! There will be demos aplenty, listen to learn about this year's enhancements, stellar all-star panels, conference sustainability efforts and different networking opportunities, startup booster and… “HOT OR NOT?” Curious? Breaking Banks Europe host Francesca Aliverti connects with Greg Palmer, VP and Master of Ceremonies, Finovate conferences, not to mention provoke.fm's Finovate podcast host, and Theodora Lau, Unconventional Ventures, who started her speaking career several years back on the stage at Finovate. Make plans to attend in London....if we don't see you there, make sure to listen here! https://youtu.be/-Zp2-qmw4Mg

On this episode of Scouting For Growth, Sabine VdL talks to two renowned FinTech Influencers and respected voices in finance and insurance, Danielle Guzman – head of social media at Mercer who is an expert at activating employees and creating business impact on social media, and Theodora Lau - Founder at Unconventional Ventures, author, podcast host and public speaker who advises many startup ventures. KEY TAKEAWAYS Danielle - The future of work is something I'm passionate about, both personally and professionally and the journey over the past years has been about reinventing myself and how to stay relevant in a world that is changing so radically. The pandemic has only accelerated that journey, not just for me but for everyone to be thinking about this a lot more, using social media channels to connect and make a difference. Theo – I spent the bulk of my career in telecom, not finance and banking, don't hold that against me! What's interesting is, when you look at high-tech, telecom, financial service industry, and FinTech and InsurTech startups, a lot of what we do inherently at the end of the day is about people. Technology is a means to an end and allows us to communicate and exchange ideas. As a broader society, we're starting to realize that self-care is actually not self-indulgence. The conversations around mental health and well-being are now becoming what they should be. Health is embedded in every aspect of our lives, but mental health and taking time to invest in our own well-being have always been secondary things. It's critical that now through organizations and leaders that it's becoming a very real and daily conversation at the table. I grew up in a generation where you had a career, and now we're part of a generation where you're having career experiences. There's so much that needs to be done for that to become accessible to everyone, there doesn't seem to be an answer to that right now but organizations are trying to figure that out. That's going to be a watershed moment for the future of work and one of the biggest changes that we will probably see in our lifetime and we're at the beginning of that journey. At the crux of that is the concept of trust.   BEST MOMENTS ‘I like to look at everything as not making big changes all at once, but how we can make small, incremental changes that have a compound return over time.' ‘The past 18 months have shown, we might be in the same storm, but we're not in the same boat. We have been very aware of a lot of the challenges and inequalities that exist in our society, but I hope we take away the learning from recent months that there's a lot we still need to do.' ‘Longevity is a challenge, but it's actually an opportunity. Since the early 1900s we've all gained an extra, healthy 30 living years. Living longer affords us to try different things in our careers.' ‘Are new solutions being created to mimic what we've always had in the past, or are they being created to support these new opportunities? Are there enough solutions out there to support small business owners and gig workers? I would say we need more.' ABOUT THE GUEST As the VP of Social and Distributed Content at Mercer, Danielle uses data to assess the viability of risky campaigns and predict the future of digital content consumption. Since diving head first into the world of insights-driven marketing and leadership, Danielle has seen data transform the careers of dozens of marketers—including her own. Website: https://www.mercer.com/ Theodora (Theo) Lau is a public speaker, writer, and startup advisor, whose work seeks to spark innovation to improve consumer financial well-being. As founder of Unconventional Ventures, she focuses on developing and growing an ecosystem of financial institutions, corporates, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists to better address the unmet needs of consumers (e.g. older adults and gig economy workers), with keen interests in women and minority founders. As part of her work, she regularly mentors and advises FinTech startups. She is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for Economy and Finance, No. 1 Women in Finance by Onalytica, and Top FinTech influencer by various publications including Onalytica, Retail Banker International, and FinTech Finance. She co-hosts Rhetoriq, a podcast on longevity and fintech innovations, and runs a weekly blog on Irish Tech News. She is also a regular contributor for various top industry events, publications, and podcasts, including Harvard Business Review, MIT Tech Review, Money20/20, Finovate, RISE, American Banker, Breaking Banks, Financial Brand, Financial Revolutionist, Irish Tech News, Mercer, and INV Filter. She provides strategic advisory services to a broad set of corporates; she advises startups and mentors entrepreneurs from different accelerators and incubators around the country. She is an advocate for diversity and inclusion – and frequently writes and speaks on the need for diversity on gender, ethnicity, age, education, and more. Her end goal is to help more financial institutions (incumbents and startups) focus on the needs of the forgotten demographics and build sustainable and inclusive business models. Website: https://www.unconventional.vc/  ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew, a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, and commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers and accelerating over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner.  Twitter: SabineVdL LinkedIn: Sabine VanderLinden Instagram: sabinevdLofficial Facebook: SabineVdLOfficial TikTok: sabinevdlofficial Email: podcast@sabinevdl.com Website: www.sabinevdl.comThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media

Back to life, back to reality . Or at least back to "in real life." Conferences are back. Finovate had its largest show ever in New York City and the Provoke team is crisscrossing the globe to speak, record and fight. That's right, fintech fight club made another appearance at Finovate with Lindsay Davis of Atomic squaring off against Mary Wisniewski from Bankrate. The best fight yet and it's available at provoke.fm This week far fewer punches but Jim Marous, Chloe James and Jason Henrichs talk about all things Finovate. One of the key takeaways from the return to in person is the awkward "how do I end this conversation" in real life vs. online. Jason demonstrates how much easier it is online by hanging up on Jim! Then Chloe connects with Sam Kilmer, Cornerstone Advisors and Robert James Lay, Digital Growth Institute. WIth current volatility what wins deals and how has deal-making changed? New patterns, new approaches and opportunities to transform banking for good. We hope to see you in person soon too! https://youtu.be/hEP2L3wHw68