Explore every episode of Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3
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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
13 Feb 2022
From Investment Bank Intern to Head of Strategy at a Crypto Firm: 25 year-old Sebastian Widmann, Head of Strategy at Komainu
00:21:47
Sebastian Widmann, Head of Strategy at Komainu, joins Work in Fintech to discuss how finding a good mentor and manager will help careers, how passion for a subject (blockchain ) gave him an edge and offers graduates some great advice from moving from intern to head of strategy in the space of a few years.
With a multi-disciplinary background spanning many languages, banking and blockchain Sebastian was the first hire in the digital assets team at Nomura, the leading Japanese investment bank. He's knowledge and passion for blockchain helped him to rapidly rise to head of strategy at Komainu, a crypto custodian backed by Nomura, Ledger and CoinShares.
Sebastian's insightful lessons are essential for all young people looking to make an impact in their career in fintech and web3.
Fintech & Web3 Career Advice from Simon Vans-Colina who was on the Founding team of Monzo, CTO and co-founder of Fronted, Founder of TreeDAO and now working at BigPay
00:35:25
Simon Vans-Colina has been at the forefront of fintech for over 20 years.
He started coding at 11, he found working at a bank boring , he was on the founding team of Monzo (the UK neobank unicorn), he is CTO and co-founder of Fronted, Founder of TreeDAO and is now moving to Singapore to join BigPay. He loves defi and web3.
Hear Simons thoughts on: - Startups and why you need to be a generalist - How the lines of fintech are blurring - The massive opportunity in fintech, web3 and the metaverse - DAOs and NFTs - How to pick your 'elevator' - What skills you should acquire to stand out
First Female Editor of the The Banker, Joy Macknight, in 95 Years talks about fintech and what it takes to become a female leader
00:34:51
Joy Macknight is first woman to lead The Banker, a Financial Times publication, in its 95-year history.
She is uniquely positioned with a front-row seat of banking, technology and fintech by interviewing CEOs, CFOs and founders about the transformative change and disruption brought on by innovations in fintech and a fundamental generational shift in preferences for managing money.
Hear her perspective on fintech based on 6 years of interviews from the hugely successful TechTalk series where she has met most of the world's fintech leaders. Joy also talks about diversity and inclusion in finance and fintech, how the fintech opportunity has evolved and what young people should do to start a career in fintech.
She joined The Banker in August 2015 as transaction banking and technology editor, which still remain her passion. She was previously Features Editor at Profit & Loss, an FX and derivatives publication and events company. Before that Joy was editorial director of Treasury Today following a period as editor of gtnews.com. She has also worked on Banking Technology, Computer Weekly, and IBM Computer Today. Joy holds a BSc from the University of Victoria, Canada.
Joy is interviewed by Work in Fintech co-founder Matt Cheung and Work in Fintech member Yasmine Karimi.
From professional opera singing to a career in coaching: Elena Armijo discusses her career and DEI initiatives
00:22:34
Elena Armijo joins Work in Fintech to discuss her career, DEI initiatives and sense of belonging within organisations.
Elena has been in coaching for 8 years now. Previously, she was a professional opera singer and she has recently launched a new platform called C-Suite Collective which encourages DEI initiatives and helps companies create culture from the inside out.
Hear Elena's thoughts on: - The value of diversity and inclusion - The C-Suite Collective platform - Are DEI initiatives worth it? - Challenges in implementing DEI initiatives - Best practices within DEI - What is your definition of belonging - Future of C-Suite Collective
Metaverse Veteran Doug Thompson Talks About Opportunities in the Metaverse and How You Can Get Started
00:36:18
Doug Thompson has been working in and around the metaverse for the last 15 years.
Doug is a serial entrepreneur running a metaverse strategy agency, co-founder of a NFT project called Echocore and is involved in DAOs such as the Open Meta DAO.
He is a digital nomad and a true expert in all things related to the metaverse. His newsletter Out of Scope is a must read.
Hear Doug's thoughts on: - How gaming is the onramp to the metaverse - What is the definition of The Metaverse - How big is the metaverse opportunity - What and where are the metaverse jobs - DAOs and NFTs - How to get started in the metaverse
Serial Fintech Entrepreneur Felicia Meyerowitz Singh > Skills & Mindset You Need To Build High Growth Fintech Companies
00:29:00
Felicia Meyerowitz Singh is a serial entrepreneur passionate about fintech, wealthtech, innovation and digital change. Her achievements include:
- Founder and CEO of Akoni Hub, a UK wealthtech platform, where she recently exited - Co-founder of Hive Founders, a global network of female entrepreneurs, supporting founders at any stage - Managing Director of strategic relationships at leading wealthtech firm FNZ - Fintech mentor for the UK Department of International Trade - MBA from London Business School
She talks about:
- How entrepreneurs need grit, determination and perseverance - How to use talent, energy and experience to build high growth companies - Having a bias for action by spotting gaps in the market and solving for them
Felicia is a true fintech warrior. Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3
William Entriken, Lead Author of ERC-721 - NFT Standard, Talks to NFT Prodigy Benyamin Ahmed
01:03:53
William Entriken is the lead author of ERC-721, the document that started NFTs as we know them, and changed the digital world.
ERC-721 was made famous by CryptoKitties and it is the non-fungible token (“NFT”) standard that powers other blockchain platforms such as Decentraland and OpenSea. William is a blockchain developer who continually contributes to the Ethereum open source project. William’s main focuses are on language design and interoperability and his other interests include corporate development and security research.
Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3
Opportunities in web3, blockchain and fintech with Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands
00:38:27
Robby Young is CEO of Animoca Brands, a $6bln blockchain gaming company and one of the most prolific investors in web3 on the planet.
Robby talks about: 0:46 - His journey to being CEO of Animoca 7:23 - Why luck played a part in Animoca's pivot into blockchain games from mobile games 14:08 - Why gaming is an on-ramp into blockchain and the metaverse 15:42 - What is the metaverse and how does web3 and NFTs intersect with the metaverse 18:23 - What drives Animoca Brands web3 investment strategy 23:16 - What are the biggest opportunities in web3 and the metaverse 26:09 - What skillsets and mindsets should people wanting to get into web3 strive towards 32:43 - Advice for anyone starting their career
Robby is interviewed by Matt Cheung (@matthew_cheung_) co-founder of Work in Fintech and Benyamin Ahmed (@obiwanbenoni), chief evangelist of Work in Fintech, creator of Weird Whales and 13 year old NFT prodigy.
Watch the interview on Youtube here https://youtu.be/QoZd-pu-Ioc
Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3
How does Financial Regulation help Fintech and Web3? Dr Iwa Salami, Co-director of the Centre of Fintech, University of East London, Explains How!
00:32:15
Does financial regulation always play catch up to the fast moving world of fintech and web3? Does regulation hinder or help cultivate innovation?
Dr Iwa Salami, Reader in Financial Law and Regulation, co-director at the Centre of Fintech at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law at University of East London joins Work in Fintech to discuss these topics as well as talk about her career and the state of financial regulation in fintech and web3. Iwa's research areas include:
Mobile payments, crowd-funding;
Crypto-assets, stablecoins, decentralised finance (DeFi), Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the metaverse, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
Dr Salami is keen to supervise potential PhD students interested in researching any of the areas listed above or other related aspects of fintech regulation.
Learn more about the Centre of Fintech and their BSc, MSc and MBA courses on fintech, blockchain and AI here https://www.uel.ac.uk/our-research/research-royal-docks-school-business-law-rdsbl/centre-fintech
Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3
How to Break Into Web3 as a Non-Coder with Microsoft Global Lead Web3 Strategy & Business Development, Vassilis Tziokas
00:38:47
Vassilis Tziokas, the Global Lead for Web3 Business Development and Strategy at Microsoft joins Work in Fintech co-founder Matthew Cheung to talk about:
-Opportunities in web3 for sales and marketing -GTM and sales enablement -Generative AI and how ChatGPT can enhance work -Insights for people looking to get into the industry
Connecting Mindset to the Metaverse with CEO of Dig South, Stanfield Gray
00:22:14
Stanfield Gray is the CEO of Dig South: The South's Tech Hub and DIG SOUTH Tech Summit, the first and foremost event dedicated to growing the South’s tech economy, held April 26-27 in Charleston, SC. Visit digsummit.com for details.
Stanfield joins Work in Fintech co-founder Ying Cao to talk about:
What is the metaverse, exactly?
The future of storytelling in the Metaverse
The importance of community building
Embracing the beginners mindset
Highlights: 2:58 What is the metaverse? 7:40 How are you approaching storytelling in the metaverse? 10:10 What are some projects you are embarking on? 14:00 Biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs 18:50 How does mindset come into play as innovators embark on their journey? 20:00 What’s next for you?
Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3
Acing the Startup Funding Process: Key Insights from Expert Jonathan Holis, Managing Partner, Mountside Ventures
00:41:27
Jonathan Holis is Managing Partner at Mountside Ventures. He joins Work in Fintech's Matthew Cheung to share insights about:
-The steps from idea to funding -Breaking down the fundraising process -Tips to close funding quickly and efficiently
1:01 How Jonathan went from PWC to founding a venture company 4:48 What does Mountside Ventures do 5:53 What is a fundraising process 8:00 Looking for the right investor 9:14 Different types of investors 11:04 Raising money is like sales 12:09 Valuation is more of an art than a science 14:48 Startup and funding terminology - what is a series A, B etc 16:55 How did you go about starting your own fund 23:12 Knowing your investor and how they raise money will help you close faster 24:48 Tips to speed up the investment process (decks, biz plans) 27:36 Lifecycle of an investment fund - VCs have to do the same fundraising process that startups do 30:56 Why is the UK a leader in fintech
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Harnessing Data, Diving Deep, and Connecting Networks: Insights from Matt Ober of Social Leverage
00:29:31
Matt Ober, General Partner at Social Leverage, delves into the world of data, automation, networking, and early-stage investing.
Matt shares his journey from specializing in equity derivatives at Bloomberg to hedge funds and then leveraging his expertise to navigate the complex waters of venture capital.
00:00:52 Matt Ober shares his background from Bloomberg, WorldQuant, Third Point and the journey into fintech and venture capital 00:02:14 Scaling WorldQuant 100x with data 00:07:02 Moving to venture capital from hedge funds 00:08:42 Why is data so important in fintech - access to information... and financial markets? 00:09:56 AI is the next frontier 00:14:52 What are the opportunities in fintech and web3 00:16:34 Opportunities in wealthtech 00:18:09 Exciting areas for people in their studies or early careers to focus on in fintech and web3 00:19:14 No such thing as the perfect job 00:20:09 Networking as a superpower - social leverage 00:21:18 Follow the laws of karma as you go through your career 00:22:28 Generalist versus specialist 00:25:46 Always be learning 00:26:55 Investing in people at seed stage startups 00:28:29 Summary
Read Matt's insight's here https://mirror.xyz/workinfintech.eth
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Shaping Tomorrow: The AI powered Metaverse with Alvin Wang Graylin
01:04:28
Alvin Wang Graylin, Global VP of Corporate Development for HTC, discusses the intersection of AI and the metaverse. Alvin shares his background and journey in the tech industry, highlighting the importance of hard work and the value of understanding programming. Alvin explains how AI and XR technologies are coming together to create a transformative metaverse experience, discusses the challenges of centralization versus decentralization in the metaverse and the implications of privacy and anonymity in this new digital world. The conversation explores various themes related to the AI-powered metaverse and its impact on society. It delves into topics such as privacy and data control, the possibilities of the metaverse, tips for adapting to change, the importance of soft skills, the value of reading and curiosity, being kind and ethical, setting purpose-driven goals, embracing art and culture, taking care of physical health, prioritizing meaningful relationships, understanding and valuing the elderly, finding fulfillment and purpose, learning from mistakes and traveling, building understanding and empathy, anthropogenic risks and unity, the future of money and universal basic income, and advice for students.
Check out his latest book https://ournextreality.com/
Takeaways:
•The AI-powered metaverse has the potential to reshape society in various ways, and it is important to consider the ethical implications and privacy concerns associated with it. •Soft skills such as communication, leadership, and ethical decision-making will become increasingly valuable in a world driven by AI and automation. •Reading voraciously and seeking knowledge from diverse sources can help individuals make connections and gain a deeper understanding of the world. •Kindness, empathy, and meaningful relationships are essential for personal well-being and societal harmony. •As technology advances, it is crucial to prioritize physical health, embrace art and culture, and find purpose and fulfillment beyond materialistic pursuits. •The transition to a post-scarcity society may lead to a shift away from traditional monetary systems, with a focus on providing for basic needs and fostering human connection.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background 06:10 The Intersection of AI and XR 11:10 The AI-Powered Metaverse 14:01 The Evolution of the Metaverse 22:14 Centralization vs Decentralization in the Metaverse 27:07 Privacy and Anonymity in the Metaverse 32:46 Privacy and Data Control 34:19 The Art of the Possible 35:43 Tips for Adapting to Change 36:58 The Importance of Soft Skills 38:20 The Value of Reading and Curiosity 39:42 Being Kind and Ethical 41:08 Setting Purpose-Driven Goals 42:00 Embracing Art and Culture 42:53 Taking Care of Physical Health 44:18 Prioritizing Meaningful Relationships 45:44 Understanding and Valuing the Elderly 46:08 Finding Fulfillment and Purpose 47:31 Learning from Mistakes and Traveling 48:55 Building Understanding and Empathy 50:22 Anthropogenic Risks and Unity 54:27 The Future of Money and Universal Basic Income 56:06 Moving Towards a Post-Monetary Society 01:01:25 Advice to 18-Year-Old Self
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Role of Quants in Crypto: Javier Rodriguez Alarcon, XBTO Chief Commercial Officer & Head of Digital Investment Strategies
00:49:21
Summary
Javier Rodriguez Alarcon, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Asset Management at XBTO, discusses the role of XBTO as a full service digital assets provider, focusing on institutional investors. He explains the three main business verticals of XBTO: capital markets, investment management, and a platform business.
Before moving to crypto, Javier was in TradFi at Goldman Sachs as the Global Head of Client Portfolio Management and EMEA Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies. Prior to that he was at Barclays Global Investors, now part of Blackrock.
Key takeaways
-Javier breaks down step-by-step how quant investors use technology and numerical processes to apply statistical modelling to investment decisions and portfolio construction. -The convergence of traditional finance and crypto is happening, but legacy technology is a challenge. Javier thinks the full adoption of crypto and digital assets in financial transactions is likely in the future and discussing how institutions utilise crypto derivatives (for the major coins) and the role of decentralised exchanges vs centralised exchanges. -If you are in a technical role, soft skills such as communication and the ability to explain complex concepts, are crucial for you to stand out in the financial industry and crypto
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Javier Rodriguez Alarcon and XBTO 02:50 Javier's Background as a Quant Investor 04:16 The Impact of Cloud Computing and AI 09:25 Javier's Transition from TradFi to Crypto 14:19 The Challenges of Convergence in the Financial Industry 23:48 Decentralized Exchanges vs. Centralized Exchanges 27:21 Quantitative Analysis in Portfolio Construction 35:12 Skills and Advice for Young Professionals in Crypto 45:24 The Future of Crypto and Digital Assets 49:14 Advice for Javier's 18-Year-Old Self
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Fintech payments: Swipe cards to Stablecoins, with Sean Forward, UK CEO of payabl
00:42:30
Summary
In this conversation, Matt Cheung interviews Sean Forward, the UK CEO of payabl, a fintech company specialising in payments. They discuss the role of payabl in helping merchants accept payments, the concept of omni-channel payments, and Sean's journey in the fintech industry. They also explore the future of payments, including stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. Sean emphasises the importance of staying informed about industry trends and being discerning about the sources of information. He also highlights the diverse range of roles within a payments company and the value of teamwork and diverse skill sets. Finally, they briefly touch on the potential impact of a change in government on the fintech industry.
Takeaways
-payabl is a payment processor that helps merchants accept payments, with a focus on credit cards. -The concept of omni-channel payments refers to the ability to accept payments through various channels, such as credit cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. -Staying informed about industry trends and being discerning about sources of information are crucial in the rapidly evolving fintech industry. -There is a diverse range of roles within a payments company, and teamwork and diverse skill sets are essential for success. -The future of payments may involve the widespread adoption of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to payabl 03:03 Understanding Omni-Channel Payments 12:17 Sean's Journey in the Fintech Industry 25:08 The Future of Payments: Stablecoins and CBDCs 33:02 Skills and Attributes for Success in Fintech 43:17 The Potential Impact of a Change in Government 45:03 Conclusion and Contact Information
From PayPal to Tether: William Quigley’s Journey in Fintech & Blockchain Innovation
01:02:34
Summary
William Quigley, a long-time VC and entrepreneur, shares his journey from auditing failing financial institutions to becoming a venture capitalist and co-founding Tether and WAX. He discusses the challenges of investing in the early days of the internet and blockchain, and the creation of Tether as a stablecoin. Quigley also explains the roadmap for NFTs and the evolution of WAX as a platform for trading NFTs. The conversation covers various topics related to NFTs, blockchain, AI, and career advice. William Quigley discusses the limitations of Ethereum for consumer mass market transactions and the potential of NFTs beyond collectibles. He emphasizes the ability of NFTs to transfer something to someone at no cost and with certainty of authenticity. Quigley also explores the intersection of blockchain and AI, particularly in auditing smart contracts and enhancing trading strategies. He advises young people to gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before venturing into entrepreneurship and to observe untapped market opportunities.
Takeaways
William Quigley has a background in auditing financial institutions and working at the Walt Disney Company before becoming a venture capitalist.
He co-founded Tether, the world's first fiat-backed stablecoin, and WAX, a blockchain platform for trading NFTs.
The early days of investing in the internet and blockchain were challenging, as there was limited interest and understanding in these technologies.
Tether was created to provide stability in the volatile crypto market and enable easier trading between cryptocurrencies.
WAX was developed to tokenize and trade non-fungible assets, such as video game virtual items and collectibles.
The roadmap for NFTs includes expanding the use cases beyond profile pictures and collectibles, with potential applications in various industries. Ethereum is not designed for consumer mass market transactions, and NFTs have the potential to go beyond collectibles.
NFTs enable the transfer of assets at no cost and with certainty of authenticity, revolutionizing the verification process.
AI can be used to audit smart contracts and enhance trading strategies in the blockchain space.
Young people should gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before pursuing entrepreneurship and should observe untapped market opportunities.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:44 Challenges of Investing in the Early Days of the Internet and Blockchain 14:12 The Creation of Tether 27:35 WAX: Tokenizing and Trading Non-Fungible Assets 32:18 The Roadmap for NFTs 39:14 The Intersection of Blockchain and AI: Auditing Smart Contracts 42:34 Enhancing Trading Strategies with AI in the Blockchain Space 46:42 Career Advice: Gaining Foundational Skills and Observing Market Opportunities
https://x.com/williamequigley
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
The Role of Legal in Fintech: Insights from Revolut
00:40:46
Summary
In this episode, Matt interviews Philippa Poole and Daniel Geller from Revolut, Europe's largest fintech company. They discuss their backgrounds and how they ended up working in the legal department at Revolut. They also talk about the differences between working in a law firm versus a fintech company, the challenges of scaling a legal team in a rapidly growing company, and the importance of automation and AI in their work. They emphasise the need for curiosity, embracing technology, and taking risks in one's career.
Takeaways
There are many job roles in fintech beyond coding and development, including legal roles.
Working in-house at a fintech company allows for a closer relationship with the business and a more strategic approach to legal advice.
As a fintech company grows, the legal team must focus on scalability and automation to keep up with the demands of the business.
Embracing technology, such as AI, can save time and improve efficiency in legal processes.
Being curious, staying up to date with new developments, and taking risks are important for career growth in the fintech industry.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Revolut and the Legal Department 07:45 Comparison of Working in a Law Firm vs. Fintech 12:37 Scaling Challenges and the Importance of Automation 16:41 The Role of the Legal Department in Keeping Revolut Running 21:56 The Culture at Revolut and Working in a Fast-Growing Company 25:56 Hiring and Skills in the Legal Department 30:50 The Impact of Automation and AI in the Legal Department 36:13 Advice for Young Professionals and Embracing Technology
Rodney Williams, co-founder of SoLo Funds, shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and fintech innovator. He discusses his first startup, LISNR, which used ultrasonic technology for seamless checkout experiences. Williams, an inspiring black entrepreneur, explains the motivation behind later starting SoLo Funds, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace that provides access to capital and helps individuals create bigger yield on their savings. He highlights the challenges of regulatory actions and the importance of being a B Corp. Williams emphasises the need for financial literacy and the role of fintech in empowering underserved communities. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and take risks.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background 02:57 From Listener to Solo Funds 08:32 The Problem of Limited Access to Capital 14:25 Challenges of Regulatory Actions 20:35 Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Differentiation 27:34 The Significance of Being a B Corp 31:33 Financial Literacy and Empowering Underserved Communities 36:58 The Future of Solo Funds and Advice for Entrepreneurs
Secrets of Sales Leadership Revealed: Tamsin Hobley's Journey to the Top at SIX
00:39:24
Summary Tamsin Hobley, Country Head for UK and Ireland at SIX, shares her journey in the finance industry and the importance of sales leadership and strategic sales. She emphasises the value of curiosity, listening, and building relationships in sales.
Tamsin also discusses the role of SIX in the financial industry, including its various business units and its focus on technology. She highlights the significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the industry and the need for companies to comply with ESG standards.
Tamsin talks about the importance of culture in the workplace, supporting working parents, and promoting diversity and inclusion. She offers advice for aspiring leaders, emphasising the importance of being brave, trying new things, and being open to diverse perspectives. Tamsin also discusses the future of SIX and her interest in non-executive roles and giving back.
Takeaways
Curiosity and building relationships are key in sales.
ESG compliance is important for companies in the finance industry.
Culture, support for working parents, and diversity and inclusion are crucial in the workplace.
Leaders should be open to diverse perspectives and communicate effectively.
The future of SIX involves innovation, growth, and potential non-executive roles.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Tamsin Hobley's Background 03:27 Transition from Retail Banking to Sales Leadership 08:54 The Importance of Learning from Experience in Sales 16:46 The Significance of ESG and Diversity in the Financial Sector 21:55 Building a Supportive Culture and Fostering Leadership 29:41 The Role of Diversity of Thought in Leadership 33:55 Effective Communication and Listening as a Leader 38:23 Future Plans and Giving Back
Surrounding Yourself With Exceptional People - William Quigley (Part 2), co-founder of Tether & Wax, first institutional investor in Paypal
01:04:07
In his second appearance on the Work in Fintech podcast William Quigley and Matt Cheung discuss career options, education, big companies vs startups and it what it takes to succeed when you start your own company.
William Quigley, a long-time VC - he was Paypal's first institutional investor - and entrepreneur, from gaming to blockchain (he cofounded Tether and WAX) shares his insights on:
Foundational skills, such as critical thinking, are valuable in career development.
A university education can provide a broad set of skills and opportunities.
Working in a large, established company can offer exposure to exceptional business practices and experienced professionals.
Assessing the financial health of a company and understanding market perceptions is important for career stability.
Identifying opportunities and launching new products or services requires assessing market demand and managing resources effectively. Finding a co-founder or small team is important when starting a startup to share the workload and bring complementary skills.
Assessing who would work well as a co-founder is a skill that needs to be developed.
Consider the amount of capital needed and the potential for growth when deciding whether to raise funding.
Surround yourself with exceptional people who challenge and push you to grow.
Curiosity is a key trait for entrepreneurs and can lead to insights and new business ideas.
Assess the size and potential growth of an industry to guide career decisions and identify opportunities.
Unraveling Retail Trading: Insights from Elina Pedersen on Fintech Innovations and Leadership
00:31:24
Eager to unravel the intricacies of retail trading and fintech innovations? Join us as Elina Pedersen, the dynamic co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Your Bourse, shares her fascinating journey from the fast-paced world of Admiral Markets to spearheading her own venture.
Through Elina's insights, gain a unique perspective on the rise of retail trading and how it sets itself apart from the institutional giants. She offers an inside look at the motivations behind launching Your Bourse, emphasising the critical role of technology in bridging gaps for retail brokerages and enhancing trading safety and conditions.
In an enlightening conversation, we cover the transformative trends shaking up retail trading, from the essential role of data centres and low latency to the emergence of brokers crafting their own trading interfaces. Elina provides an honest account of navigating the competitive fintech landscape, particularly as a female leader in a predominately male field. She discusses the hurdles faced by startup brokers and the pivotal importance of education and advanced tools for success. As we reflect on the historical evolution of the trading industry, Elina's candid insights leave us pondering what, if anything, she would change about her remarkable career.
Takeaways
Retail trading is speculative trading for personal gain.
Elina's journey from marketing to CEO showcases rapid growth.
Identifying gaps in the market led to the creation of Your Bourse.
Your Bourse connects brokerages to execution venues and risk management.
Low latency is crucial for trading efficiency and scalability.
AI is simplifying developer tasks but won't replace them.
Prop trading is a new trend in the retail trading space.
Gold remains a popular trading instrument due to its predictability.
The broker technology space is competitive and knowledge-intensive.
Leadership requires transparency, feedback, and addressing blockers.
Elina Pederson https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-pedersen-59676014/ Matt Cheung https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/
Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Building Fintech Success: Christian Faes Shares Insights on Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Resilience
00:42:12
In this episode of Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Christian Faes, Co-Founder and Chairman of LendInvest and Founder of Faes & Co, to explore his remarkable journey from lawyer to fintech leader.
Christian recounts his transition from practicing law in Australia to becoming a major player in the fintech industry. He shares how he built LendInvest into a market leader, tackled the challenges of scaling the business, and the hard-earned lessons from taking the company public. Now launching a new venture in the US, Christian provides invaluable insights on entrepreneurship, the importance of resilience, and the ongoing disruption of financial services through technology.
In this conversation, he debunks misconceptions about entrepreneurship, reflects on the realities of IPOs, compares the UK and US fintech markets, and highlights the supportive ecosystem in London. He also stresses the importance of building a profitable business while enjoying the journey along the way.
Whether you're a fintech enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is filled with practical advice for building a sustainable business in a rapidly evolving industry.
00:00 From Law to FinTech: Christian's Journey 03:45 Building LendInvest: Challenges and Successes 08:08 The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Misconceptions and Hard Work 12:37 IPO Insights: The Holy Grail of Entrepreneurship 17:27 Navigating Market Perceptions: UK vs US FinTech 20:29 Supporting FinTech: The Founders Group Initiative 24:15 Political Climate and Its Impact on FinTech 27:55 Why the US? Christian's Move and New Ventures 30:42 Building a New Lending Business: Strategies and Focus 34:02 The Ideal Founding Team: Traits and Dynamics 36:08 Breaking into FinTech: No Prerequisites Needed 37:54 Reflections on Career Choices: Learning from Mistakes
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Mike Hudack on Building Fintech Unicorns: Lessons from Monzo, Facebook, and Deliveroo
00:51:18
Mike Hudak shares his journey from dropping out of high school to becoming a prominent figure in the fintech industry. He discusses his experiences at various startups, including Facebook, Monzo, Deliveroo, Blip TV and Sling Money, his latest venture.
Mike reflects on the differences between the UK and US startup ecosystems, the challenges of raising capital, and the importance of product management in building successful companies. He emphasises the need for dynamism in the UK to foster growth and innovation.
Mike discusses the evolution of team autonomy as a technology, the inception of Sling as a global payment solution, and the challenges of navigating regulation in the financial landscape. He emphasises the importance of user experience in blockchain technology, outlines potential revenue models for Sling, and offers valuable advice for the next generation entering the workforce during a time of rapid technological change.
Takeaways
Mike dropped out of high school due to a lack of interest in traditional education and learned coding at home before taking a job at a startup.
Transitioning to Facebook was like moving from the minor leagues to playing for Yankees.
Persistence and learning from failures are key to success.
Product management is crucial for aligning teams and ensuring project success. The product way of working is a form of technology.
Timing is critical in the tech industry.
Embracing novelty and risk is essential for career growth.
The current era is a golden age of technological advancement.
Learning from mistakes is vital for personal and professional development.
Future careers will be shaped by emerging technologies.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mike Hudak and His Journey 01:00 Dropping Out of High School: A Personal Choice 04:15 The Birth of Blip TV: A Startup Adventure 07:12 Transitioning to Facebook: Learning in a Big League 09:54 Moving Back to the UK: A Personal Perspective 13:17 Starting a New Company: Insights on the UK Startup Scene 17:28 Navigating the Startup Ecosystem: Challenges and Opportunities 22:05 The Role of Product Management: A Key to Success 24:53 The Technology of Team Autonomy 27:07 The Birth of Sling: A Global Payment Solution 34:38 Navigating Regulation in the Financial Landscape 37:55 Building a User-Friendly Blockchain Experience 41:13 Revenue Models and Future Growth 46:23 Embracing Change: Advice for the Next Generation
https://twitter.com/mhudack
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Career in Cryptocurrency: Graduate Advice from Blockchain.com VP of Engineering Lewis Tuff
00:40:33
Lewis Tuff, VP of Engineering at Blockchain.com and a Business Insider ‘35 under 35’ shares career advice, thoughts on crypto, blockchain and what has made him successful.
The former UBS graduate and Goldman Sachs developer made his first move into fintech by being one of the first employees of fintech giant Revolut. There, Lewis pioneered the cryptocurrency feature in the payments app and scaled the team to 50+. He built the first of its kind crypto offering within a challenger bank over the course of a couple of months was responsible for bringing $300M+ trading revenue in due course.
Now Lewis runs engineering at Blockchain.com, one of the most successful crypto wallets with 67 million users and counting.
In this episode, Lewis Tuff joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Jagraj Singh to help unravel where cryptocurrency is headed, and how students/graduates can get into and make their mark on the industry.
(00:37) - How do you define Fintech and it's importance? (01:34) - What skills did you learn at UBS/Goldman Sachs that have helped shape your career the most? (03:15) - What prompted the decision to leave Goldman Sachs for Revolut? (07:20) - Are there any key differences you noticed between the working cultures at Revolut and Blockchain.com and the likes of Goldman Sachs and UBS? (11:09) - What advice would you give to students/graduates who want to get involved in the blockchain space? (13:27) - What 3 things on a CV/application/cover letter would you say help a graduate stand out from the competition when applying for a job? (16:58) - How do you see cryptocurrency evolving in the form of payments with the recent news that Tesla are now going to be accepting Bitcoin? (22:44) - How has your perspective on blockchain technology changed from when you first got introduced to it, and how do you see it developing in the future? (25:59) - How can blockchain technology be more widely adopted in the near future, and are there any certain industries that will benefit the most from the tech? (29.24) - How do you feel about regulation in the cryptocurrency space? (30:50) - What areas and opportunities do you see in the blockchain space in the next 3, 5, 10 years? (34:11) - What advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
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Opportunities in Fintech: Graduate Advice from Goldman Sachs Partner & EMEA CIO Damian Sutcliffe (now retired)
00:38:53
Learn how Damian Sutcliffe went from developer to Partner and EMEA CIO at Goldman Sachs.
Damian shares his thoughts on fintech, ideas for start-ups and advice to those looking to excel in their careers in fintech, data and financial markets.
Damian started off life as a management consultant at Accenture and was seconded to Goldman Sachs. Damian liked Goldman so much that he moved to his former client, first, as a developer and then rose through the ranks across London, New York and Tokyo to become a Partner and managing thousands of people.
Now retired, Damian is a PhD student at Cambridge studying Computational Biology. He is also an advisor to McKinsey and start-ups including ipushpull.
In this episode, Damian Sutcliffe joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Jagraj Singh to learn why fintech is important and how to get ahead in a career in financial technology.
(00:53) - Introduction (01:51) - Early Career as a Consultant (05:38) - Development at Goldman Sachs (12:23) - How important is it to understand technology in a banking environment and to what extent? (15:12) - Do you believe coding is a necessary or certain skill that's needed to be successful in FinTech or Finance? (17:57) - What advice would you give to graduates who joined banks in the early stages of their careers? (21:05) - Is there any advice that you'd give to those who start their own start-ups? (26:43) - What would you define as a Fintech? (28:18) - Do you think there are any specific areas of the financial industry in general which have advanced more as a result of FinTech? (30:32) - What opportunities do you see in FinTech in say the short, near term and long term future? So three, five, 10 years? (35:54) - Have you got any advice around what people should read or what they should listen to or any good routines that you may have?
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Break into Investment Banking & Big Tech: Graduate Advice from Google Director James Tromans
00:37:47
James Tromans discovered coding from a young age then later studied psychology at Oxford. Learning a combination of qualitative, quantitative and analytical thinking helped set up James for a career spanning start-ups, financial markets and big tech as well as earning a PhD in Computational Neuroscience of Vision.
Learn how having a technology background is not a prerequisite to work in fintech and discover how people skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, proactivity, passion and a thirst for knowledge will help you to accelerate your career.
James is now a Technical Director within the Office of the CTO at Google Cloud specialising in data engineering and machine learning. Prior to joining Google, James worked in capital markets at Citi in various front-office currency trading and technology leadership roles, most recently as Head of Data Science. Before Citi, James was a Fintech co-founder and started the first regulated (UKGC) business on a public cloud called Trade Chase.
James Tromans joins Work in Fintech founder Matt Cheung and founder member Amrit Khatkar and they discuss the importance of fintech, cloud, data and machine learning while James offers lots of career advice to people who would like to work in fintech.
(00:03) - Introduction (00:39) - What was it like having your own start-up? (03:17) - Why did you study Experiment Psychology at University? (05:11) - Within your degree what elements sort of helped you later on in life? (06:40) - Is a technology degree necessary to work in Investment Banking, Fintech & Big Tech? (08:15) - Why did you choose Investment Banking? (12:57) - How did you stand from the crowd in Investment Banking? (15:58) - What does AI and Machine Learning look like in Investment Banking? (18:41) - Is Fintech the future of finance? (21:20) - What does the Cloud do and why is it the future? (25:42) - How should a student learn Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? (28:19) - How should a student stand out from the crowd in Big Tech? (30:22) - Why move to Google and what is the culture like? (33:11) - What are the differences between Google and Investment Banking? (35:09) - What is your advice for your 18 year old self?
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From Investment Bank Trading Floor to Working in Fintech: Graduate Advice from Former NatWest Markets Trader Neil Weatherall
00:37:15
Before teaming up with founder of Work In Fintech, Matt Cheung at ipushpull, Neil Weatherall amassed 16 years worth of experience at prestigious banks such as NatWest Markets & RBC Capital Markets where he ran Inflation Trading. Throughout this period, Neil experienced how technology revolutionised the trading floor.
Neil Weatherall is now Head of Technical Sales at ipushpull. Neil, alongside Matt is an example that you can forge a successful career within Fintech without having software skills such as coding.
Neil Weatherall joins Work in Fintech founder Matt Cheung and founder member Daniel Taiwo as they discussed Neil's careers, important skills to break into Fintech and the future of Fintech.
(00:53) - Introduction (1:20) - Getting into the Financial World (6:07) - Neil's advice to graduates who are joining the financial industry (11:08) - Neil's advice to graduates about building relationships in a WFH environment (15:52) - How technology impacted Neil's trading career (20:27) - Neil's definition of Fintech (23:33) - How Neil sees Fintech evolving in the next 3-5 years (27:22) - Neil's thoughts on VR solving the communication issue on the Trading Floor (28:43) - Skillsets needed to succeed in Fintech (33:09) - How Neil would go about his career in this environment if he was 21
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The Road to Automation: Graduate Advice with MIT Global Panellist and RegTech Sector Pioneer Nirvana Farhadi
00:30:26
Nirvana Farhadi, global influencer and RegTech pioneer discusses the future of finance, sharing her thoughts on technology and its best attempt to disrupt regulation and finance.
Nirvana started her career on the trading floor, after graduating with a degree in Law. She quickly rose to strength realising her ability to spot where financial companies are exposed to compliance issues! Nirvana emerged as a global influence in RegTech, heading Regulatory Transaction Reporting at KPMG UK before becoming Global Head of RegTech, Risk & Regulatory Compliance Affairs at Hitachi Vantara.
Aside from full-time work, Nirvana has had a continued influence on the sector becoming a MIT Technology Review Global Panellist, and Non-Executive Board Member for 5 modern regulatory companies.
Nirvana Farhadi joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Ben Ford to elaborate on the evolving force of regulatory technology, explaining how law, finance, and technology students can dominate a career in the sector.
(00:34) - Who is Nirvana Farhadi (02:01) - What is Fintech? (04:37) - What are the main drivers of Regtech? (08:37) - Where are we on the road of automation? (11:17) - Is automation startup led or dominated by the bigger incumbents firms? (13:45) - What skills are needed to work in Regtech? (19:17) - How can I set myself up for an evolving job market? (22:35) - What opportunities are there in Regtech for someone in financial services? (28:05) - How does a student get into Regtech?
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Becoming a Product Manager in Fintech: Graduate Advice from TP ICAP Senior Product Manager Chris Scott
00:29:46
Over the past 14 years, Chris Scott, Senior Manager at TP ICAP gained various valuable experiences in product management of equities, derivatives and trading systems.
Throughout this period he has played a leading part of the electronification of financial markets and fintech.
In this episode Chris Scott joins Matt Cheung and Helene Lipp as he shares his experience of starting off as a credit and fixed income broker at ICAP, moving into a front office business analyst role and finally moving into product management. He gives valuable advice for graduates in developing the right hard and soft skills for getting a job in managing products in Fintech organisations. He outlines the importance of patience and where most students fail in getting their dream job. Furthermore, he explains how his MBA at CASS Business School helped him to expand his skills and approach new challenges to pioneer in product management.
From Fixed Income Sales to Fintech Unicorn: Graduate Advice from Global Head of Sales and Account Management at Symphony Craig Butterworth
00:29:40
Before joining Symphony, Craig Butterworth amassed over 15 years worth of experience within Fixed Income Sales at prestigious banks such as Goldman Sachs & Nomura. It was within his time at Nomura where Craig's fascination within Fintech began.
Craig Butterworth is now the Global Head of Sales and Account Management at Symphony. Craig Butterworth is yet another interviewee who has demonstrated that coding skills are not necessary to become a success within Fintech.
Craig Butterworth joins Work in Fintech founder Matt Cheung and founder member Daniel Taiwo as they discuss Craig's career as well as important topics within Fintech.
(00:36) - How Craig broke into the financial world (4:52) - Why Craig left mainstream finance to join a Fintech (7:58) - Craig's definition of Fintech (10:31) - What Symphony do (14:06) - How Symphony attracts high level clients (15:10) - How COVID has impacted Symphony (19:38) - Where Craig sees Fintech going in the next 3-5 years (21:35) - What top skills students need to break into Fintech (23:54) - How to build curiosity to work in Fintech (26:20) - What advice would Craig give to his younger self
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How to make it in Technology Law: Graduate Advice from Goodwin Procter Partner and Oxford University Alumni Andrew Davis
00:22:52
Andrew Davis, Partner at Goodwin Procter and Oxford University Alumni, shares his thoughts on the future of fintech and gives invaluable career advice for any aspiring law graduate.
The former Magic Circle graduate started his career at Allen & Overy, before departing for Taylor Wessing. Within just 14 years of graduating from Oxford University, with a degree in Law, Andrew made Partner at Taylor Wessing and spent 7 years in his position before joining Goodwin Procter as a Partner, advising in their Technology and Life Sciences practices.
Andrew Davis joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Ben Ford to help our listeners better understand the future of fintech, investment trends in the industry, and how law students can get themselves a seat in the Magic Circle.
Overcoming Failure and Following your Passion: Graduate Advice from Head of Trading and Banking Solutions at LSEG Dean Berry
00:42:43
Dean Berry, Group Head of Trading and Banking Solutions at the London Stock Exchange Group joins to discuss; career reflections in Trading, Broking and Fintech as well as advice on the importance of resilience, following your passion and how students can take advantage of opportunities in financial markets.
Dean's pursuit to learn and enthusiasm in the face of challenges along his journey, created opportunities to work across leading finance market institutions such as ANZ, Deutsche Bank, ICAP, BGC as well as the London Stock Exchange Group (Refinitiv). Transitioning from 16 years as a derivatives trader to electronic trading in Broking and finally Head of Trading and Banking Solutions, Dean's incredible career and insightful lessons are essential for all individuals looking to make an impact in their career.
The Importance of Resilience in Trading Technology: Graduate Advice from JP Morgan Director Andy Mosson
00:20:55
Andy Mosson, Director at JP Morgan joins Matt Cheung and Helene Lipp to discuss his uncommon career path which ultimately led to finance and trading technology, the experiences he made and how students can impress in the finance industry. He explains how important it is to be resilient and not being scared of failing. Furthermore he emphasises the significance of networking properly.
Andy Mosson was Lieutenant at the Royal Air Force for a few years, he studied Physiology and Marketing before doing an MBA in Strategy & Finance. After that, he moved onto a sales desk and ultimately into trading technology at JP Morgan.
His incredible and uncommon career path is an inspiration for everyone who is interested in learning new skills and trying different things out. His career and captivating lessons are essential for all students, graduates or young professionals looking to make progress in their career.
How to Build a Successful Fintech Company: Graduate Advice from Finimize's CEO & Founder Max Rofagha
00:30:31
In today's episode, we were joined by serial FinTech Entrepreneur, Max Rofagha. Before starting up Finimize, Max founded DeinDeal.ch, which became the biggest e-commerce platform in Switzerland after Amazon. After selling DeinDeal.ch to one of the biggest Media players in Europe, Max went on to start Finimize in 2016. In today's episode, Max explains to us how he grew Finimize to become one of the largest Fintech's in Europe. Max also shares some tips on what graduates can do to maximise their chances of working in fintech.
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(00:33) - Max' journey before he founded Finimize (2:52) - The influences that turned Max into a serial entrepreneur (4:17) - What Finimize is and how it started (7:06) - How Finimize built a community of over 1 million people (11:04) - How Finimize maintain a high quality with their newsletter (13:33) - The real story behind being an entrepreneur (19:51) - How Finimize convince their analyst to leave big banks to join a Fintech (21:23) - Where Max sees Fintech going in the next 5 years (23:17) - Important skills needed to succeed in Fintech (26:00) - Tips for new investors (28:00) - How young graduates can have a successful career
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Equipping the Next Generation for Success: Graduate Advice from UKBlackTech Founder Mark Martin MBE
00:27:03
Mark Martin, founder of Urban Teacher & UKBlackTech shares why he feels diversity is important in the technology industry, his journey from being a teacher to being a founder of two companies as well as how he is equipping the next generation with technology skills.
Mark works with industry, including Google, Microsoft, Apple and Adobe, and the education sector, including the University of Hertfordshire and South Bank Engineering UTC.
Mark started off as a teacher, teaching young children how to use desktop skills. After realising that there was a disconnect between what was being taught and what the industry wanted, Mark went out to invite tech start-ups into schools to try and bridge this gap.
In this episode, Mark Martin joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Daniel Taiwo to unpack the important skills needed to break into the technology industry as well as many more topics.
(1:08) - Mark Martin's Journey (4:16) - Why Mark founded UK Black Tech (6:14) - Why diversity is important in the technology industry (8:14) - What needs to be done to drive diversity within the UK (10:27) - Tech skills being taught within schools (13:01) - How COVID has affected teaching (15:33) - Future of Edtech (17:20) - How students/employees can deal with sitting in front of the screen for long periods of time (19:16) - Convincing a student without a technology background to take up computer science (21:44) - How Mark Martin developed relationships with big companies (24:22) - Important skills needed to break into technology
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Seizing your Opportunity in the New Economy: Graduate Advice from Lord Mayor William Russell, Lord Mayor of the City of London
00:24:12
The Lord Mayor William Russell, joins to discuss; his vision for the City of London, London being the next Silicon Valley, the importance of returning to the office and why Green Finance might be a once in a generation opportunity.
Being the first Lord Mayor in nearly 200 years to have 2 consecutive years in office and with over 30 years of experience across Investment Banking and multinational institutions, the Lord Mayor is well equipped to provide insight and advice into the future of finance and the next generation of opportunities for young professionals.
In this episode, Lord Mayor William Russell joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Amrit Khatkar to discuss the future of finance, how to make an impact in your career and what makes London so special as well as many more topics.
Focusing on the End Goal: Graduate Advice from Fintech Entrepreneur and Former Barclays Head of Digital Products Ying Cao
00:42:20
Ying Cao, Fintech Entrepreneur, Board Member of several prominent Fintechs, and Former Head of Digital Products at Barclays Investment Bank, shares her experiences of the Fintech ecosystem and how her perspective on the work-life balance has changed during her illustrious career.
Initially starting out as a Strategy Consultant at the Oliver Wyman Group advising Fortune 500 companies, Ying helped launch several key business models and products. After OWG, Ying's work led her to Barclays Investment Bank, working on digital products, workflow automations and data science.
Being an entrepreneur herself, she has built businesses and products which attract hundreds of millions of funding and now serves as a mentor and business ambassador for Barclays Open Innovation Platform (Rise) to coach Fintech companies for business growth and product development. She has also set up her own business called Liyt Coaching, which focuses on mentoring individuals to accelerate their growth and development.
In this episode, Ying joins Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Jagraj Singh to discuss emerging Fintech technologies, motivation for work, and how students/graduates can get into and make their mark on the industry.
How to Beat the Interview: Graduate Advice from Harrington Starr Founder and CEO, Toby Babb
00:35:38
Toby Babb, Founder and CEO of Harrington Starr, shares what you need to know for an interview how students can beat the tough competition to landing your dream job in Fintech.
Toby is the founder and CEO of the Harrington Starr Group. Harrington Starr was launched in 2010 and focuses on the Financial Technology sector with offices in London and New York. The Group also owns The North Starr, a specialist Technology Sales talent acquisition business. He hosts the Fintech Focus podcast and Fintech Focus TV, edits the Financial Technologist Magazine and is the Chairman of the Fintech Influencers networking community. He had been in the recruitment industry for 21 years having spent the first 10 in leadership roles for 2 listed recruitment groups. He has been named Agency Leader of the Year and the Entrepreneur of the Year by Recruiter Magazine.
Toby Babb joins Work in Fintech Founder, Matthew Cheung, and Founder Member, Ben Ford, to help our listeners better understand the necessities for landing a role in any career, the 4 soft skills every recruiter looks for, and how students can come out of the pandemic with the job of their dreams!
Founding a Fintech Start-Up: Entrepreneur Advice from United Fintech Founder Christian Frahm
00:23:20
Christian Frahm, Founder and CEO of United Fintech, joins Matt Cheung and Helene Lipp to discuss his entrepreneurial career path, having founded e.g. CFH Group in 2007 and United Fintech in 2020.
Christian Frahm started off his career at Bloomberg and Saxo Bank before focusing on founding own businesses in the Fintech space. He set up CFH Group in 2008, exited for $120m to Playtech (a £1.35bln firm) in 2016. CFH has $20m revenue.
His incredible and career path is an inspiration for everyone who is interested in the startup space and how to learn important skills which are needed for an entrepreneurial career. His career and captivating lessons are essential for all students, graduates or young professionals looking to get a foot into the startup environment, becoming a founder themselves or to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
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The Future of ESG: Graduate Advice from GoalsFirst Founder and Former PIMCO Head of ESG Portfolio Management Alex Struc
00:35:43
Alex Struc, Founder and CEO of GoalsFirst and former Head of ESG Portfolio Management at PIMCO, gives an introduction to impact investing, where Fixed Income is going with technology, and how students can begin their career in markets.
Alex is the founder and CEO of GoalsFirst – a specialist fixed income firm with a disruptive investment approach and the vision of mobilizing finance for change. He is a fixed income investor and a portfolio manager with deep credit expertise. For nearly 15 years he managed PIMCO’s leveraged loans, corporate debt and the firmwide exposure to financials, including the world largest capital securities fund, making the FN’s 40 under 40 asset managers list in 2014.
Alex is also known as an innovator in impact investing – he led the industry-wide efforts on engagement as the Chair of the inaugural PRI Bondholder Engagement Committee in 2017. Having founded and led PIMCO’s first dedicated ESG investment platform, he originated large and liquid bonds linked to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Today Alex joined Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Ben Ford to help unravel impact investing and how young professionals can make their mark on the industry.
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How to Conquer NFT's: Exclusive Interview with 12-Year-Old Weird Whales Creator Benyamin Ahmed
00:32:54
In an exclusive interview held with Benyamin Ahmed and his father Imran Ahmed, we learn how 12 years old Benyamin first got into NFTs, what inspired him to create the Weird Whales collection which led him to amassing a small fortune of $450k just in a few weeks, and his journey to becoming an "overnight success".
Benyamin explains how to create coding superpowers that will enable you to do great things in crypto and the metaverse and also shares his ideas for future billion dollar opportunities in the digital world. Imran Ahmed, Benyamin's father, talks about how he encouraged curiosity, creativeness and entrepreneurship with his sons, and how he feels about the journey they have been on.
In this episode, the pair joined Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founder member Jagraj Singh to discuss the growing fascination with NFTs, explain what they are, along with their potential purpose and use cases.
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0:00 Current Feelings 0:41 Creating Wealth with Weird Whales 1:19 The Journey to Achieving the Wealth 4:36 The Success of Weird Whales 5:16 Benyamin being Bankless 5:32 Imran's Feelings about the Success 8:37 Routines and Habits 10:30 Benyamin's Interest in Coding 11:28 What is an NFT and why are they valuable? 13:52 Clunky Experiences with NFTs 18:35 Benyamin's Future Plans 20:11 The World in 10/20 Years Time 23:15 Going to University 26:29 Advice for Fellow Young People 29:00 What have you both learned over the summer?
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How to Become a Great Trader: Graduate Advice from Senior Equity Trader at Capital Group Alastair Clarke
00:23:34
Alastair Clarke, Senior Equity Trader at Capital Group and FinTech Intrapreneur, joins Matthew Cheung and Josh Lavorini to discuss what makes a good trader, the future of careers in FinTech and the uncertainty that he faced upon graduating and going out into the world of work.
Alastair began his career on the sell-side, working in corporate finance and research before finding his niche in Sales and Trading. He worked at ABN AMRO and then JP Morgan on equities desks before moving to the buy-side at Capital Group, one of the biggest asset managers in the world with over $2 trillion USD under management.
Alongside his responsibilities as a senior equity trader, Alastair is also the project lead for Capital Group’s trading and analytics platform for execution (TAPE), an innovative new platform that helps the firm’s traders worldwide to further explore investment decisions and streamline their decision-making processes. With very limited coding skills and some interest in technology, he describes the learning curve that he has experienced whilst working on TAPE and the importance of clear communication between project leaders and developers.
He touches on the necessary skills for working in FinTech and finance more broadly, with a particular focus on advice for young people and generalists. With a wealth of wisdom under his belt as a result of an impressive and varied career, Alastair’s insights and perspectives are of great value to anyone interested in FinTech and innovation.
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Why I Left Banking for Fintech: Graduate Advice from Bitpanda Pro Head of Strategy and Business Development Pavir Patel
00:30:48
Pavir Patel, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Bitpanda Pro, and former Digital Strategy and Fintech VP at JP Morgan, shares his experiences of the traditional finance world compared to fintech.
Starting off as a graduate at JP Morgan, Pavir undertook rotations in EM Markets Hybrids Trade Support and Rates Derivatives Sales Support, followed by becoming Lead Product Manager for Digital Research, Product Manager for Data and Analytics. In the past few years, he helped set-up the Hong Kong Digital Strategy & Fintech team, before moving onto Bitpanda Pro in mid-2021.
In this episode, Pavir joined Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founding member Jagraj Singh to explain why he left traditional finance for fintech, and highlight the growing demand of NFTs and digital assets.
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How Blockchain Changed the World: Exclusive Interview with the Grandfather of Ethereum, Dmitry Buterin
00:46:36
Dmitry Buterin, serial entrepreneur, blockchain mentor, investor and father of Vitalik Buterin (co-founder of Ethereum), shares his insights on everything from following your passions to dropping out of university, the blockchain and NFTs.
From humble beginnings, Dmitry grew up in the Soviet Union and quickly found his passion with technology. At the age of 25, Dmitry created his first start-up and has continued to innovate within both the software development and blockchain space ever since, a creative and entrepreneurial streak that has been passed down to his son, Vitalik.
In this episode, Dmitry is joined by Work in Fintech co-founder Matthew Cheung and founding member Benyamin Ahmed to explain what success means to him, the future of the metaverse and the importance of curiosity.
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From Professional Rugby Player to Goldman Sachs Managing Director: Graduate Advice from Goldman Sachs Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales EMEA Kene Ejikeme
00:34:26
Kene Ejikeme, ex-Professional Rugby Player and Goldman Sachs Managing Director, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales EMEA, shares his thoughts on everything from finding your career, why athletes are a good fit in finance, the importance of diversity and much more!
Kene's story is a fantastic insight into pursuing your passions and taking risks. Kene initially grew up with aspirations of entering a career in civil engineering before finding motivation for the sport of Rugby and finally finding his feet in Sales & Trading at Goldman Sachs. His ambitions to pivot into new areas provided a catalyst of learning and development, aspects that Kene notes as contributive to his career at Goldman Sachs.
In this episode, Kene is joined by Work in Fintech co-founder Matthew Cheung and founding member Amrit Khatkar to explain how to land a role of Goldman Sachs, why Fintech is the future and the differences between Rugby and Sales & Trading.
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DeFi is the Future of Finance: Graduate Advice from former Goldman Sachs and Google Senior Data Scientist Hossein Azari
00:23:33
Hossein Azari, CEO and Founder of Cmorq, is a former Chief Data Scientist at Goldman Sachs and Senior Data Scientist at Google. He successfully co-founded his own company called Clarity Money, a personal finance app for consumers, which was eventually bought out by Goldman Sachs for $100m.
Hossein's impressive CV also includes being a Teaching Fellow and Research Assistant at Harvard University on route to completing a PhD in Computer Science, along with an MBA from Columbia Business School later on. The list continues as Hossein has 12 publications, 1 patent, and Fellowship awards from Harvard and Stanford University.
But he's not finished there! He's now turned his attentions to consumer banking again, and specifically decentralised finance. Cmorq is a consumer banking platform centred around the principles of DeFi. In this episode, Hossein joined Work in Fintech founder Matthew Cheung and founding member Jagraj Singh to explain the buzz around DeFi, and where it's headed in the future.
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NFTs, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: Graduate Advice from Chief of Staff of Checkout.com Jess Houlgrave
00:26:30
Jess Houlgrave, Chief of Staff at Checkout.com joins Matt Cheung and Helene Lipp in this episode to talk about the year of NFTs, blockchain, payments, valuable skills to succeed, stereotypes and women in tech. One of the key messages are to be brave, seek out challenges, stay curious and be willing to learn across everything you do.
Chief of Staff at Checkout.com, a global fintech company with over 1,400 employees and 19 offices around the world, Jess works with some of the world’s most innovative companies and established global brands to simplify financial complexities, drive innovation and unlock growth by providing solutions to complex digital payment problems.
She has a multidisciplinary background across finance, private equity and blockchain technology, a MA in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford and an MA in Art Business from Sotheby's Institute of Art.
Furthermore she is a member of the Bank of England CBDC Engagement Forum and founder and trustee of the Foundation for Art and Blockchain.
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Breaking Glass Ceilings: Graduate Advice from Global Chair of Deloitte Sharon Thorne
00:32:29
Sharon Thorne, Global Chair of Deloitte, joins Matthew Cheung and Josh Lavorini to discuss her experiences breaking glass ceilings in the business world.
Sharon is the first-ever female to hold the role as Deloitte's Global Chair and was also the first-ever female partner in the Manchester office, the first of two women on the UK board in 2004, the first female on the UK executive in 2006 and the first female leader of the regional executive. In 2019, she was appointed as Global Chair. She is an inspiration to women and girls across the world and an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
In this exclusive interview, we touch on a range of topics, including how Deloitte and broader society is helping to reduce the challenges faced by marginalised groups in society, how they are adapting to the fourth industrial revolution with the new technologies and societal changes that come with it, and careers in ESG, audit and advisory.
These issues affect all of us and are of paramount importance in today's world, so make sure to give the interview a listen and learn from the insights of one of the industry's most impressive leaders.
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The Metaverse - The Future of the World: Graduate Advice from Technology Futurist Theo Priestley
00:31:51
Technology Futurist, Theo Priestley joins Matthew Cheung and Benjamin Ahmed to discuss the future of the world!
Theo Priestley has worked within the technology industry for up to 20 years in both the client facing side and the vendor side. During his time in the industry, Theo study various trends that occurred, leading him to write "The Future Starts Now", which encapsulates all these trends.
In this exclusive interview, Theo breaks down what the Metaverse is and how students can take advantage of future trends in technology.
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Pivoting to a Career in Cryptocurrency: Graduate Advice from Global Head of Institutional Account Management at Coinbase Sashi Dias Valtz
00:24:10
Global Head of Institutional Account Management at Coinbase, Sashi Dias Valtz, joins Ying Cao to discuss her career journey from working at an investment bank to her current position at Coinbase and give advice on how others can pursue their passion in this field or any field in general.
Sashi Dias Valtz has always had many passions starting from an early age, but an interest in entrepreneurship and financial services led her to seek experiences and eventually work at investment banks. Her desire to continue to pursue her passions and explore new challenges led her to get involved in the new FinTech emergence and take on new risks at FinTech companies including Symphony and Coinbase.
In this interview, Sashi goes over the motivation behind her career moves, shares her perspective on the development of digital assets, provides insight on qualities she would want in her teammates at Coinbase, and inspires those who want to pivot their career or are in the process of starting their careers to pursue their curiosities and leverage their network.
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Investing in Your Future: Graduate Advice from Symphony CEO, Brad Levy
00:34:00
Brad Levy, Symphony CEO, former CEO of IHSMarkit and ex-MD at Goldman, shares his thoughts on everything from the future of artificial intelligence to finding purpose and much, much more!
Brad began his career working at Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs before venturing into Fintech through a Partner role at IHS Markit, multiple Chairman roles at the likes of FINOS and now CEO of Symphony. Brad's role as a sector pioneer and thought leader within the space of finance and technology are testament to his drive, pursuit and openness for learning, a fantastic lesson for all ambitious individuals!
In this episode, Brad is joined by Work in Fintech co-founders Matthew Cheung and Ying Cao to explain the evolution of technology, investing in the future and what makes a successful professional.
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Taking the Reins of Your Career: Graduate Advice from Chief Data & Analytics Officer at UNICC Anusha Dandapani
00:37:44
Anusha Dandapani, Chief Data & Analytics Officer of UNICC joins Ying Cao to discuss her exciting career journey and how she has navigated herself toward her passions.
Anusha Dandapani has had a long career in data science inspired by her passion to use it to solve real-world problems. She was the Data Science lead at Barclays where she led several strategic initiatives related to electronic surveillance and financial crime compliance. She is currently the Chief Data & Analytics Officer at United Nations International Computing Centre where she advises and partners with other UN organizations, Industry, and Academia on solving business problems by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, and Data Science offerings and capabilities. She's passionate about educating young students and recently led an ideation workshop for students to apply data science to tackle food waste in schools.
In this exclusive interview, Anusha imparts upon us the wisdom she's gained throughout her career path, from starting off as a software programmer and working in the financial services industry, to immersing herself in a career of data science and scaling her skills and experiences to work on initiatives involving using data science to solve real-world problems. She shares with us what mindset we should embrace, whether we're starting out or in the middle of our careers, to successfully pursue our passions and challenge ourselves.
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Fintech for Fairness in Capital Markets: Graduate Advice with Anand Sambasivan, founder and CEO of PrimaryBid
00:28:52
Anand Sambasivan, founder and CEO of PrimaryBid, joins Matthew Cheung and Josh Lavorini to discuss his experiences in the world of Fintech and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
PrimaryBid is a technology platform that allows everyday investors fair & equal access to investing in public companies raising capital. They have worked with the likes of Aston Martin, Ocado and William Hill and have raised more than $1bn via their platform.
Anand started his career in Investment Banking before setting up his own hedge fund, which he ran for eight years. The seeds of what would become PrimaryBid gradually grew as his career progressed and he decided to take the leap and innovate in the Capital Markets space in 2012.
Key topics include navigating the regulatory environment, the importance of having a workforce from diverse backgrounds, the challenges of maintaining a strong culture within a company that is experiencing exponential growth, and key skills for thriving in Fintech in the future.
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Check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.
Advocating for Your Career: Graduate Advice from Cofounder of NYC Fintech Women Michelle Tran
00:24:36
Michelle Tran, cofounder of NYC Fintech Women, joins Ying Cao to discuss how she pivoted from her traditional finance background to establishing her brand in the fintech space.
Michelle started her career at Blackrock in the ETF businesses before recognizing the bigger opportunity of fintech and joining startups. In the podcast, she talks about what fueled her desire to take an active role in innovative technologies for asset management or investment and ultimately, how this fueled her transition to startups. As the cofounder of a community, she is passionate about raising the visibility and empowering of women in the fintech industry.
In this exclusive interview, we touch upon a variety of topics, ranging from navigating the transition from corporate to a startup, the importance of gender diversity, and emerging trends in wealthtech. Michelle also shares best practices and advice on how college graduates and aspiring fintech professionals can advocate for themselves in a rapidly changing field.
The Benefits of a Degree Apprenticeship in Investment Banking: Goldman Sachs launches Masters Degree Apprenticeship with Warwick University. Hear from Ayaz Haji, MD at GS, Stuart Croft, Warwick Vice Chancellor & Peter Estlin, Assc. of Apprentices
00:40:08
A new initiative between Goldman Sachs and Warwick University promotes equal access to opportunity and social mobility through a new Masters Degree Apprenticeship.
Ayaz Haji, Global Head of Data Products for Core Engineering at Goldman Sachs, is active in championing D&I programmes for GS. In his role, he noticed a skills gap in under-represented students, leading him to initiate the idea of a GS sponsored degree apprenticeship with University of Warwick. Ayaz, Managing Director at GS, thinks that the "Master’s apprenticeship is the best of both worlds combining computer science and data with on-the-job learning, essentially creating a leadership acceleration programme".
Ayaz is joined by Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President at Warwick University, who have worked together to create a tech focussed degree apprenticeship to promote social mobility. Sir Peter Estlin, Chair of the Association of Apprenticeships and previously City of London Lord Mayor in 2018/19 also joins the conversation as a champion of both digital skills and D&I, and promoting the apprenticeship journey. Previously he was CFO at Citi, Barclays, Salomons and a partner at PWC.
Work in Fintech co-founder Matt Cheung hosts the podcasts which touches upon a variety of topics, ranging from the impact of degree apprenticeships to the future of learning. The group talk about how partnership programs, such as the collaboration between University of Warwick and Goldman Sachs, can create an equity of opportunity, challenging the traditional route of attaining a degree and fostering inclusivity.
Diving into the World of Venture Capital: Career Insight and Advice from Founder Member of the Reuters Venture Capital Group Basil Moftah
00:30:28
In this episode of our interview series, Ying Cao is joined by Basil Moftah, general partner of Global Ventures and founder member of Reuters Venture Capital group. At Reuters Venture Capital group, he invested in leading global companies such as Yahoo!, Verisign, and Webex. His strategic acquisitions and management of emerging markets for Reuters allowed him to seamlessly grow the $600 million business. He then went on as the President of Intellectual Property and Science business at Thomson Reuters where he contributed to the overall direction of the company, developed the strategic proposition of the $1 billion revenue business, and prepared the division for sale to private equity for $3.55 billion in 2016. Basil is now an advisor, investor, and board member at numerous global technology companies.
In this conversation, we cover topics such as what opportunities Basil sees in the world of FinTech, qualities he looks for in founders and their startups, how he entered the field of venture capitalism, and what he values in terms of the work he does. Whether you plan on pursuing a career in venture capitalism, working toward obtaining funding for your startup, or even getting started on your career path in general, Basil has valuable insight to share.
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