Interviews with Leaders in Fintech

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Carlos Menendez was born in Puerto Rico, the oldest of five children of Cuban immigrants who left the island with nothing. The family settled in Miami in the 1970s, where money was tight and both parents worked. What his parents drilled into him was simple: the one thing nobody can take from you is what's in your head. Excellence wasn't a lofty ambition in that household, it was the condition for eating.

He spent his childhood summers in the local library, partly because it was the only place with air conditioning. He graduated from Harvard into the 1991 recession and sent out roughly 80 applications before landing his first job at Procter & Gamble.

Fourteen years at Citigroup and fourteen at Mastercard followed, running cards across 18 countries and launching contactless travel with Transport for London. Two years ago he left one of the most senior seats in global payments to become COO of dLocal, a Uruguayan fintech now past $1B in revenue.

In this episode Carlos unpacks:

• The future of global payments
• How dLocal operates across emerging markets
• AI, fraud detection & agentic commerce
• Building trust in regulated industries
• Career advice for young professionals
• Leadership lessons from 30+ years in fintech
• Why emerging markets are shaping the future of commerce

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Today's guest is Esfira Zakas, CMO at payabl, one of Europe's fastest growing payment service providers, and the engine moving money for merchants across the continent, from online checkouts and POS machines to multi-currency accounts and card issuing, at a company that has scaled to over 300 people.

Esfira describes herself as marketing agnostic. Before fintech she worked across insurance, logistics through COVID, and a string of tech and startup companies, driven less by any one industry than by a childhood dream of being Don Draper from Mad Men. Advertising was in the family. Her father sold ad space for the local newspaper and her brother works in social media strategy, so she was watching Mad Men before it was cool and always knew she wanted to build brands.

What makes her story unusual is how she landed in fintech, and where she started. Originally from Riga and now based in Vilnius, she was payabl's first hire in Lithuania, with no office and no colleagues to learn from.

Her first workspace was a free co-working desk in a shopping mall sponsored by Ikea, so for months every internal and external call went out with a giant Ikea logo behind her while she ran back and forth between the mall and her car. She knew nothing about payments beyond how to tap her card. Four years later she runs a 20-person marketing team and is General Manager of payabl's Lithuanian business.

This conversation moves from that early career into how a challenger brand actually competes: what it takes to market payments against the giants, why fintechs are betting on sports, and how AI is reshaping marketing without replacing the people behind it.

In the full episode, we cover:

Why fintechs are pouring money into sports sponsorships
How a challenger payments brand stands out against giants like Stripe
Why she won't let her team go all-in on AI, and where it actually helps
How she learned fintech from scratch as the only person in the room
Scaling a marketing team from 5 to over 20 people across Europe
What she looks for when hiring, and why curiosity beats a polished CV
Her advice for young people trying to break into fintech

Connect with Esfira Zakas:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/esfira/

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Today's guest is Emma Hagan, CEO of ClearBank UK, the UK's first new clearing bank in over 250 years and the infrastructure quietly powering some of fintech's biggest names, from Revolut and Tide to Coinbase, across around 280 financial institutions.

Emma has spent her career at the intersection of banking and regulation, from a graduate programme at HBOS, an incumbent of roughly 75,000 people, to a decade at Silicon Valley Bank, where she joined a 1,400-person business to run the project that won its UK banking licence and went on to become Chief Risk Officer for EMEA.

She joined ClearBank in 2020 as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer and rose to lead its UK business.

What makes her story unusual is where it started. She studied law fully intending to become a lawyer, then changed course after a City internship and landed in banking almost by accident through a graduate scheme. A self-described natural introvert, one of her formative early jobs was selling bus tour tickets on the pavements of London, a role she found deeply uncomfortable but credits with teaching her to put herself out there.

This conversation moves from that early career into the machinery underneath ClearBank: what a clearing bank actually does, why it took 250 years for someone to build a new one, and where stablecoins, AI and embedded banking fit into the future of moving money.

In the full episode, we cover:

What a clearing bank really do
Why it took over 250 years for a new clearing bank to launch
How ClearBank became the infrastructure behind big fintech
Why she moved from risk and compliance into the CEO seat
How stablecoins and tokenised deposits are becoming a real means of cross-border payment, not just an asset
How ClearBank thinks about AI
What embedded banking actually means
The new EU licence, the "dollar corridor," and where ClearBank goes over the next five years
What she looks for when hiring, and why comfort with pace beats a polished CV

Connect with Emma Hagan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hagan-86ba9b10/

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech):
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.

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Today's guest is Greig McEwan, Chief Technology Officer at Funding Circle, the UK's leading SME finance platform, which has extended over £17bn in credit to more than 125,000 small businesses.

Greig has led technology at scale across very different worlds, from CTO of Paddy Power Betfair operating across 100 countries, to advising WorldRemit on payment strategy, and now building the engine that decides who gets lent to, and how fast.

What makes his story unusual is where it started. He took a non-technical degree in Glasgow, covering politics, economics, a bit of psychology and sociology, and got into tech as a trainee programmer with no real experience, just an aptitude for learning.

This conversation moves from that early career into the machinery underneath Funding Circle: how a lending decision actually gets made in seconds, what it really means to become an AI-native organisation, and why he believes the role of an engineer is being redefined in real time.

In the full episode, we cover:

What happens in the 9 seconds between "apply" and "approved," powered by a 9th-generation decision engine

How 15 years of lending data gives Funding Circle a 3x risk edge over bureau-only scoring

Why a customer interaction every 38 seconds keeps feeding the model

Why he hires product engineers, not software engineers, now that code is being commoditised

The difference between AI-native and AI-first, and why Funding Circle chose one

Why he is "not at all sceptical" about AI, against the industry grain

How one engineer did three years of work in three days with Claude Code

How Funding Circle keeps bias out of lending decisions, with humans still in the loop

Why cybersecurity went from strategic to board-level imperative
His advice for anyone starting out: just start, and ignore the limits you assume

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Today's guest is Mark Mullen, co-founder and CEO of Atom Bank, the UK's first app-based bank and the first digital challenger to win a full UK banking licence.

Mark is a self-described accidental banker who read history at university, spent 24 years inside HSBC Group, and ran First Direct, one of the most innovative banks of its era.

Then, in his mid-40s, he walked away from a comfortable seat at the top of the industry to build a bank from scratch in the Northeast of England, not London.

He has watched telephone banking, internet banking and mobile banking come and go, and now sits inside the AI wave trying to work out what it actually changes and what it does not.

This conversation goes past the technology and into the things that endure: trust, people, and why the UK banking sector is still far less disrupted than everyone assumes.

In the full episode, we cover:

Why banking was "made to be digitalised", and who wins because of it
How Atom uses Gemini, Claude, and other AI tools in their workflow
Why AI could cut a third of operating costs in three to five years
Why the same banks still dominate UK mortgages a decade on
Why Atom runs a four-day week, and why Mark keeps defending it
The one trait Mark values most when hiring young people
His advice for anyone starting out in the AI era

A masterclass in building for the long term, from someone who has done it without the hype. Worth your time whether you are in fintech or not.

Connect with Mark Mullen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mullen-5330458a

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Today's guest is William Quigley, one of the few venture investors who has operated at the centre of multiple technological inflection points. William was one of the first institutional investors in PayPal, co-founded Tether, the world's first and largest fiat-backed stablecoin, and founded WAX, one of the most active NFT blockchains globally.

He saw the consumer internet emerge, watched payments transform, helped shape crypto infrastructure, and now sits at the edge of the AI wave. This is our third conversation with William, and a lot has changed since we last spoke 18 months ago. This time we go beyond the cycles and into the structural future: who owns the rails, how capital actually flows, and where the durable infrastructure is forming beneath the hype.

In the full episode, we cover:

Why AI is the opposite of the early internet and early crypto, and why that should worry you
Why the economics of today's AI companies are inverted, and how long they can really last
Why he backed PayPal and built Tether but will not invest a dollar in AI
How VCs boycotting semiconductors for 25 years accidentally created NVIDIA
Why OpenAI and Anthropic may go public and still struggle as public companies
The trillion-dollar currency conversion tax that tokenised money could erase
Why NFTs are not dead, just rebranded, and where the real use cases are growing
The one trait William looks for in every founder and CEO, and why he thinks you are born with it
How young people should position themselves while it is still early

If you are a fintech founder, an investor trying to read the AI cycle, or anyone working out where the durable opportunities are forming beneath the hype, this one is worth your time.

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Today's guest is Xen Baynham-Herd, Director of Growth at Base and Global Builder Ecosystem lead at Coinbase, working at the centre of where crypto, AI agents, and the future of finance collide.

Before Coinbase, Xen spent eight years as a fixed income trader at UBS, where he championed an internal stablecoin project that eventually spun out into Finality, backed by UBS, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Santander. He then made the leap into crypto, rising to COO at blockchain.com, before stepping off the corporate ladder to work with Balaji Srinivasan on the Network State. He went on to found his own startup, Roam XYZ, which was later acquired by Coinbase.

In the full episode, we cover:

Why the UK's financial system is broken and how blockchain actually fixes it
How crypto networks like Base are becoming the closest thing we have to network states today
Why every major bank — JPMorgan, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, UBS — is now quietly moving on-chain
What x402 is and why AI agents are already paying each other on-chain
Why agentic activity will be the primary use of crypto networks within a few years
The highest-leverage opportunities for builders in the next 3 years
The mindset and traits Xen looks for when hiring builders and backing founders

If you're a fintech founder, a builder thinking about where to place your bets next, or anyone trying to understand how crypto and AI agents are about to reshape the financial system, this one is essential listening.

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Today's guest is Matt Weaver, Head of Solutions Engineering for EMEA at OpenAI, working directly with some of the biggest names in financial services including Revolut, Alicabank, and BBVA.

Before OpenAI, Matt spent four years at a pre-ChatGPT AI company helping banks extract data from documents using traditional machine learning.

When ChatGPT burst onto the scene and disrupted everything he was working on, he knew there was only one place he needed to be, and he was fortunate enough to get the call from OpenAI, where he's spent the last two years building out the Solutions Engineering team across EMEA from the ground up.

In the full episode, we cover:

How AI has moved from pilots to production inside major financial institutions
What GPT-5.5 can do that the models couldn't six months ago
The highest ROI use cases in financial services right now
How OpenAI helps banks navigate regulation, compliance, and data residency
What AI agents actually are, and how long they can now run without human input
Why entry-level employees are outperforming tenured colleagues with AI tools
How to go use ChatGPT to it best of power

If you're in fintech, working inside a financial institution, or trying to understand how AI is actually being deployed at scale, this one is essential listening.

Connect with Matt Weaver:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattweaver/

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech):

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Today's guest is Dileep Thazhmon, Founder & CEO of Jeeves, one of the fastest-scaling fintechs to come out of Y Combinator (YC S20)

Before Jeeves, Dileep built PowerInbox (later Jeeng) to $40M in revenue and a ~$100M exit. While running PowerInbox, Dileep ran headfirst into the chaos of cross-border payments, multiple cards, multiple bank accounts, different payment rails in every country, making his CFO's life a daily reconciliation nightmare.

After his exit, he set out to solve that exact problem and founded Jeeves. Today it's valued at over $2B, operates in 25 countries, and powers global spend for thousands of companies.

In the full episode, we cover:

His early years and the unlikely path that led him into fintech
How the idea for Jeeves came directly out of his own pain as a founder
Why B2B fintech is a completely different game from B2C
His experience going through Y Combinator
What it's like having Ben Horowitz and a16z as investor
The fintech opportunities he's most excited about right now
His hiring philosophy
The one piece of advice he'd give young graduates

If you're in fintech, building a company, or curious how global fintech actually gets built, this one's worth your time.

Connect with Dileep Thazhmon:

X: https://x.com/thazhmon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thazhmon/

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech):
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.

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Today's guest is Paroma Chatterjee, CEO of Revolut India, leading one of the world's most valuable fintechs into one of the world's most complex markets.

Paroma has built her career at the intersection of ambition and execution, and there's no better proof of that than what Revolut India has become: a 3,600-person operation in a country where Revolut was virtually unknown just a few years ago.

In this episode, we dive into:

Paroma's early career and what shaped her leadership style
Revolut's big ambitions in India, and what the product actually looks like on the ground
Why it took so long to launch in India, and what finally changed
The real moats that make Revolut different
How the Indian fintech industry has evolved, and where it's headed
What the culture inside Revolut is actually like
Her hiring philosophy and what she looks for in people
Opportunities in the age of AI for young professionals

If you're working in fintech, thinking about joining a high-growth global company, or just want to understand what it takes to scale a business in India, this one is worth your time.

Follow Paroma Chatterjee on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paroma-chatterjee-503193/

Matthew Cheung (Host & Founder Work in Fintech): https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50

Work in Fintech Socials:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/work-in-fintech-global/
X: https://x.com/WorkinFintech
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/work_in_fintech/

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Today's guest is Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank, the fastest growing company in the UK from 2020 to 2024, built specifically to serve the small and medium sized businesses that traditional banks consistently overlook.

Richard has spent his career across some of the most influential names in banking and fintech — from Barclays and HSBC to being employee number one at Oak North, and Group COO at Revolut when it scaled from 5 to 15 million customers.

In this episode, we get into:

What makes Allica Bank special and why he left Revolut to build it
The real reasons behind Allica Bank’s rapid growth
How Allica Bank serves one-third of the economy ignored by big banks
The future of traditional banks — branches, consolidation, and what comes next
The biggest trends and opportunities in fintech over the next 5 to 10 years
How leading digital banks are using AI right now
Richard’s hiring philosophy and what he looks for in people
The future of Allica Bank

If you're building in fintech, banking, or thinking about your next career move, this one is worth your time.

Richard's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-davies-1323b2

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From a small village to the heart of global financial markets.

On our Women’s Day special, we host Charlotte Crosswell, Board Member at the London Stock Exchange.

Charlotte’s journey is an inspiration for many girls and women who want to build a career in fintech and financial services.

From humble beginnings in a small village to the global financial stage, she has held leadership roles at the London Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, Innovate Finance, and CFIT.

She was also among the few women on the trading floor in the 1990s, building her career in an industry that was still largely male-dominated.

In this episode, Matthew Cheung, founder of Work in Fintech, sits down with Charlotte to unpack:

✅ Her journey from a small village to senior roles at Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq, and the London Stock Exchange
✅ How fintech and technology are transforming financial services
✅ Why data ownership will define the future of financial markets
✅ The importance of innovation and continuous learning in a rapidly changing industry
✅ Practical advice for young professionals entering the industry

Coming just after International Women’s Day, Charlotte also shares her thoughts on the progress women have made in fintech and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Whether you’re interested in fintech, financial markets, or building a career in the industry, this episode offers valuable insights into leadership, innovation, and navigating one of the fastest-evolving sectors in the world.

Check out our website **and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.

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Today’s guest on the show is Sheel Mohnot, Co-founder and General Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, a San Francisco based seed-stage fund focused on fintech, with investments in companies like Ramp, Mercury, and Unit.

In this episode, host Matthew Chung, founder of Work in Fintech, sits down with Sheel to unpack:

✅ His journey from founder to venture capitalist
✅ What truly separates exceptional founders from the rest
✅ The role of luck and timing in startup success
✅ How AI is reshaping fintech and venture capital
✅ The next big opportunities emerging in fintech
✅ Practical advice for young entrepreneurs navigating risk, learning, and growth

Whether you’re an aspiring founder, investor, or operator, this episode offers an honest look at building in fintech, spotting opportunity early, and what it really takes to win in today’s startup ecosystem.

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Today’s guest on the show is Carlos Espinal, Managing Partner at Seedcamp, one of Europe’s leading seed-stage venture capital funds, with early investments in companies like Wise, Revolut, and UiPath.

In this episode, host Matthew Chung, founder of Work in Fintech, sits down with Carlos Espinal to unpack:

✅ Carlos early career & how he got into venture capital
✅ How Seedcamp spots billion-dollar founders before anyone else
✅ The key traits that separate exceptional founders from everyone else
✅ How the venture capital landscape has evolved
✅ The biggest opportunities in tech right now
✅ Practical advice for young entrepreneurs

Whether you’re an aspiring founder, investor, or someone looking to break into venture capital, this episode offers a candid look at how careers evolve, how great companies are built, and what it really takes to succeed in the startup ecosystem.

Important Links
https://cee.medium.com/how-venture-adapts-when-trust-erodes-41568a2deb33

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Today’s guest on the show is Francesco Filia, founder and CEO of Fasanara Capital, a global asset manager and technology-driven investment platform.

In this episode, host Matthew Cheung, founder of Work in Fintech, sits down with Francesco Filia to unpack:

✅ Francesco's early career and the key lessons that shaped him
✅ How the idea for Fasanara came about and the problem it set out to solve
✅ The biggest opportunities and trends in fintech today
✅ The main risk in the banking sector
✅ Why private credit is experiencing a moment of growth
✅ What he looks for when investing a company
✅ Advice for young people entering the workforce in the age of AI

If you’ve just graduated or are looking to enter fintech, this episode is packed with amazing insights and nuggets and is a must-watch.

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Today’s guest on the show is Gregory Van, Co-Founder & CEO of Endowus, Asia’s leading independent digital wealth platform.

In this episode, host Matthew Cheung sits down with Gregory to unpack:

✅ How the idea behind Endowus came about
✅ What makes Endowus unique
✅ How AI is used in wealth management
✅ Investment vs. speculation
✅ The reality of funds and management fees

And much more…

If you’re a founder, CEO, fund manager, or even an investor in the stock market, this episode of the WIF Podcast is highly insightful.

From understanding the wealth management business to how AI is used in wealth management ,this episode is packed with valuable insights.

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In this episode, host Matthew Cheung dives deep into Tom’s fascinating journey, from DJing during his university days to leading one of the most forward-thinking fintech companies in the world.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✅ The sales playbook behind multi-million–dollar fintech enterprise deals
✅ How 10x Banking is powering the next generation of global banks
✅ The evolution of core banking and banking-as-a-service, and why it matters today
✅ How AI is transforming the way banks operate (and what’s next)

If you’re in fintech, sales, or tech leadership, this episode is packed with insights on how to sell and scale in one of the fastest-changing industries on earth.

Check out our website **and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3.

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Today’s guest on the show is Charlie Youakim, Co-founder & CEO of Sezzle, the fast-growing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform.

In this episode, host Matthew Cheung sits down with Charlie to unpack:

✅ Sezzle’s business model
✅ How Sezzle makes money
✅ The shift that led to their rapid profitability & explosive growth
✅ How a billion-dollar company thinks about hiring
✅ Why BNPL is shaping the future of commerce, and what’s coming next

If you’re a founder, CEO, operator, or anyone building in fintech, this conversation is a masterclass.

From understanding how business model innovation can change a company’s trajectory to learning how top fintech leaders hire and scale, this episode is packed with insights.

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In this session of the Work in Fintech AI Summit, Anthony Cheung (Chief Content & Culture Officer, AmplifyME) and Neil Massa (CRO, The Connection Lab) reveal how to stand out in today’s crowded market.

Blending humor, real-world insights, and practical strategies, this engaging talk shows you how to move beyond survival mode and position yourself to truly thrive in a competitive world.

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From running a humble market stall to building a career in the financial markets, this is the inspiring 45-year journey of Paul.

In this candid and never-before-told story, Paul shares:

His working-class roots and early struggles with no university education
How a natural talent in maths set him apart despite limited opportunities
The mindset shift that helped him move from “just making money” to building a lasting career
The importance of resilience, self-belief, and remembering: “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.”

This talk is proof that no matter your background, you can rewrite your story and create success in finance and beyond.

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In this episode, we are joined by Christian Nentwich, founder of Duco, a B2B data automation company valued at over $100 million.

Christian shares how he started his first business, how he entered the world of fintech, the challenges he faced while scaling a company, and the mistakes he made that, if avoided, could have accelerated Duco’s growth.

He also explains why B2B fintech is one of the best, yet most difficult businesses to be in, and why being exceptionally good at sales, along with having resilience and a never-give-up attitude, is crucial when dealing with $100K+ ticket-size deals.

What makes his story even more compelling is that both startups he founded were ahead of their time, offering cloud and automation solutions when banks and financial institutions weren’t ready. Duco nearly failed before a major market shift in 2015 turned the tide.

If you’re building in fintech, SaaS, or enterprise tech, this episode is full of deep insights and actionable lessons from someone who's been through it all.

Connect with Christian:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiannentwich

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In this episode, we’re joined by Leif Abraham, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Public.com, the social investing platform that raised nearly $400 million last year and doubled its revenue.

Leif has a bold hiring philosophy: he intentionally avoids candidates from elite schools like Harvard or Stanford. Why? Because he believes street smarts are better than book smarts.

In this conversation, we unpack:

How Leif started and sold his first startup
Key Moments & Challenges While Scaling Public.com
Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts & Hiring Philosophy
The next big opportunity in the tech world

ABOUT US:
At Work in Fintech, our mission is to inspire and guide the next generation of Fintech talent.

Founded by Matt Cheung, we bring you exclusive interviews with Fintech founders, CEOs, and industry leaders.

Together, we explore how to break into Fintech, what it takes to succeed, and how you can gain an edge.

Packed with real-world insights and practical advice, our content helps students, grads, and young pros stand out in Fintech and Finance.

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Jinesh Vora, Founder and CEO of Sprive, shares his journey from a corporate career at Goldman Sachs to launching his own fintech startup aimed at helping homeowners pay off their mortgages faster. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the mortgage market, the importance of financial education, and the strategies for growth and networking in the fintech space. Jinesh emphasises the need for innovation in personal finance and the potential for fintech to disrupt traditional banking practices.

Takeaways

Janesh's entrepreneurial spirit was influenced by his family
The idea for Sprive was born from personal experiences with mortgages
Financial literacy is crucial for making informed financial decisions
Networking is essential for startup success and finding the right talent
Understanding mortgage terms can empower users to make better choices
Entrepreneurship offers unlimited potential compared to corporate jobs

Chapters

00:00 From Corporate to Startup: The Journey Begins
02:47 Identifying Pain Points: The Birth of Sprive
06:04 Innovating the Mortgage Market: Sprive's Unique Approach
09:13 Financial Education: Empowering Users for Better Decisions
11:59 Growth Strategies: Navigating the Fintech Landscape
14:56 Building a Network: The Key to Entrepreneurial Success
18:14 Hiring for Success: Skills and Experience in Fintech
20:59 Reflections on Career Choices: Corporate vs. Startup Life
24:12 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Taking the Leap
26:58 Conclusion: The Future of Sprive and Personal Finance

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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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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.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianfaes/
https://x.com/ChristianFaes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

Chapters

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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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/

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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

Tamsin Hobley https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsinhobley/

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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.

https://x.com/williamequigley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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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, a inspiring black entrepreneur, explains the motivation behind starting SoLo Funds, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace that provides access to capital and helps individuals grow 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.

Takeaways

Rodney Williams started his entrepreneurial journey with LISNR, a startup that used ultrasonic technology for seamless checkout experiences.
SoLo Funds is a peer-to-peer lending marketplace that provides access to capital and helps individuals grow their savings.
Williams highlights the challenges of regulatory actions and the importance of being a B Corp.
Financial literacy is crucial, and fintech has the potential to empower underserved communities.
Williams 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

Follow Rodney Williams here and Matt Cheung here.

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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

Philippa Poole - Head of Legal, Commercial
Daniel Geller - Deputy General Counsel
Matt Cheung - Founder Work in Fintech, CEO ipushpull

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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.

Chapters00:00 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

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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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-forward/
https://payabl.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

Keywords

payments, fintech, payabl, omni-channel, stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, industry trends, teamwork

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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

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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

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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

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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

Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ **and subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3

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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?

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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

Highlights:
7:23 Getting ahead in web3 as a non-coder

11:15 What is the web3 on-ramp for enterprise companies (tokenisation, NFTs, data and analytics)

16:26 Web 2.5, the bridge

18:33 Vassilis talks about sales and marketing and what is GTM and sales enablement

20:52 How to build a solid foundation in your career before moving into GTM

25:34 How can generative AI, like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2, help sales and marketing

31:32 Insights and advice for people who want to get into web3

Vassilis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasileiostziokas/
Vassilis Twitter: https://twitter.com/TziokasV

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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

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Robby Young is CEO of Animoca Brands, a $6bln a blockchain gaming company and one of the most prolific investors in web3 on the planet.

Robby talks about:
- His journey to being CEO of Animoca
- Why luck played a part in Animoca's pivot into blockchain games from mobile games
- Why gaming is an on-ramp into blockchain and the metaverse
- What is the metaverse and how does web3 and NFTs intersect with the metaverse
- What drives Animoca Brands web3 investment strategy
- What are the biggest opportunities in web3 and the metaverse
- What skillsets and mindsets should people wanting to get into web3 strive towards
- Advice for anyone starting their career

Robby is interviewed by Matt Cheung co-founder of Work in Fintech and Benyamin Ahmed, chief evangelist of Work in Fintech, creator of Weird Whales and 13 year old NFT prodigy.

Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ and **subscribe to our mailing list to hear more about opportunities in fintech and web3

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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

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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

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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

Join our exclusive waitlist: https://workinfintech.com/wait-list
Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/
Follow our socials:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/work-in-fintech-global/
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdS4bYoCXaHVgfVm6syUrDw/playlists

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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

Join our exclusive waitlist: https://workinfintech.com/wait-list Check out our website: https://workinfintech.com/ Follow our socials:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/work-in-fintech-global/
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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.

Chapters: