Dave and Dharm DeMystify

In this episode, Hans Tesselaar, Executive Director of Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN) and Saket Sinha, Sr. Partner & Global Vice President - Financial Services IBM, explain the role and impact of BIAN in the financial industry. They introduce the organisation as a not-for-profit standards body to make the financial industry more agile and standardised. They discuss IBM's collaboratio...

In this episode, we demystify the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and explore why it matters for financial institutions. Joining us are cybersecurity and cloud experts Simon Phillips (CTO, SecureAck) and Alex Tasioulis (Cloudified.io), who shed light on the regulation’s core requirements and practical implications. Key insights from our discussion include: > What DORA really entails for...

In this episode, we revisit Monument Bank's journey and uncover a significant transformation. Joined by Steve Britain, CEO of Monument Technology, we explore the split between Monument Bank and its new tech-focused sibling, Monument Technology. Steve shares insights into how Monument Bank's cutting-edge, cloud-native platform, a system designed specifically for the cloud, powers the bank and attra...

In this episode, Dave and Dharm sit down with Steve Flinter, Distinguished Engineer at Mastercard, to demystify the company's innovative work and perspectives on quantum computing. Mastercard has been at the forefront of quantum exploration, investigating how this groundbreaking technology can tackle complex challenges more efficiently than classical computing. From optimising machine learning mod...

In this episode, we welcome back Ed Maslaveckas from Bud to demystify the intriguing topic of 'agentification.' They delve into Bud's development and use of agentic models in the financial services sector, emphasising how these models differ from traditional AI agents. Ed explains that while standard agents can perform specific tasks within their own ecosystem, agentic models can interact with mul...

In this episode, Dave and Dharm interview Edward Maslaveckas, CEO and one of the founders of the fintech company Bud. Ed discusses his background, the inception of Bud in 2015, and their initial failures and lessons learned while trying to build a financial product distribution platform akin to a 'money supermarket for millennials.' He explains their challenges before open banking regulations, par...

In this episode, we focus on one of the most significant challenges in technology for enterprises today: legacy modernisation. Joining us is Irene Sandler, Chief Marketing Officer of Mechanical Orchard. Irene demystifies Mechanical Orchard's approach to addressing the complexities of legacy systems using innovative approaches, including AI and socio-technical design. We also discuss how legacy sys...

In this episode, the 2 D's delve into the transformative work of the Dubai Future Labs with its Executive Director, Mr Khalifa Al Qama. DFL is a place where cutting-edge AI, autonomous systems, and urban solutions are being crafted to shape tomorrow’s cities. We uncover the story behind breakthrough projects, like a ventilator developed during COVID-19, which exemplifies how the centre turns advan...

In this episode of Demystify, recorded in the heart of Dubai, Vinit Shah, a senior advisor to the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), takes us behind the scenes of Dubai's ambitious approach to virtual asset regulation. Shah, who has been shaping Dubai’s financial landscape since 2003, shares his journey in establishing VARA in early 2022, with the goal of creating a secure, progressive spa...

In this episode, Nadine Mezher, co-founder of Sarwa, opens up about her mission to transform investing in the Middle East, making it within reach for everyone. From humble beginnings in Dubai to a thriving community of more than 180,000 registered users across the region, Nadine shares Sarwa’s journey of growth, resilience, and relentless innovation. We explore the heart of Sarwa’s offerings—robo-...

In this episode of Demystify, hosts Dave and Dharmesh explore the future of finance with special guest Ronit Ghose, who leads Citi's Future of Finance think tank. Broadcasting from Dubai's vibrant tech hub, Ronit shares his perspectives on the city’s meteoric rise as a global financial and tech powerhouse and reflects on how it contrasts with traditional hubs like London and New York. Ronit discus...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of customer-centric design with two influential leaders from Lloyds Banking Group. Joining Dave and Dharm are Gemma Daley, Consumer Experience Design Director, and Suresh Balaji, Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they explore Lloyds’ journey towards becoming an experience-led brand, sharing insights on the recent overhaul of their mobile app and brand...

In this episode, the 2 D's are joined by 2 special guests to discuss the evolution of open banking, specifically the role of data sharing in financial services. Charlotte Crosswell, chair of the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), and Henk Van Hulle, CEO of Open Banking Limited, explain how open banking enables access to data from multiple banks, creating richer profiles for cons...

In this episode, Dave and Dharm sit down with Sergio Gago, MD of AI and Quantum Computing at Moody’s, to delve into AI's impact and inner workings in the financial industry. Sergio provides a fascinating look into how the company utilises extensive data for risk assessment and informed decision-making. Sergio discusses the evolution of data collection and the crucial role of curating and maintaini...

In this episode of the "Dave and Dharm Demystify Show," Dave and Dharm reconnect with Sergio Gago from Moody's to explore the fascinating world of quantum computing and its implications for the financial industry. Sergio, the MD of AI and Quantum Computing at Moody's, explains quantum computing's complexities and fundamental differences from classical computing. He delves into the concept of qubit...

In this episode of the Dave and Dharm Demystify show, the 2 D's are joined by Uday Akkaraju, founder and CEO of Bond.ai. Uday demystifies Bond.ai, an artificial intelligence firm dedicated to repairing the fractured relationship between consumers and financial institutions. He shares his unique background in human-centred design, cognitive psychology, and intelligent virtual agents, which eventual...

In this episode, Saeed Murad, Senior Partner at Global Ventures, joins Dave and Dharm to demystify the dynamic fintech ecosystem in the Middle East and Africa. With a current population of over 1.5 billion, expected to grow to 3-4 billion, and a significant youth demographic, the region is ripe for innovation and expansion. Saeed discusses how the UAE and Saudi Arabia are rapidly becoming global f...

In this episode, Dave interviews Ziad Nassar, the Chief of Staff of Huspy, a Dubai-based real estate everything app. Ziad shares his journey and Huspy's evolution from a digitised mortgage broker to a comprehensive platform for home buying in Europe and the Middle East. Huspy is looking to disrupt the home-buying process. The fact that 30% of all homes in Dubai touch the platform is a testament to...

In this episode, hosts Dave and Dharm are joined by John Bryant from Options Technology and Eleni Coldrey from Equinix to discuss the evolution of trading technology and data centres over the past 16 years. John Bryant is the Field CTO at Options Technology, bringing 16 years of experience in improving IT solutions and trading platforms for financial services. Eleni Coldrey a business development...

In this episode of 'The Dave and Darm demystify show,' special guest Abhishek Tripathi, Head of Product at Careem Pay, discusses his role and Careem's evolution from a ride-sharing app to an 'everything app' offering over 15 services, including payments, food delivery, and more across 10 countries and 80 cities. Abhishek explains Careem's efforts in solving payment challenges and its approach to b...

In this episode, Eddie Harrison, CPO of Navro, discusses how Navro solves payment challenges for e-commerce platforms and online businesses. Navro focuses on helping businesses collect money in countries where they lack banking relationships and simplifying global money transfers. They offer solutions for payment acceptance, international banking infrastructure, and payouts to suppliers. We delve...

This episode is recorded in a data centre in Slough with Bruce Owen, UK MD of Equinix. Bruce talks through his background and Equinix's role as a leading data centre provider. The discussion covers the essential function of data centres in housing critical IT infrastructure, their importance to national economies, and their connection to various digital services. The conversation also delves into...

In this podcast episode, hosts Dave and Dharmesh welcome authors Anette Brolos and Erin Taylor to discuss their new book "Customer-Centric Innovation in Finance". Erin, an anthropologist, and Anette, an economist, share their journey into studying financial behaviours and founding Finthropology, a company that combines finance and anthropology. In discussing their book, they emphasise the importan...

Roger Rouhana, founder and CEO of Alpheya, talked to Dave and Dharm at the Dubai Fintech Summit. Roger discusses Alpheya, a B2B wealth tech platform delivering AI-first solutions to institutional clients. Roger explains the need for digitalisation in the wealth management sector and the unique features of Alfea's cloud-native and AI-first platform. Roger also discusses the challenges and opportuni...

In the episode, Dave and Dharm speak with Mohamed Abdel Razek, Mashreq's Head of Technology, during the Dubai Fintech Summit. Mohamed shares his tech background, which spanned various industries like telco, oil and gas, and fast-moving consumer goods before joining the financial sector. He discusses bringing insights from other industries into banking technology, focusing on digital transformation...