Fintech Files: Insights on TECH by BCG Platinion

How much has fintech changed in just five years? From neobanks to AI-powered banking, the transformation of financial services has been amazing to be part of. After five years, five seasons, microphones shipped all over the world, and more than 50 episodes, Fintech Files comes to a close with a look back on this incredible journey. We rewind to 2020, when the podcast first began. Hosts Nora Hocke...

Stablecoins were once a footnote in the crypto conversation. Now they’re becoming the plumbing. For financial institutions, brokerages, and two-sided marketplaces, the question is no longer whether to engage with digital assets, but how to do it without rebuilding everything from scratch. In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, Edward Woodford, CEO and Founder of zerohash, shares what...

The financial system was built for a world with office hours. Today, markets run around the clock, assets are being tokenised, regulations are tightening, and institutions of every size are being asked to change everything at once. In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, Valerie Bannert-Thurner — Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of Nasdaq Financial Technology — takes...

In just a few years, artificial intelligence has gone from novelty to necessity. Boardrooms are racing to adopt it. Teams are learning to work alongside it. And across financial services, the rules are being rewritten. In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, Kirsten Rulf, Partner and Associate Director at BCG and former Senior Digital Policy Advisor involved in shaping the European AI...

How does a bank that has been around for over two centuries build with the speed of a startup? In this episode of Fintech Files from BCG Platinion, we’re joined by Annerie Vreugdenhil , Chief Commercial Officer for Personal and Business Banking at ABN AMRO , to explore how one of the Netherlands’ largest incumbents is rethinking what a bank can be – and who it’s for. From acquiring a neobroker to...

What do we gain when we invest in others? In this special International Women’s Day episode, we explore this year’s theme of “give to gain” with four women shaping the future of financial services: Amanda Estiverne-Colas, board member at NAFLI, Jacqueline O’Flanagan, Financial Services Industry Lead for Canada at Microsoft; Reem Ikram, CEO and Co-Founder of ThriftPlan; and Vera Futorjanski, founde...

We're taking a short break this week, but we'll be back soon with regularly scheduled episodes, including a special International Women's Day episode that you won't want to miss. About Fintech Files: Join us on Fintech Files from BCG Platinion as we explore the cutting-edge trends disrupting Fintech today. From NeoBanks to cryptocurrency, we delve into the dynamic landscape of financial technology...

This week we’re throwing it back to a conversation from Season 4 with Akin Soysal, a global expert on digital investing and part of our BCG X leadership team in Europe, the Middle East and South America. Akin dives into the biggest topics disrupting financial management across the globe. How does Gen Z leverage retail investing for saving for retirement? Can AI be an effective financial advisor? H...

This week we’re bringing back our episode with Suzy Ferreira from Season 4. Suzie is the co-founder of Dinie , and is on a mission to transform credit access for small businesses in Brazil. In this episode, Suzy shares her journey and the inspiration behind Dinie, an embedded lending fintech breaking barriers for SMEs. Discover how Dinie’s innovative, data-driven approach—embedding lending into pl...

AI is accelerating across every industry, but how do you turn this hype into real operational value? In this episode, we’re joined by Patrick Heinen , Vice President of Solution Engineering at Salesforce, to explore how organizations can implement AI in a way that is practical, compliant, and scalable. Drawing on real-world examples, we examine how AI agents are changing business workflows, the im...

Happy Holidays Fintech Files listeners! As we look ahead to the new year, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from Season 4 with Eyal Sivan, Mr. Open Banking.  Eyal joins Fintech Files to discuss how open banking rose from the 2008 financial crisis to become a worldwide movement centered on competition, innovation, and transparency. With over 25 years in IT and banking technology, E...

How does a region skip the traditional path of banking entirely and jump straight into a digital future? Central Asia has become one of the fastest-moving digital banking regions in the world. In this episode, Nika Kurdiani , CEO of TBC Uzbekistan , reflects on what’s driving this rapid shift and how it’s reshaping competition, customer expectations, and the overall financial landscape. We discuss...

What does it take to create payment infrastructure from the ground up in one of the world’s fastest-growing fintech regions? Recorded at Money 20/20 in Riyadh, PayTabs CEO and Founder, Abdulaziz Al Jouf, reflects on how the company helped establish one of the Middle East’s earliest fintechs. We explore the challenges of launching in a cash-reliant market, the role of cultural understanding in earn...

Money moves digitally across invisible networks every day — but what actually carries it from one place to another? Fireblocks CEO Michael Shaulov joins us to unpack the evolution of digital payment rails; the networks and infrastructure that move money in our digital world. We explore how cybersecurity, blockchain, and new forms of currency are reshaping global transactions. Michael shares how Fi...

How can wealth management become more intuitive, transparent, and accessible? Dhruv Arora , Founder & CEO at Syfe , a leading wealth management platform based in Singapore, shares how Syfe is redefining investing for the mass-affluent segment in Asia-Pacific. Drawing on his background in traditional finance, Dhruv reflects on building trust in emerging markets, how technology and digital advic...

How can financial planning evolve from numbers on a spreadsheet to a tool for shaping life goals?  Adrianna Adams , Head of Financial Planning at Domain Money , joins Fintech Files to explore how technology and new fee models are transforming the way millennials and Gen Z engage with their financial futures. Drawing on her journey into the field, Adrianna shares how Domain Money is making per...

In Season 5 of Fintech Files, our three hosts are traveling across the global fintech landscape, uncovering the most exciting stories from the world’s leading innovation hubs. From embedded payments to crypto, from financial inclusion to the future of millennial finance, they’re diving into the breakthroughs, bold ideas, and unexpected questions defining what comes next. We’ll be talking to founde...

We’re wrapping up Season 4 of Fintech Files with a special episode reflecting on the past season, while also looking ahead to the future of fintech. Hosts Bianca, Nora and Annika dive into the trends they have seen shape the industry, from AI-driven transformation and the rise of digital banking to the growing focus on sustainability and financial inclusion.  Beyond fintech, this episode pull...

We’re bringing back one of our favourite episodes from Season 3! We dive into the complexities and opportunities within Africa's financial services sector with Alfred Mukudu , Financial Services Go-To-Market Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) South Africa. With over 50 countries and about 42 different currencies, Africa presents a unique landscape for financial innovation. Alfred shares insights in...

How can allowing customers to “own” their data reshape finance for everyone’s benefit? Mr. Open Banking himself, Eyal Sivan, joins Fintech Files to discuss how open banking rose from the 2008 financial crisis to become a worldwide movement centered on competition, innovation, and transparency. With over 25 years in IT and banking technology, Eyal breaks down the core principles behind open banking...

What does it take to drive sustainable change across regions and bridge global disparities? To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the incredible contributions of women in sustainability and fintech with two accomplished leaders: Cynthia Salicrup and Sandra Carrillo, partners at Environmental Resources Management (ERM). Drawing from their extensive experience, they share their...

How can entrepreneurs in emerging markets break the mold and foster economic growth amid unpredictability? In this episode, Nader Abdelrazik—founder of MoneyHash—shares how he navigated life during the Arab Spring, was motivated to become an economist, and ultimately built a fintech startup. Nader discusses the unique challenges of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, from buyer and investor s...

In this special throwback episode, we revisit our Season 3 interview with Vera Futorjanski, Founder and CEO of Beyond Global and Veritas Ventures.  How many globally lack access to banking? Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski , former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Empha...

How do we achieve inclusive growth and break the glass ceiling? Subhashini Chandran , Mastercard’s SVP of Social Impact, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa, shares insights from her journey—from leading India’s largest tea business to driving global initiatives that empower women and foster equitable growth. With a deep understanding of systemic challenges and opportunities in global supply chains,...

Suzy Ferreira, co-founder of Dinie , is on a mission to transform credit access for small businesses in Brazil. In this episode, Suzy shares her journey and the inspiration behind Dinie, an embedded lending fintech breaking barriers for SMEs. Discover how Dinie’s innovative, data-driven approach—embedding lending into platforms like iFood and leveraging real-time insights—is empowering small busin...