New Era FinTech Podcast

In this episode, I'm exploring the capabilities of ChatGPT's Agent tool, demonstrating its ability to manage rather simple tasks such as accepting LinkedIn requests. I wanted to record the capability -- as it is today -- for posterity. As they say, this is the 'worst' that the technology will be -- it should, theoretically, always be improving. So what's it like? How good is it...

In this episode, I recently sat down with my former colleague Mustafa Zafarullah , to explore the evolving world of wholesale and digital banking in Oman and the wider GCC. Mustafa has 20+ years of banking experience across conventional and Islamic finance. He shares fascinating insights into how corporates are demanding greater autonomy through API banking, self-administration, and real-time reco...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with the brilliant Mr. Ali Hassan Moosa , one of the most experienced and thoughtful voices in Oman’s banking and fintech sector. We explored the evolution of digital banking in Oman over the last decade, from legacy system upgrades to the recent launch of a forward-thinking digital banking regulatory framework. Mr. Ali shared insights from his t...

In this episode, I explore the complexities around who truly owns AI within a bank. I talk about the strategic and operational ambiguity that often gets in the way of successful implementation, and why moving from Proof-of-Concept ("PoC") to production is such a challenge. I examine the roles of different teams across the organisation, the political dynamics that can slow progress, and t...

In this episode I'm tackling the critical need for banks to focus on learning about AI rather than rushing into Proof-of-Concepts and implementations. I take a look at the macro current state of AI in financial institutions, highlighting that while there are some outliers, the majority are not actively utilising AI technologies in any compelling manner beyond "a bit of Microsoft Copilot&q...

In this episode, I'm discussing the importance of learning when it comes to AI. Learning for board members, executives, team leaders and employees. Only when you've got a basic grasp on what the current range of technology can do, are you in the best position to decide how to move forward. Too many financial service organisations I see have pulled the trigger out of hope -- and ended up sp...

Here's a quick episode focusing on a quick experience I had this morning with Google's Gemini AI -- suffice to say, I don't think it met my expectations!

In this episode, I meet Sal Ghaznavi , an executive with 18 years of cross-sectoral work experience, spanning across the UAE, Ireland, Bermuda, and Pakistan, with experience working within FinTech and tech startups. Sal has held key finance and commercial leadership positions at Careem ( Uber ) - the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan’s first and largest unicorn, operating in the ride-hailing...

In this episode, I show you a series of screenshots I took as I walked through the process of requesting a replacement debit card using Santander UK's chatbot, Sandi. This might be one of those episodes that you might want to watch, rather than just listen to -- you can watch on Spotify, or you can watch the video on the podcast's YouTube channel. Summary Ewan reviews the chatbot capabilit...

Welcome to the second episode in our dedicated Corporate Venture Capital ("CVC") series here on New Era FinTech Podcast. Today we're meeting Simon Hardie , CEO and founder of Findexable . Simon discusses the importance of innovation in the CVC space and. emphasizes the need for organizations to have a clear understanding of what innovation means to them and to measure its impact. Har...

Welcome to the first episode in our dedicated Corporate Venture Capital ("CVC") series here on the New Era FinTech Podcast. In today's episode, Grant Niven , founder and partner of Mingzulu joins me to discuss the role of CVC in the fintech and financial services ecosystem. Grant gives us an overview of his background in financial services as well as his experience working with growt...

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Eric Fulwiler , Co-Founder and CEO of Rival , the digital marketing powerhouse. Eric's storied background with the likes of 11:FS (he was CMO) and VaynerMedia (the GaryV company) means he's precisely the guy I wanted to put in front of you to discuss your marketing. FinTech companies tend to really struggle with Sales and Marketing. I know...

Here's a screenshot walkthrough of the HSBC UK chatbot -- calling it Conversational AI is somewhat of a stretch. I've also recorded this for my other project, Conversational AI News . I would recommend you watch this one on Spotify so you can follow along with the screens, or you can find it on my LinkedIn profile or directly on the Conversational AI post.

In this episode, I'm putting the Lloyds Bank chatbot head-to-head with the NatWest chatbot and see how both systems handle the same enquiry. At the start of the episode, I begin by outlining the concept of Conversational AI chatbots and then I do a screenshot walk-through of each chatbot's responses as I experienced it. This episode is best watched, rather than listened to - so I would rec...

In this episode, I'm meeting Claus Nielsen from CX Facts . CX Facts is a platform that provides customer perception data to banks and large corporates. Claus explains that while transactional data is readily available, there is a lack of customer perception data, which is crucial for understanding how customers view the bank's products and services. CX Facts aims to bridge this gap by offe...

In this episode, I'm talking with Dan Ilett of Tollejo about sales and marketing techniques for FinTech companies selling to banks. We discuss the importance of building relationships, understanding customer needs, and differentiating from competitors. Dan emphasizes the need for collaboration between sales and marketing teams and the value of listening to customers. He also introduces the con...

In today's episode, I'm discussing the opportunity of launching an eSIM roaming offering for your bank. I think this can be a compelling additional service feature (and fee earner) for many institutions. I talk through my thinking and give some suggestions for the vendors that banks might consider to talk with including (in no particular order) gigs.com , 1Global , Airalo and Holafly . Als...

In today's episode, I'm discussing the importance of getting out from behind your desk (again). This was inspired by a conversation I had with a bank CIO last week discussing techniques and ideas of 'staying up to date' when you're surrounded by pressure on a constant basis! This one is mostly aimed at senior executives working in banks. Let me know what you think!

In today's episode, I am discussing roundtables. This is an ultra-compressed version of the workshops I regularly host for FinTechs interested in learning how to host effective roundtables for bank executives. I've been to a lot of them as a bank executive and I've experienced some great ones... and some not-so-great ones. I have compressed many of the points into this episode -- so if...

I have long been a fan of identity and authentication player, Uqudo and today I'm bringing you an interview with their Chief Operating Officer, Tom Green. I asked Tom to give us an overview of Uqudo and the company's offerings and to comment on some of the trends he is seeing in the wider marketplace around the topic of digital identity and verification. You can find Tom's profile on L...

I have been banging on about the importance of the right sales methodology for FinTech companies for the longest time. In today's episode, I sit down with Sales expert, James Barker of Tech Market Access, to discuss the business of sales. James talks about his approach to enabling financial technology vendors to best engage and then convert prospects. You can find James on his LinkedIn profile...

In today's episode, I'm discussing the LinkedIn post I wrote about the news that Barclays Bank will buy Tesco Bank for about GBP 700M. My post was asking what things would look like, instead of selling the bank, Tesco -- the British supermarket behemoth -- moved everything to run on top of a Banking as a Service provider. How would this work? Could it work? What are the possibilities? I re...

In this episode, I sit down with Lana Brandorne , co-founder of Stockholm FinTech Week to find out more about the event (12-16th February next week) and to get her view of the growing FinTech ecosystem in the country. You can connect directly with Lana on her LinkedIn profile and book tickets at the Stockholm FinTech Week website. If you're heading to the event, do let me know and let's se...

In this episode, I'm previewing the interview I've got coming up with Lana Brandorne, co-founder of Stockholm FinTech Week . I briefly discuss the Swedish (and Nordic) ecosystems and suggest that visiting the event next week in Sweden could be a good idea, especially if you're aiming to connect with banks, vendors and other suppliers driving the FinTech ecosystem in the Nordics. Let me...

In this episode, I'm doing a mini summary of the workshop I regularly host for fintechs, regtechs and vendors selling to banks. In many firms, the marketing, sales and business development is somewhat disjointed - often because it's been working really well that way in the past. Now though, it's increasingly difficult to connect to the target bank executives if you don't already kn...