Technologist of the Month

Kai Hackbarth, Head of Product and Solutions at Bosch, shares that he has been a strong believer in open standards because they are what bring communities together and enable the growth of ecosystems. He explains that alongside open standards, open source plays a crucial role. At Bosch, this has been a long-standing commitment, with the company actively promoting initiatives like the Eclipse Found...

Eric Tak, Head of Division, Digital Euro - Product Proposition, European Central Bank, emphasizes that while most people today have few problems paying digitally, there are still challenges for those without modern smartphones or who prefer not to use them. “We see these pockets where people struggle,” he explains. Eric adds, “Privacy remains the biggest concern for more than 50% of people when pa...

Rolandas Juteika, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Revolut Securities Europe and Head of Wealth and Trading at Revolut, explains, “FinTech companies are faster, more flexible, and cheaper compared to traditional banks.” He says, “They don’t struggle with old, inflexible core systems. Instead, they’re plug-and-play businesses, easily integrating new services.” ⚡💡 The real game-changer is the sp...

Samuel Beek is the Chief Product Officer at VEED.IO, one of the world’s fastest-growing online video editing platforms. With a strong background in engineering and design, Sam combines creativity with strategic thinking to build tools that empower millions of content creators globally. On The Menu: 1. Creative pragmatism philosophy in product decision-making 2. AI-first approach to video editing i...

Hugo Hamad, Head of AI/Gen AI Factory, AXA en France, ex-director of AI, Decathlon, points out a common pitfall in how organizations approach AI adoption. “Many companies invest in platforms, clusters, and big data without realizing that what we truly need are data engineers, ML engineers, and AI experts,” he explains. He continues, “Some businesses focus only on hiring data scientists. But in rea...

Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, highlights that “fraud is at the center of everything we do.” She explains that the real challenge isn’t just combating fraud after it happens, but predicting and preventing it with the power of predictive AI, something she finds far more exciting for the future of global payments. “Whether it’s your checking account, mortgage, stablecoin, or card...

Combatting Climate Change with Philipp Schulte 🌍 Throwback to Philipp Schulte, CEO of Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security, who emphasizes the importance of efficiency and waste reduction in combating climate change. He shares how his firm is heavily invested in E-sim technology, which boasts a 42% carbon reduction advantage compared to traditional plastic SIM cards. Watch the full episode here 👉ht...

Igor Mikhalev is a Partner and Head of Disruptive Strategies at EY Parthenon globally, where he spearheads emerging technology initiatives and champions Capitalism 2.0 principles. With a vision that extends far beyond traditional business metrics, Igor advocates for stakeholder-centric models that prioritize human well-being, equity, and authentic purpose-driven connections. On The Menu: 1. Capita...

Brice van de Walle is the Executive Vice President of Core Payments Europe at Mastercard , bringing extensive expertise in the global payments ecosystem. As a passionate payments professional, he has driven transformative initiatives across multiple regions and markets, demonstrating exceptional leadership in market development, sales, product management, and business strategy. On The Menu: 1. Com...

"A digital euro would be a separate balance and a service distributed through your bank or another financial institution, just like a PayPal account you can top up and use for payments." – Eric Tak Eric Tak , Head of Division, Digital Euro - Product Proposition, European Central Bank, explains that funding could happen in multiple ways, directly during a transaction, up front, or even on...

🚗 From rubber to data: The transformation of the automobile. "A tire is just a tire… until you connect it." Kai Hackbarth, Head of Product and Solutions at Bosch, believes we’re entering a new era where cars are no longer just machines; they're intelligent, connected ecosystems. With 5G, car-to-infrastructure communication, and software-defined platforms, the automotive space is evo...

"Even young people, the most digitally savvy, are also the ones seeking the most human interactions with their banks." As Sophie Heller, COO of Group BNP Paribas, puts it, the future of banking isn’t about choosing between digital or human; it’s about building both in parallel to create more touchpoints, more trust, and now with generative AI, even more personalized assistance. Listen to...

Pavan Bachwal is a seasoned fintech leader with over 20 years of global experience in executive management, marketing, and GTM strategy. As vice president and head of financial services at Ericsson , he combines deep technical know-how with strategic marketing to drive innovation, partnerships, and customer value across markets. On The Menu: 1. Leveraging Transaction Data for Competitive Advantage...

Jan-Christophe Oetjen, Vice President of the European Parliament , cuts straight to the heart of the autonomous technology debate - it's not about the tech itself, it's about keeping people safe. Whether we're talking about drones delivering packages or self-driving cars on highways, Oetjen emphasizes that safety and security must be non-negotiable from day one. He addresses the common...

Jan-Christophe Oetjen, Vice President of the European Parliament , emphasizes the critical role of policy in creating economic opportunity. He argues that effective governance isn't just about regulation - it's about building the foundational ecosystem that allows businesses to thrive and generate employment. Oetjen highlights how smart policy creates a competitive environment where compan...

Jan-Christophe Oetjen, Vice President of the European Parliament , proposes a game-changing approach to airspace safety: mutual visibility. While drones are required to be detectable by aircraft, he argues it should work both ways. Aircraft should share their data with drone operators, creating a two-way transparency system. It's not about visual sight - it's about data sharing that lets drone pil...

Subho Mukherjee, VP and Global Head of Sustainability, emphasizes how the world can accelerate its sustainability journey by learning from different regions—Europe's circularity drive and India's deeply rooted circular practices. He highlights that instead of focusing on divisions, embracing cultural differences in sustainability approaches through cross-continental collaboration can drive...

Qualcomm CMO Don McGuire discusses the accelerated pace of tool development in the AI space, emphasizing the importance of understanding each tool's capabilities and aligning them with strategic business objectives. He highlights how organizations must quickly adapt to evaluate and implement the right tools to achieve their goals in the fast-evolving technology landscape. Watch the full podcas...

Kamini Belday 's deep passion for technology led to her success at IBM Cloud as the Global Head of Payments ! She is leading the development and execution of core banking & payment strategies, Go-To Market execution & revenue acceleration, ensuring secure payment solutions for a diverse range of clients with enhanced customer experience. On The Menu: 1. Embedded Payments Revolution - S...

Jan-Christophe Oetjen, Vice President of the European Parliament , addresses Europe's unique position in the emerging drone industry. While Europe has significant advantages, fragmented regulations across countries are holding back progress. Oetjen envisions a unified system where European drone services can operate seamlessly across all member states, rather than navigating different rules in...

Shubho Mukherjee, VP and Global Head of Sustainability at Nokia, shares key insights on the company's approach to digital transformation and environmental impact at Mobile World Congress. While acknowledging that the ICT industry contributes approximately 2% of global emissions, Mukherjee emphasizes the far greater potential of technology's "handprint impact" - how digital soluti...

Don McGuire's approach to audience negotiation focuses on finding the sweet spot between your message and what your audience actually wants to hear. As Qualcomm's CMO, he demonstrates how successful marketing isn't about pushing your agenda—it's about negotiating a mutual understanding where your brand goals align with audience needs. This involves reading audience signals, adaptin...

Eric Tak has headed the ECB’s Product Proposition Division of the Directorate Digital Euro since June 2024. He is responsible for managing the design and refinement of the digital euro product proposition, including the distribution model via payment service providers, and liaising closely with internal and external stakeholders. On The Menu: 1. Preserving cash benefits while enabling remote digit...

Rolandas Juteika is the CEO & Chairman of the Board at Revolut Securities Europe and Head of Wealth and Trading at Revolut . He has led the company’s business strategy, risk management, and compliance, driving its rapid growth in the EEA. He is also a board member of the Lietuvos Finansų Maklerių Asociacija, contributing to financial brokerage governance in Lithuania. On The Menu: 1. AI’s role...

Rose Wang is the COO of Bluesky Social , bringing a wealth of experience in tech, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Previously, she was Head of Customer Experience at AI platform Forethought and the CEO/co-founder of Chirps, a sustainable cricket protein food company. On The Menu: 1. Builds a new social web where no single entity controls content decisions. 2. Ensures seamless user experience...