Digital Dump

The Three Wise Men of Tech, better known as Steven Batiste (The Wizard of Data), Thomas Haida, (The AI Guru) and Erik van der Mars (The Payments Guy), are all together in one Podcast, moderated by Kate Pohl (The Cash, Trade & Treasury Mgt. Maven) What a treat (;-)

If you want to get up to speed with Payment Trends, learn about the top Technologies for Treasury, unlock the mysteries of Data or get the inside scoop on generative AI and of course.... ChatGPT, please join us for our 55th Digital Dump Podcast! 

The discussion is fun, fast paced and informative. Learn about what's going on in the market from the experts while having a chuckle at the same time.

Please let us know what questions you have for the Thoughtful Three (the Fearsome Four...) next time they come together!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl were delighted to welcome Diego Caceres, CEO and Founder and Jennifer Barb, Head of Business for DatafabriQ to Digital Dump!  Diego and Jenny explained that, in their view, one of the most painful areas of data management is in the ESG / sustainability space.

Regulation is increasing and reporting requirements becoming an ever-greater burden for companies. Understanding, for example, the impact of Scope 3 emissions – not just for the buyer of materials or manufacturer of goods – but for the entire supply chain is the goal! Today, only the very biggest enterprises have the appropriate data and know how to use it.  So… this means that the safe exchange of data and collaboration is key.

The playing field will need to be leveled so that a meaningful exchange is possible among all participants. The expansion of a collaborative data ecosystem, made safe and accessible, where the providers of data can share but remain in control of their information, is the future. DatafabriQ is supporting this process by creating technology for this to become a reality.  If we can truly understand the carbon footprint of entire supply chains, we can make informed decisions for our future!

Tune in for the exciting details and to learn more about Diego and Jenny’s vision!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste had the pleasure of welcoming Eleanor Hill, Editor of Treasury Management International, to Digital Dump! Eleanor told us about her background including studying languages before moving on to Private Wealth Management! She has been writing about Treasury since 2007 and has had a wealth of experience with various prestigious publications in writing as well as editing! Eleanor explained that she sees the following areas as key for treasury today: cash & liquidity management, supply chain management, hedging, implementation of regulation and getting ahead of fraud and cybercrime! What are the important technologies to support this? “APIs (possible API marketplaces), AI/ML, DLT and tokenization,” explains Eleanor. “AI can support what-if analyses to allow better planning and preparedness.”

She feels that concentrating on the talent pipeline i.e., hiring, managing, keeping, and training of staff is more vital than ever and skills such as AI, Data Analytics etc. will be increasingly valued and required. When asked about instant payments, Eleanor felt that this was indeed a key ingredient e.g., for cash forecasting. No discussion would have been complete without mentioning generative AI and ChatGPT.  Eleanor feels the human touch remains a very key ingredient! ESG will become increasingly important in treasury - in all its facets - including understanding and implementing regulation.

Where does Eleanor feel the focus is missing within treasury?

Is centralization always the right answer? And are treasuries still too MPS (Male, Pale and Stale)? And how does she actually describe diversity?

Tune in and find out the answers to these and many other questions!

Steven and Kate hosted Craig Jeffery, Managing Partner at Strategic Treasurer. Craig explained that although his formal education was centered on accounting he began his career in insurance, technology, investments, banking and then consultancy, starting his own firm in 2004. When asked about “Mega” trends, Craig cited embedded finance, the need for broadening risk controls and technologies such as cloud i.e., SaaS, artificial intelligence /machine learning (ML) as well as APIs for connectivity. ML will become ever more important to e.g., combat fraud with the ability to detect patterns and discover anomalies.  “Seeing ALL my cash everywhere should be standard and base line”, explains Craig. “Full connectivity should not be a cost benefit discussion… if accounts are not needed or relevant, they should be closed”. 

Are Instant Payments really necessary? “Maybe they are not a must for today… but things are not going to slow down,” he explains.  “It is probably fair to say that in, latest, 10 years it will be a must!”  What is at the top of a treasurer’s wish list?   Will treasury see a drop in staffing due to technology? How important is ESG and at what pace is this going to affect treasury operations?

Join us to find out the answers to these and many other questions on Digital Dump.

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Irene Kilubi, on Digital Dump. Irene talked about her background and education as well as her career journey. She wears many hats i.e. as a speaker, a moderator, a writer, and a teacher… but feels that the word Entrepreneur best describes what she does!

Irene is a builder of communities, of bridges between generations. She helps to create a runway for learning and cooperation. Irene feels that learning from each other starts with a dialog, but that is not enough! It is the experience of actually working together and interacting that enhances true cooperation and can change "traditional" mindsets! Pairing the wisdom and experience of seniors with the drive and fresh ideas of juniors is an important factor for success in our society! Social responsibility and sustainability are also key. We did discuss technology and what is - or will be - important in the future. Dr. Kilubi elaborated on AI/ML, IoT and Blockchain for trust and record keeping.

Should digitalization always be the goal? What are the pitfalls? What does a longer and healthier life imply for our work/life balance?

What are the key skills that we need to focus on for success?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of hosting Nicolas Kozakiewicz, Chief Innovation Officer, Worldline, on Digital Dump this week.

Nicolas talked about his background and training as an engineer, saying that he realized early on, that engineering simply does not solve all of life’s problems 😉! He explained the job of the Chief Innovation Officer as watching the horizon to identify opportunities and working to make the most of these, while, at the same time identifying any issues as well!

This fits in perfectly with his motto, “What If”! We discussed the advantages - as well as the challenges - of large established fintechs such as Worldline vs start-ups and how they can complement each other. Nicolas spoke of Blockchain and AI as well as devices i.e., bridges to tech such as a smart phone.

Our guest unpacked Blockchain so that its use, as an “efficient and elegant method of providing trust”, is now very clear! Nicolas made complex technologies easy to understand!

Are Blockchains distributed but centralized? What is the difference between Digital and Digitized? Is cooperation and collaboration a must for start-ups and established Financial Services Organizations?

Tune in and find out the answers to these and so many other questions!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste had the pleasure of interviewing Johan Gerber, EVP of Security and Cyber Innovation at Mastercard.

Johan began by giving us a view on the enormous issues and costs surrounding Cybercrime, a $10.5 trillion “business” today! Mastercard is doing its part by spending over $1 BLN pa to reduce vulnerability e.g., by looking at 500 fields in less than 10 milliseconds for over 110 bln transactions a year. This, in turn, results in stopping $30BLN in attempted fraud pa!

He stated that the entire financial services Industry – and the internet with its 5 bln users- will always be a target for cybercrime. “Digital First has become Digital by Default,” explained Johan, “we can no longer live without it!” Innovation was literally forced upon us by the pandemic i.e., the crisis was a catalyst. New technologies such as behavioral biometrics are helping to increase both convenience and safety! The effort to reduce fraud and cybercrime must, however, transcend national boundaries as well as local efforts and become global.

Can “intelligent” friction actually be extremely effective? Does Johan believe in cooperation with fintechs? How can we solve the issue of bias in algorithms… and is this important?

Join us as we find out more about how “Life begins at the end of your comfort Zone!”

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste welcomed Dr. Peter Robejsek, Country Manager Germany, at Mastercard.

Peter told us a little about his business journey, emphasizing the great help and support he has received from some gifted teachers and mentors along the way. 

We discussed the card business (mixed results for 2022), the four-party model (Peter feels it is good value for money), and security. Our guest stated that good and appropriate security is becoming a “hygiene” factor i.e., it is expected and must be there! Mastercard strongly believes in cooperation and collaboration with Fintechs for a variety of reasons including good business practice, but also social obligation.

It is perhaps not surprising that Peter believes we should all exhibit more compassion… for ourselves and others! What are some of the next big innovations that Peter Robejsek expects in his business? Will machine learning be key? Is the Metaverse the next frontier?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more.

Digital Dump welcomed Oliver Schwarz, Partner at Deloitte, responsible for Cloud Transformation.

Oliver explained how the cloud in its many facets has changed the face of innovation and with it the Financial Services Industry. He identified and discussed some of the various megatrends including tech, regulation, future of work, open banking, and ESG.  Oliver mentioned that when reviewing the (Deloitte) Digital Banking Maturity Study, that the FSI lags behind both the USA and Asia. Our guest touched on data and its importance as well as privacy concerns, discussing boundaries and what the future could bring.

Is Multi- or mono-cloud the way forward? Is the Metaverse "experience" really key? Are we open-minded enough in the FSI when it comes to technology?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more.

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of welcoming Kilian Thalhammer, Head of Merchant Solutions, Deutsche Bank to our Podcast.

Kilian spoke about his background and how he came to join Deutsche. He discussed the differences between fintechs and banks… e.g. “speed is vital for a fintech, but not always the best KPI for a bank”.

Kilian feels that trust really influences client relationships and takes a long time to build, however this is not always easy for fintechs to achieve. Is collaboration between the two a key recipe for success? Kilian stated, “collaboration is the way forward for banks and fintechs!”

How does our guest REALLY feel about tech buzzwords?  What were his lessons of the pandemic?  Are emerging markets the new frontier or the biggest threat?  

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more.

"I never lose... I either win or learn!"

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Kiefer, Co-Founder of Ride Capital on Digital Dump.

Christine studied Computer Sciences and Economics.  She was part of a small minority of women at the time, but had a great deal of support from her family. CK worked in Software(TMobile), Consulting (Bain) and Banking (Goldman), after trying all 3 it was time for Fintech! In order to make the transition easier, Christine began with a  finance related fintech, Billpay. In 2018, she founded Ride Capital. This is a fintech, looking to serve the space between HIGH net worth and retail... in other words the HENRYs = High Earners Not Rich Yet!

She and her colleagues found that there was / is a real void in knowledge re e.g., tax law or trading opportunities. How is regulation shaping and driving fintechs? Is collaboration really key? AND will Christine's next move be to go into politics?

Tune in and find the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven and Kate were excited to speak with Jürgen Schmitt, Expedition Finance, Deutsche Bank.

Jürgen’s background is trading, but when that door closed a whole new world opened!

Jürgen admitted to us that he unfortunately does not have a Crystal Ball but tries to choose forward looking themes that can be of interest to his audience.  The presentation of his film clips are on social media, especially favoring LinkedIn. Presenting the Megatrends throughout the bank takes quite a lot of research and preparation but it is worth it.

How does Jürgen see artificial intelligence supporting the financial industry? What role will the Metaverse play? AND what advise does this wise, bearded man give to beginners in the financial services industry?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more.

Martin Runow, Global Head of Payments and Digital at Barclays Corporate Bank joined Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste for this episode of Digital Dump.

Martin talked about the joys - and challenges - of his position and how rewarding it was to put so many aspects of banking together! We discussed the ups and downs of working closely with fintechs, however giving banks the option to collaborate instead of just make or buy. For Martin, two of the key technologies to leverage are APIs and Cloud.

It is clear that Retail and Wholesale banking are taking different product paths in certain instances according to Martin.

Are Instant Payments the “Next Big Thing” for Wholesale Banking? What role can Biometrics play? What words of wisdom does Martin have for new joiners? Spoiler alert, it includes the word “fun”!

Find the answers to these and many other questions by tuning in!

Today Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl had a conversation with Dr. Markus Weiss, Director and Member of the Geschaeftsleitung of Strategy&.

Markus revealed that he received his PhD in Information Management investigating innovative business models which, at the time, meant understanding and applying new and cutting edge technology to create e.g. the IoT.

Our main focus today was indeed what can be done to improve the KYC process for banks and corporates!

KYC remains a MAJOR dilemma for FIs and enterprises today. Markus discussed centralized as well as decentralized methodologies.  In decentralized applications data stays with the corporation and can be shared with banks. We discussed the role of service providers and of course regulators whose support is vital.

What countries are at the forefront of this initiative? Can technology help?

To hear the details and find out how to better tackle this subject, tune in and find the answers to some of the questions you have been afraid to ask.

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl had the pleasure of interviewing Ulf Henning Jacobs, Partner of d-fine this week.

Ulf talked about technology explaining that change and development are key, but the “benefits” are in the eye of the beholder.  When asked about key technologies going forward, Ulf focused on Quantum Computing (when QC becomes mainstream blockchains and Bitcoin might no longer be safe!) and Autonomous Systems. AI won’t change everything, says Ulf, but it is an important additional tool. AI will not replace experience.

What are the key use cases for AI? Is collaboration possible between banks and fintechs? Has our guest ordered a category 3 car so he can eat, drink and read the paper while driving on the Autobahn?

Tune in to find the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven and Kate were very pleased to welcome Oliver Sopp, Regional Sales Director, DACH at Mambu, to our Podcast!

Oliver talked about the vision and goals of Mambu. He emphasized that true collaboration and support of each other is a recipe for success in this global company. Time to market is becoming ever more important. Oliver explained that the key ingredients to achieve this are flexibility, speed, and composability! A great customer experience coupled with an ecosystem of best-of-breed products and services will be the future.

Is Mambu the right partner for both incumbents and neo banks? What technologies does Oliver feel will be important going forward?  Do banks have a future in the metaverse?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more!

Kate Pohl, @Traxpay, and Steven Batiste, @TIS had the great pleasure of speaking with Frank Riemensperger, Digital Strategist, Board Member, and Former Senior MD at Accenture.

Frank describes the early days of computer science over 35 years ago and his decision to join Andersen Consulting.  For Frank, the digital transformation was something that he was involved in, right from the beginning of his career in the 80s. It started with a project to create and digitalize a platform for the Frankfurt Options and Futures Stock Exchange. Frank feels that the Cloud has been a real game-changer and certainly not only due to hardware and storage capabilities. He says that Web 3.0 will – and should be - key for our Digital future.

The pandemic was a global wake-up call, will digital bioengineering be next? Please tune in to hear about these topics and sooo much more.

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl had the pleasure to interview Laura Wirtz, Lead Daily Banking and Payments for ING Germany.

Laura discussed her background with us including why she gravitated towards banking and continues to enjoy the color orange.

Laura spent most of her career in international wholesale banking. In 2015 she switched roles and became business manager to the CEO of ING Germany, followed by her promotion to lead Strategy and Business Development for the bank. Recently, Laura has taken on a large and challenging assignment in the retail payments world for ING in Germany.

Laura complimented neo banks on their success in the area of customer experience. In this case, she believes that imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery😊. Laura understands that being challenged and at times “uncomfortable” paves the way for innovation. What roles do agile and new ways of working play in the success of payments at ING? Was there a silver lining to the pandemic?

How is Laura able to balance a demanding career with children and family life?

Tune in to find the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven and Kate had the pleasure to interview Marco Hinz, COO of CrossLend this week.

Marco explained that he has always been involved in B2B technology, however never in banking… until CrossLend! He explained that CrossLend bridges the gap from the “capital markets” world to the “real world”. They are able to take some of the cost and friction out of lending! We discussed the concept of embedded finance and “being at the point of the business, the point of the demand”.

Marco believes in experimentation and is not afraid to fail with his motto being: “Let us try this.” Certainly, AI is critical for this business going forward, but do we need blockchain? Do Lego blocks really have something to do with banking? And even more importantly how do you play TETRIS with your Dishwasher? 

Tune in to find the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl had an interesting and lively conversation with Sebastian Schaefer, MD and Co-Founder of the TechQuartier.

When asked why the TechQuartier had been located in Frankfurt, Sebastian explained that the city has so much to offer; it is a vibrant and truly international city. The pandemic was a turning point for the TQ as they were forced to add activities while translating physical programs into digital offerings. However, the TQ was always open during the last 2 years and really provided a safe Haven for its members. Sebastian feels strongly that tech should serve society and not the other way around. What technologies does he feel will gain in importance over the next 3 years?

Is data really the key? Are Sebastian and his colleagues satisfied with the results of the last few years?

Tune in and find out!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl spoke with Jörg Reuter, Principal Solution Consultant, at Pegasystems, about Fraud and Cybercrime.

Jörg feels that what banks and corporates are doing to fight fraud and cybercrime is “acceptable” … but they could do more.

We discussed different aspects and challenges as well as supporting technologies. Crypto was reviewed as well. Jörg feels that the IoT is particularly worrisome given the behavior of consumers as well as business i.e., security features are available, but usually … ignored.

Is the data needed for monitoring and securing processes really available? Is better regulation a must? Why has Low-Code become the “key” for making the complex easy?

Tune in and find out more!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste interviewed Kenza Ait Si Abbou, Director Client Engineering DACH for IBM.  Kenza found her way to Artificial Intelligence and Engineering by growing up with a love of mathematics.

She stated that lack of technology is not the barrier to achievement, but instead, culture and a strong "fear of doing the wrong thing".  Information is power, which makes sharing data a very sensitive matter.

Kenza felt that the pandemic certainly helped to change "mindset" and forced everyone to digitize.  When asked if we should allow robots to take over cognitive jobs, Kenza was clear... "We cannot stop it, we cannot stop progress."

AI has given us better customer interaction and customer care.  Business process automation is more cost-effective and efficient in regard to predictive maintenance.

AI supports not only better but totally new experiences.

Do we have sufficient regulation?  What is next?

Tune in and find out!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl interviewed Markus Schulz, Deputy Global Head Financial Crime Compliance & Global Head FCC Change Management at ING Bank. Markus highlighted that whenever the good guys plug a hole, another is explored/created, making it even harder to slow the pace of Financial Crime. Markus emphasized that since we don't have unlimited budgets, it is important to start with the "simple things'' "Adding 3 more locks to the door doesn't work if the gatekeeper hands over the keys!".

He commented that massive investments are being made in Regtech and that the number of providers has grown exponentially.

Markus emphasized the need for "explainability", especially to the regulator.  Technology as a tool remains important, but you need clean, plentiful, and available data to make it useful. Technology alone is not the answer (especially when the question is not clearly defined)!  Markus sees banks becoming "financial institutions i.e. data companies with a balance sheet".  He advocates for the same rules for the same risks.

What do belly dancers and compliance have in common? Do we continue to underestimate the cultural environment? If we fail to plan... must we plan to fail?

Tune in and find out!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste welcomed Carsten Brzeski, Global Head of Macro Research and Chief Economist Eurozone at ING Bank, to the podcast.  Carsten explained his very interesting and rich background including how he “rolled” into economics. He was quite upbeat about the future but sees the 2021 themes as the same ones for 2022.

Carsten does not feel that Omicron will be a game changer. And although the pandemic has brought various effects and changes, we will get through this. Asia does, however, pose a risk to the economy with their zero covid strategy i.e. affecting global supply chains. But the order books e.g. in Europe are full to overflowing so as the supply chain issues become less critical later this year, we should see a real uptick. Government spending will increase, also to support the green transition. This will require significant investment.

Should you be worried about inflation and what are the 3 D’s? Is Artificial Intelligence the key technology today? What about the future of work… will a robot be defining my job in the future?

Tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more!

Artificial Intelligence will have a central role in our world going forward.

Please join Steven Batiste, TIS and Thomas Haida, Microsoft as they continue their conversation about AI moderated by Kate Pohl, and categorize it as "the glue that will be needed to hold everything together!"

Are we really going to replace humans with Avatars? And does that mean we can skip going to meetings in the future? (Only kidding... sort of.)  

Thomas feels that the perfection of voice recording will be duplicated by human images in the not so distant future. Is this an example of the Uncanny Valley? Will AI use cases challenge and easily pass the Turing test? Has Star Trek become reality in the 21 Century?

Please tune-in to find out what the experts are saying!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl spoke with Andre Bajorat beginning with the first steps in his "career", a word he finds much too formal. Andre sees himself as a "border crosser" bringing people and topics etc. together while maintaining his independence.

What are the game-changing technologies today? Andre sees the Internet and certainly the Cloud in this category. AI will be a facilitator of some monumental change in his opinion. For Andre, the New Normal is indeed contextual banking and embedded finance.  He feels that "banking and payments should be there - when and how I need them."

What does true cooperation between banks and fintechs look like? Is EPI a go or more wishful thinking? What are the most important factors for Andre when considering an early-stage investment in a young start-up?

Please tune in to find the answers to these questions and so much more!

Kate Pohl spoke with Miriam Wohlfarth on a variety of topics surrounding start-ups, fintechs, and banks. We also spent time discussing the technologies of today and tomorrow! Miriam is a great believer in embedded and contextual banking, "in the future, people will need products that support their lives and fit them better".

Miriam feels it is vital to use and further develop APIs for better access to data. For her, Artificial Intelligence will be the foundation for what fintechs develop in the future. What does Miriam Wohlfarth worry about, what keeps her up at night?

Does she think there are problems that cannot be solved? We loved Miriam's optimism and positive attitude as well as her motto - from her father -  "Enthusiasm is the principal [the foundation] for all possibilities".

Please tune in and listen to a very inspiring leader and get the answers to the above questions plus so much more!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl discuss the topic of Banking as a Service (BaaS).

Today, platforms want to integrate a range of financial products and services from payments to financing. It all began with cards - both debit and credit and today there is no end (of use cases) insight.

Non-banks e.g., fintechs, neo banks, or even incumbent banks... are looking for players with a banking license or banking products and services. Why? So that they can concentrate on building and maintaining their brand and the customer experience!

BaaS can be a bridge that drives value for platforms as well as end users.

How and when did this all begin? Does size matter?  Who are actually the providers, the actual players in BaaS? Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl discuss the topic of the Metaverse (OR is it Multiverse....?) in order to really understand what these terms mean!

We also touch on the concepts of both Virtual and Mixed Reality that are key to understanding the Metaverse. Steven explains the origins of this new frontier and how it has developed over time. We look at Facebook, Microsoft, etc. that are developing and using the Metaverse in order to get a feel for use cases and future potential.

Is Facebook - or Meta as it is now called - investing billions in the technology? Is Microsoft really planning to turn us all into cartoon characters through avatars (or is this merely a joke or a gimmick)?

Will Steven Batiste become SpongeBob and Kate Pohl become Princess Leia? Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl explore the realm of deepfakes to better understand the topic itself as well the effects on society.

Steven explains exactly what a deepfake is as well as the technology behind it. We look at the connection to artificial intelligence and explore the power of GANs (generative adversarial networks). The adversarial relationship between the "decoder and the discriminator" turns out to be key. In other words, both work in a competitive fashion to continually improve the deepfake.

What are the use cases... both those used to do good as well as ... evil?  What are the key concerns around this technology? And can we make sure that it is used safely?

Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl spoke with Daniel Bartsch on the topic of Cooperation between Fintechs and Banks, giving us some insight on whether they are "still dating or have truly tied the knot"! Daniel took us through the evolution of both the cooperation and competition, highlighting big pros but also a few cons. He explained the ability to leverage synergies that create real benefits for both parties.

What do fintechs and banks actually bring to the party? What are the biggest barriers to working well together? And importantly, what can fintechs learn from banks and vice versa!

Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl spoke with Erwin Kulk on the topic of IXB - Immediate Cross-Border Payments.

Erwin explained to us how this initiative was "born" and what part was played by the TCH, SWIFT, various banking partners, and of course EBA Clearing.

What we felt was particularly exciting and promising is that IXB leverages (clearing) systems that exist today to achieve synchronized settlement. 

But, what does immediate really mean?  What about geography and currency... is this system limited to the Euro/Dollar corridor? What value-added services will IXB support? Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Today Steven and Kate are talking to Thomas Haida, Customer Happiness Officer at Microsoft, who has a passion for Cloud, Big Data, and Analytics.

Thomas with his background across many industries, geographies, and technologies goes deep on AI i.e., the beginnings, where we are today, and where we are going. He shares his views on machine and deep learning as well as quantum giving us a good understanding of how AI is shaping and changing our world.

Is Artificial Intelligence really… intelligent?  Is data the key?  What about bias?

Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Today Steven and Kate are talking to Simon Jones, Fintech Mentor and Financial Entrepreneur with a deep and rich background in banking and treasury.

Simon gives us an insider’s view and understanding of the world of neo banks and how they compare to incumbents.

He shares some of his insights on what works and what doesn’t… and why!

Are the high valuations of challenger banks justified? Are neo banks truly a threat to established financial institutions? What are the key technologies that are needed to drive this business today and tomorrow?

Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Today Steven and Kate are talking to Dr. Jörg Howein, the CPO of Solarisbank.

We are exploring the world of Banking as a Service, a fascinating and relatively new concept.

Jörg talks about the products and services that Solaris offers the market today and where they plan to go in the future. What role does data really play in the bank’s development? What does platformization contribute to the success of Solaris? How did the pandemic influence certain choices made… including New Ways of Working?

Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more.

Today we are having a discussion on REQUEST TO PAY (R2P) with Thomas Egner, Secretary General of the Euro Banking Association (EBA).

Steven and Kate are exploring this new payment type with Thomas to help our listeners become more familiar with the future of payments!

R2P goes far beyond simplifying the payment of invoices - for both individuals and companies - it supports a variety of additional use cases! 

Thomas has shared his views on what it will take to make R2P successful and what kind of cooperation is necessary for that success. Is new regulation needed?  What type of data can R2P support?  Will Request to Pay replace direct debits or card payments?  Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more!

Today we are having a discussion about New Ways of Working: the Good, the Bad, and the Hybrid!

Steven Batiste, the CTO of TIS, and Kate Pohl, Head of Banking and Partner Strategy for Traxpay, are exploring what this really means including the far reaching implications!

Digital Dump will have a look at what technology is needed, what should be avoided, and the dangers of fraud and cybercrime.

Are all industries in the same boat? What about recruitment practices and pay levels? Are all hybrid schemes created equal? Please tune in and find the answers to these questions and a lot more!

Today we are having a discussion with Traxpay, a fintech that specializes in Supply Chain Finance.

In our interview with Markus Rupprecht CEO, Thomas Fuhrmann, CTO, and our resident Tech Wizard, Steven Batiste, we explore - not only why Supply Chain Financing is more important now than ever - but what role platformization plays in this story.

We look at the need for fintechs to have a laser focus, but also the capability to collaborate... especially with banks! What does a successful cooperation with a bank look like? How is a fintech product portfolio enhanced and enlarged? Who decides and how is this implemented?

Please tune in and find out the answers to these questions and more!

Our topic today is Digital Identity

· Almost 1 billion people lack a formal means of Identification

· ½ the entire global population have some form of ID but no digital trail

· There are risks as well as benefits!

· And of course Covid has shown us how important secure remote access is!

What is Digital Identity and does it solve these problems?

Our topic today is Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality

We've all heard of Virtual Reality (VR) … but what exactly is it…? and how is that different from Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented (AR)?

Does it have a future? If so, in what capacity?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL

According to finLedger... Everywhere you look, a new BNPL startup is cropping up or raising more money. And all that activity is drawing the attention of regulators around the globe!

Is it good for the consumer, retailer, or just the provider? How does it work behind the scenes? What's the future?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is "Chia Network"

Chia, what is a Chia Network?

How does it compare to bitcoin and other crypto coins and chains? How is its blockchain different? What do I need to start farming?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is "Internet of Things"

Internet of Things, what exactly is it?

Is it just hype? How will it affect us? Where is it going?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is "Neo Banks vs Incumbent Banks"

Neo banks, what exactly are they and how do they compare to incumbent banks?

What's the future for them? Is our money safe? Where is the innovation going?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is "Quantum Computers"

What are they and how do they work? Will they change how the world as we know it?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is "Fake News".

What is it? How long has it been around, and can it affect elections? Does artificial intelligence change things?

Tune in to find these answers and more!

Our topic today is the technology behind Artificial Intelligence or AI

How does it work? Is it really intelligence? Are we all going to be taken over by machines?

Let's find out!

Our topic today is Ransomware.

We've all heard it in the news, and it doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon, but what exactly is it? Who does it affect, and am I at risk from it?

Crypto coins – aka bitcoin and Ether (Ethereum), are the two big ones, but how can they be used?

And will they really change the financial world?

Crypto coins are such a big topic that we split this information between two episodes!

Part two will focus not only on Crypto Coins but also on what Banks and Central Banks are up to! We will also look at some of the more “out-there” examples of coins e.g. Doge coins or crypto vs Gold…