Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3

Eager to unravel the intricacies of retail trading and fintech innovations? Join us as Elina Pedersen, the dynamic co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Your Bourse, shares her fascinating journey from the fast-paced world of Admiral Markets to spearheading her own venture.

Through Elina's insights, gain a unique perspective on the rise of retail trading and how it sets itself apart from the institutional giants. She offers an inside look at the motivations behind launching Your Bourse, emphasising the critical role of technology in bridging gaps for retail brokerages and enhancing trading safety and conditions.

In an enlightening conversation, we cover the transformative trends shaking up retail trading, from the essential role of data centres and low latency to the emergence of brokers crafting their own trading interfaces. Elina provides an honest account of navigating the competitive fintech landscape, particularly as a female leader in a predominately male field. She discusses the hurdles faced by startup brokers and the pivotal importance of education and advanced tools for success. As we reflect on the historical evolution of the trading industry, Elina's candid insights leave us pondering what, if anything, she would change about her remarkable career.

Takeaways

• Retail trading is speculative trading for personal gain.
• Elina's journey from marketing to CEO showcases rapid growth.
• Identifying gaps in the market led to the creation of Your Bourse.
• Your Bourse connects brokerages to execution venues and risk management.
• Low latency is crucial for trading efficiency and scalability.
• AI is simplifying developer tasks but won't replace them.
• Prop trading is a new trend in the retail trading space.
• Gold remains a popular trading instrument due to its predictability.
• The broker technology space is competitive and knowledge-intensive.
• Leadership requires transparency, feedback, and addressing blockers.

Elina Pederson https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-pedersen-59676014/
Matt Cheung https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Summary
Tamsin Hobley, Country Head for UK and Ireland at SIX, shares her journey in the finance industry and the importance of sales leadership and strategic sales. She emphasises the value of curiosity, listening, and building relationships in sales.

Tamsin also discusses the role of SIX in the financial industry, including its various business units and its focus on technology. She highlights the significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the industry and the need for companies to comply with ESG standards.

Tamsin talks about the importance of culture in the workplace, supporting working parents, and promoting diversity and inclusion. She offers advice for aspiring leaders, emphasising the importance of being brave, trying new things, and being open to diverse perspectives. Tamsin also discusses the future of SIX and her interest in non-executive roles and giving back.

Takeaways

• Curiosity and building relationships are key in sales.
• ESG compliance is important for companies in the finance industry.
• Culture, support for working parents, and diversity and inclusion are crucial in the workplace.
• Leaders should be open to diverse perspectives and communicate effectively.
• The future of SIX involves innovation, growth, and potential non-executive roles.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Tamsin Hobley's Background
03:27 Transition from Retail Banking to Sales Leadership
08:54 The Importance of Learning from Experience in Sales
16:46 The Significance of ESG and Diversity in the Financial Sector
21:55 Building a Supportive Culture and Fostering Leadership
29:41 The Role of Diversity of Thought in Leadership
33:55 Effective Communication and Listening as a Leader
38:23 Future Plans and Giving Back

Tamsin Hobley https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsinhobley/

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In his second appearance on the Work in Fintech podcast William Quigley and Matt Cheung discuss career options, education, big companies vs startups and it what it takes to succeed when you start your own company.

William Quigley, a long-time VC - he was Paypal's first institutional investor - and entrepreneur, from gaming to blockchain  (he cofounded Tether and WAX) shares his insights on:

• Foundational skills, such as critical thinking, are valuable in career development.
• A university education can provide a broad set of skills and opportunities.
• Working in a large, established company can offer exposure to exceptional business practices and experienced professionals.
• Assessing the financial health of a company and understanding market perceptions is important for career stability.
• Identifying opportunities and launching new products or services requires assessing market demand and managing resources effectively. Finding a co-founder or small team is important when starting a startup to share the workload and bring complementary skills.
• Assessing who would work well as a co-founder is a skill that needs to be developed.
• Consider the amount of capital needed and the potential for growth when deciding whether to raise funding.
• Surround yourself with exceptional people who challenge and push you to grow.
• Curiosity is a key trait for entrepreneurs and can lead to insights and new business ideas.
• Assess the size and potential growth of an industry to guide career decisions and identify opportunities.

https://x.com/williamequigley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Rodney Williams, co-founder of SoLo Funds, shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and fintech innovator. He discusses his first startup, LISNR, which used ultrasonic technology for seamless checkout experiences. Williams, an inspiring black entrepreneur, explains the motivation behind later starting SoLo Funds, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace that provides access to capital and helps individuals create bigger yield on their savings. He highlights the challenges of regulatory actions and the importance of being a B Corp. Williams emphasises the need for financial literacy and the role of fintech in empowering underserved communities. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and take risks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:57 From Listener to Solo Funds
08:32 The Problem of Limited Access to Capital
14:25 Challenges of Regulatory Actions
20:35 Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Differentiation
27:34 The Significance of Being a B Corp
31:33 Financial Literacy and Empowering Underserved Communities
36:58 The Future of Solo Funds and Advice for Entrepreneurs

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Summary

In this episode, Matt interviews Philippa Poole and Daniel Geller from Revolut, Europe's largest fintech company. They discuss their backgrounds and how they ended up working in the legal department at Revolut. They also talk about the differences between working in a law firm versus a fintech company, the challenges of scaling a legal team in a rapidly growing company, and the importance of automation and AI in their work. They emphasise the need for curiosity, embracing technology, and taking risks in one's career.

Takeaways

• There are many job roles in fintech beyond coding and development, including legal roles.
• Working in-house at a fintech company allows for a closer relationship with the business and a more strategic approach to legal advice.
• As a fintech company grows, the legal team must focus on scalability and automation to keep up with the demands of the business.
• Embracing technology, such as AI, can save time and improve efficiency in legal processes.
• Being curious, staying up to date with new developments, and taking risks are important for career growth in the fintech industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Revolut and the Legal Department
07:45 Comparison of Working in a Law Firm vs. Fintech
12:37 Scaling Challenges and the Importance of Automation
16:41 The Role of the Legal Department in Keeping Revolut Running
21:56 The Culture at Revolut and Working in a Fast-Growing Company
25:56 Hiring and Skills in the Legal Department
30:50 The Impact of Automation and AI in the Legal Department
36:13 Advice for Young Professionals and Embracing Technology

Philippa Poole - Head of Legal, Commercial
Daniel Geller - Deputy General Counsel
Matt Cheung - Founder Work in Fintech, CEO ipushpull 

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Summary

William Quigley, a long-time VC and entrepreneur, shares his journey from auditing failing financial institutions to becoming a venture capitalist and co-founding Tether and WAX. He discusses the challenges of investing in the early days of the internet and blockchain, and the creation of Tether as a stablecoin. Quigley also explains the roadmap for NFTs and the evolution of WAX as a platform for trading NFTs. The conversation covers various topics related to NFTs, blockchain, AI, and career advice. William Quigley discusses the limitations of Ethereum for consumer mass market transactions and the potential of NFTs beyond collectibles. He emphasizes the ability of NFTs to transfer something to someone at no cost and with certainty of authenticity. Quigley also explores the intersection of blockchain and AI, particularly in auditing smart contracts and enhancing trading strategies. He advises young people to gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before venturing into entrepreneurship and to observe untapped market opportunities.

Takeaways

• William Quigley has a background in auditing financial institutions and working at the Walt Disney Company before becoming a venture capitalist.
• He co-founded Tether, the world's first fiat-backed stablecoin, and WAX, a blockchain platform for trading NFTs.
• The early days of investing in the internet and blockchain were challenging, as there was limited interest and understanding in these technologies.
• Tether was created to provide stability in the volatile crypto market and enable easier trading between cryptocurrencies.
• WAX was developed to tokenize and trade non-fungible assets, such as video game virtual items and collectibles.
• The roadmap for NFTs includes expanding the use cases beyond profile pictures and collectibles, with potential applications in various industries. Ethereum is not designed for consumer mass market transactions, and NFTs have the potential to go beyond collectibles.
• NFTs enable the transfer of assets at no cost and with certainty of authenticity, revolutionizing the verification process.
• AI can be used to audit smart contracts and enhance trading strategies in the blockchain space.
• Young people should gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before pursuing entrepreneurship and should observe untapped market opportunities.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:44 Challenges of Investing in the Early Days of the Internet and Blockchain
14:12 The Creation of Tether
27:35 WAX: Tokenizing and Trading Non-Fungible Assets
32:18 The Roadmap for NFTs
39:14 The Intersection of Blockchain and AI: Auditing Smart Contracts
42:34 Enhancing Trading Strategies with AI in the Blockchain Space
46:42 Career Advice: Gaining Foundational Skills and Observing Market Opportunities

https://x.com/williamequigley

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Summary

In this conversation, Matt Cheung interviews Sean Forward, the UK CEO of payabl, a fintech company specialising in payments. They discuss the role of payabl in helping merchants accept payments, the concept of omni-channel payments, and Sean's journey in the fintech industry. They also explore the future of payments, including stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. Sean emphasises the importance of staying informed about industry trends and being discerning about the sources of information. He also highlights the diverse range of roles within a payments company and the value of teamwork and diverse skill sets. Finally, they briefly touch on the potential impact of a change in government on the fintech industry.

Takeaways

-payabl is a payment processor that helps merchants accept payments, with a focus on credit cards.
-The concept of omni-channel payments refers to the ability to accept payments through various channels, such as credit cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies.
-Staying informed about industry trends and being discerning about sources of information are crucial in the rapidly evolving fintech industry.
-There is a diverse range of roles within a payments company, and teamwork and diverse skill sets are essential for success.
-The future of payments may involve the widespread adoption of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to payabl
03:03 Understanding Omni-Channel Payments
12:17 Sean's Journey in the Fintech Industry
25:08 The Future of Payments: Stablecoins and CBDCs
33:02 Skills and Attributes for Success in Fintech
43:17 The Potential Impact of a Change in Government
45:03 Conclusion and Contact Information

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-forward/
https://payabl.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

Keywords

payments, fintech, payabl, omni-channel, stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, industry trends, teamwork

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Summary

Javier Rodriguez Alarcon, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Asset Management at XBTO, discusses the role of XBTO as a full service digital assets provider, focusing on institutional investors. He explains the three main business verticals of XBTO: capital markets, investment management, and a platform business. 

Before moving to crypto, Javier was in TradFi at Goldman Sachs as the  Global Head of Client Portfolio Management and EMEA Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies. Prior to that he was at Barclays Global Investors, now part of Blackrock.

Key takeaways

-Javier breaks down step-by-step how quant investors use technology and numerical processes to apply statistical modelling to investment decisions and portfolio construction.
-The convergence of traditional finance and crypto is happening, but legacy technology is a challenge. Javier thinks the full adoption of crypto and digital assets in financial transactions is likely in the future and discussing how institutions utilise crypto derivatives (for the major coins) and the role of decentralised exchanges vs centralised exchanges.
-If you are in a technical role, soft skills such as communication and the ability to explain complex concepts, are crucial for you to stand out in the financial industry and crypto


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Javier Rodriguez Alarcon and XBTO
02:50 Javier's Background as a Quant Investor
04:16 The Impact of Cloud Computing and AI
09:25 Javier's Transition from TradFi to Crypto
14:19 The Challenges of Convergence in the Financial Industry
23:48 Decentralized Exchanges vs. Centralized Exchanges
27:21 Quantitative Analysis in Portfolio Construction
35:12 Skills and Advice for Young Professionals in Crypto
45:24 The Future of Crypto and Digital Assets
49:14 Advice for Javier's 18-Year-Old Self

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Alvin Wang Graylin, Global VP of Corporate Development for HTC, discusses the intersection of AI and the metaverse. Alvin shares his background and journey in the tech industry, highlighting the importance of hard work and the value of understanding programming. Alvin explains how AI and XR technologies are coming together to create a transformative metaverse experience, discusses the challenges of centralization versus decentralization in the metaverse and the implications of privacy and anonymity in this new digital world. The conversation explores various themes related to the AI-powered metaverse and its impact on society. It delves into topics such as privacy and data control, the possibilities of the metaverse, tips for adapting to change, the importance of soft skills, the value of reading and curiosity, being kind and ethical, setting purpose-driven goals, embracing art and culture, taking care of physical health, prioritizing meaningful relationships, understanding and valuing the elderly, finding fulfillment and purpose, learning from mistakes and traveling, building understanding and empathy, anthropogenic risks and unity, the future of money and universal basic income, and advice for students.

Check out his latest book https://ournextreality.com/

Takeaways:

•The AI-powered metaverse has the potential to reshape society in various ways, and it is important to consider the ethical implications and privacy concerns associated with it.
•Soft skills such as communication, leadership, and ethical decision-making will become increasingly valuable in a world driven by AI and automation.
•Reading voraciously and seeking knowledge from diverse sources can help individuals make connections and gain a deeper understanding of the world.
•Kindness, empathy, and meaningful relationships are essential for personal well-being and societal harmony.
•As technology advances, it is crucial to prioritize physical health, embrace art and culture, and find purpose and fulfillment beyond materialistic pursuits.
•The transition to a post-scarcity society may lead to a shift away from traditional monetary systems, with a focus on providing for basic needs and fostering human connection.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
06:10 The Intersection of AI and XR
11:10 The AI-Powered Metaverse
14:01 The Evolution of the Metaverse
22:14 Centralization vs Decentralization in the Metaverse
27:07 Privacy and Anonymity in the Metaverse
32:46 Privacy and Data Control
34:19 The Art of the Possible
35:43 Tips for Adapting to Change
36:58 The Importance of Soft Skills
38:20 The Value of Reading and Curiosity
39:42 Being Kind and Ethical
41:08 Setting Purpose-Driven Goals
42:00 Embracing Art and Culture
42:53 Taking Care of Physical Health
44:18 Prioritizing Meaningful Relationships
45:44 Understanding and Valuing the Elderly
46:08 Finding Fulfillment and Purpose
47:31 Learning from Mistakes and Traveling
48:55 Building Understanding and Empathy
50:22 Anthropogenic Risks and Unity
54:27 The Future of Money and Universal Basic Income
56:06 Moving Towards a Post-Monetary Society
01:01:25 Advice to 18-Year-Old Self

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Matt Ober, General Partner at Social Leverage, delves into the world of data, automation, networking, and early-stage investing.

Matt shares his journey from specializing in equity derivatives at Bloomberg to hedge funds and then leveraging his expertise to navigate the complex waters of venture capital.

00:00:52 Matt Ober shares his background from Bloomberg, WorldQuant, Third Point and the journey into fintech and venture capital
00:02:14 Scaling WorldQuant 100x with data
00:07:02 Moving to venture capital from hedge funds
00:08:42 Why is data so important in fintech - access to information... and financial markets?
00:09:56 AI is the next frontier
00:14:52 What are the opportunities in fintech and web3
00:16:34 Opportunities in wealthtech
00:18:09 Exciting areas for people in their studies or early careers to focus on in fintech and web3
00:19:14 No such thing as the perfect job
00:20:09 Networking as a superpower - social leverage
00:21:18 Follow the laws of karma as you go through your career
00:22:28 Generalist versus specialist
00:25:46 Always be learning
00:26:55 Investing in people at seed stage startups
00:28:29 Summary

Read Matt's insight's here https://mirror.xyz/workinfintech.eth

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