Money Majlis

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In this episode of Money Majlis recorded on the sidelines of the Istanbul Fintech Week 2025, host Suvo Sarkar sits down with Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO of the Global Finance and Technology Network and former Chief Fintech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Together, they trace Singapore’s extraordinary journey from fintech outsider to one of the world’s leading innovation hubs, attracting billions in investment and setting global benchmarks for trust, collaboration, speed and digital infrastructure. 

Mohanty identifies AI, tokenization, and quantum computing as the next frontiers for the future of finance — technologies set to transform everything from user experience to the security and structure of financial assets.

How should banks drive innovation? What are the six things regulators look for while approving fintechs? Why did Japan lose out on the fintech revolution? What are the challenges to the inter-operability of cross-border payments? Is stablecoin the future? And will embedded finance and superapps drive financial inclusion? 

Mohanty and Sarkar debate these and other topics in this intimate conversation that also covers the virtues of a small town upbringing, the constraints to passporting of regulatory approvals and the opportunities for public-private partnerships.  

This episode is a masterclass from a celebrity regulator in how bold policy, open collaboration, and relentless experimentation can reshape the future of finance—not just for Singapore, but for the world.

And please visit give.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free $50 GiveCard for a charity of your choice. 

Produced by : Sabine Achkar at Poddster
Research partner: Perplexity Pro
Giving partner : Goodworld

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In this Advertising-special episode of Money Majlis, we sit down with Sasan Saeidi, global client lead at WPP & VML and the current world president of the International Advertising Association to understand the playbook of modern advertising. Sasan’s journey—from New York’s Madison Avenue to the vibrant streets of Dubai—reads like the script of a modern-day Mad Men, but with a distinctly international twist.
 
Sasan shares what makes regional brands unique, and why understanding local consumers is more crucial than ever in a globalized world. He unpacks the anatomy of truly effective campaigns, drawing on his experience with iconic brands like Coca Cola, Mazda and KitKat. Sasan reveals the collaborative dance between client and agency, and why great advertising is never just about a clever idea—it’s about partnership, trust, and relentless curiosity. And about balancing technology with humanity.
 
We tackle the challenge of declining customer engagement and the rise of experiential marketing, discussing how brands can move beyond fleeting impressions to build lasting loyalty and emotional resonance. Can brands authentically balance purpose and profit? How do you navigate the risks of polarization in today’s divided world? Should agencies chase awards or results? Do creative campaigns drive higher sales? Is BX more important than CX? And what does it really take to connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha?
 
Sasan offers a front-row perspective on how generative AI and data is reshaping creative work, on the future skillset for marketers, the war for creative and analytical talent, and why the human touch will always matter—even as machines get smarter.
 
Tune in for a masterclass in creativity, leadership, and the future of advertising with one of the industry’s most dynamic and insightful leaders. And remember to visit give.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free $50 GiveCard for charity.
 
Research by Shekhar Krishnamurthy & Perplexity Pro
 
Produced by Poddster
 
Giving partner : Goodworld

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This week on Money Majlis XTRA, we travel to Jaipur for a truly uplifting conversation with D. R. Mehta, the visionary founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti—better known as Jaipur Foot. Mr. Mehta’s life work has restored dignity and mobility to millions, offering hope where there was once despair. In this episode, you’ll hear how his relentless pursuit of innovation and service has made Jaipur Foot the world’s largest provider of free prosthetic limbs and mobility aids for the differently-abled.

Mr. Mehta shares the remarkable journey of Jaipur Foot, which began in 1975 with just 59 prosthetic fittings and has now crossed two million fitments, all provided free of charge and often completed within a single day. He recounts the fascinating story behind the Jaipur Foot’s design—a product of local ingenuity, collaboration with global institutions like Stanford and MIT, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of users in India and beyond. You’ll learn how the organization’s ethos of frugal innovation led to the creation of the Jaipur Knee, recognized by Time magazine as one of the world’s best inventions, and why BMVSS never patents its designs, ensuring their solutions can reach as many people as possible.

Beyond his humanitarian achievements, Mr. Mehta reflects on his distinguished career as a public servant, including his transformative leadership at SEBI and the Reserve Bank of India. He discusses the reforms that shaped India’s financial markets and his commitment to expanding access to banking for underserved communities. 

Discover how BMVSS keeps its administrative costs below 3%, the role of crowdfunding and partnerships in sustaining its work in India and over 40 other countries, and the organization’s embrace of Kaizen philosophy and new digital technologies like 3D printing to further its mission.

For the first 100 listeners who select Jaipur Foot on our giving website give.moneymajlis.com, a $50 donation will be made on your behalf, thanks to our sponsors. If you’re inspired by Mr. Mehta’s story, don’t miss this chance to make a difference. Tune in, share the episode, and join us in supporting a movement that changes lives every day. 

This episode was made possible with the generous assistance of Mr S S Bhandari, executive president of BMVSS (Jaipur Foot). 

Research by : Shekhar Krishnamurthy

Produced by : Poddster

Giving partner : Goodworld

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In this episode of Money Majlis, recorded at the Dubai Fintech Summit 2025, you are invited into a dynamic conversation between host Suvo Sarkar and Justin Grooms, President of Bolt Financial. 

Justin Grooms, who has led Bolt’s global strategy since 2019, shares a front-row perspective on the seismic shifts happening in payments and e-commerce. With Bolt’s universal shopper network now connecting over 80 million users, Justin offers rare insight into how independent retailers can compete with global giants through frictionless checkout, loyalty programs, and password-less authentication.

Justin and Suvo explore the crossroads facing the payments industry: while transaction volumes are soaring, revenue growth is slowing and the sector is ripe for disruption. Where will the next wave of growth come from? What drives customer choices in online shopping - is it product selection, user experience, pricing, or trust? Will the industry will see consolidation or continued fragmentation? 

Justin deep dives into Bolt’s new superapp, which aims to make buying, selling, and using cryptocurrencies as easy as traditional payments. He discusses the impact of generative AI on payments, from real-time fraud prevention to enhancing customer experience, and shares his leadership philosophy that helped Bolt scale tenfold through challenging times.

Don’t miss this masterclass on the future of money, technology, and leadership. And remember to visit give.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free $50 GiveCard for charity.

Research by Shekhar Krishnamurthy & Perplexity Pro

Produced by Poddster

Giving partner : Goodworld

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In this episode of Money Majlis, Suvo Sarkar goes on a journey with Khalifa Alshamsi, CEO of e& life and e& international, who explains the rationale and opportunity of e& expanding into financial services, lifestyle, entertainment and cybersecurity. 

Can a company be an incumbent and challenger at the same time? How do you diversify into new industries and target markets? Does a bold new strategy require a fully new mindset of “going for more”? Is collaboration with partners the way forward for successful companies?

Hear Khalifa Alshamsi explain why he believes e& money will win in an overcrowded market, how open finance and AI will shake up the industry, why the time for super-apps in the region has come and what skills the younger generation needs to hone in today’s interconnected world.

Once you have heard the episode, please visit give.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free gift card of $50 to contribute to a charity of your choice. Thank you for joining my giving movement. 

Research partner : Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Giving partner : Goodworld 

Production : Poddster

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In this riveting episode of Money Majlis, host Suvo Sarkar travels to Bangalore for a debate with the legendary T.V. Mohandas Pai, a trailblazer in finance, technology, education, and philanthropy. 

Known for his transformative contributions as the former CFO of Infosys and as a venture capitalist and chairman of Manipal Global Education, Pai shares his insights on navigating the intersections of business, technology, and social impact. 

Discover how Pai helped scale Infosys to a $6.5 billion global powerhouse and the first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ. As one of India’s most prolific angel investors, Pai discusses his investments in life sciences, education, and technology startups, along with his vision for fostering innovation in India. Also dive deep into Pai’s passion for education and child welfare, including the story behind co-founding Akshaya Patra—the world’s largest mid-day meal program. 

How many hours a week should one work? Is human capital more critical than financial capital? Should start-ups aim to solve social problems? Is a bad college better than no college? Will Bangalore’s traffic problems ever be resolved? And should companies appoint younger members on their boards? Pai debates these and other thorny issues with Sarkar in an unmissable episode peppered with wisdom, wit and a lot of statistics. 

Once you have heard the episode, please visit give.moneymajlis.com to redeem your free gift card of $50 to contribute to a charity of your choice. Thank you for joining my giving movement. 

Research partner : Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Giving partner : Goodworld 

Production : Poddster

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Welcome to a special episode on customer loyalty where Suvo Sarkar is in deep discussion with Ajay Row, a globally acknowledged expert on loyalty programs and the founder & chairman of Customer Capital. 

Why is data the most valuable commodity but is freely given away? What are the 6 key assets of a loyalty program? Are points better than discounts? Should we try to dazzle and delight every single customer? And how are digitisation and AI transforming the “card-points-rewards” principles of loyalty? 

Ajay analyses the economics of pan-bank loyalty programs and explains why they mostly fail to take off. And he lays out the future factors for success, and argues that marketers need to redefine their job roles. 

Join Suvo & Ajay for a thoughtful discussion on unboxing loyalty programs, enhancing email open rates and sailing in Mumbai harbour every weekend. If you are in the business of banking, marketing, sales or loyalty, or believe making money from customers by delivering affordable value is important, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss.

Visit give.moneymajlis.com to join my giving movement and contribute to a charity of your choice by redeeming your free gift card.

Research by : Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Production : Poddster 

Giving partner : Goodworld

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In this episode of Money Majlis, I sit down with Chris Skinner, renowned futurist and author, to explore the future of banking and finance. Skinner, known for his influential insights on fintech and digital transformation, shares his views on how technology is reshaping the financial landscape.

We discuss his latest book, “Intelligent Money” and how banking is poised for a “reversal of roles” where money thinks for us. Skinner delves into the rapid growth of fintechs and their potential to acquire traditional banks, as well as the emergence of a hybrid financial system (HyFi) that combines traditional and decentralized finance.

Additionally, Skinner touches on the impact of Generative AI in finance, future jobs in banking, and the importance of purpose-driven strategies in the financial industry. He also shares his predictions for banking in 2050 and the evolving financial landscape in the Middle East.

Join Skinner and me for a fascinating conversation on the future of money. 

Visit give.moneymajlis.com to join my giving movement and contribute to a charity of your choice by redeeming your free gift card.

Research partner: Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Production: Poddster

“Giving” partner: Goodworld

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In this episode, Ashok Vaswani, international banking veteran and CEO & MD of Kotak Mahindra Bank, explains why he believes money is more emotional than rational, how Indian banking is racing ahead and how his bank is transforming for scale to claim a space among the top 3 private lenders in India. 

What is the new “finternet”? Why is the Indian technology stack being exported overseas? Where do Indian bankers get their new confidence from? Is it the end of the road for multinational retail banks? And what is the next new wow for Indian banking customers? 

Vaswani and Sarkar discuss the growth of financial inclusion, the decline of foreign bank market shares and the challenge of breaking silos in banking organizations. 

Vaswani also talks about his transition to the Indian work ethic, his leadership style, his passion for education and his mother’s influence on his life. 

Please visit give.moneymajlis.com to get your free Money Majlis GiveCard that you can redeem to contribute to a charity of your choice. Join my giving movement today. 

Research partner : Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Production : Poddster 

Giving partner : Goodworld

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In this XTRA episode of Money Majlis, I talk with Christina Boutrup, journalist, author and China analyst, about how the world’s biggest digital economy is transitioning from a low-cost manufacturing hub into a high-tech innovation centre. The recent launch of the Deep Seek AI platform makes you wonder whether the restriction of chip imports from the US has pushed China to be even more innovative and frugal. 

How is the speed of innovation so high in China? Why does Byte Dance launch over a thousand experiments a day? Was the Starbucks wallet inspired by Chinese consumers? Are the technology trends in China 3-5 years ahead of the rest of the world? And has the fierce competition in the Chinese domestic market delivered products of higher quality and cheaper price?   

And what about energy? With over 60% of all wind turbines and solar panels deployed in China, and with growing production of green hydrogen, is the country the emerging green superpower? 

My guest Christina Boutrup discusses the coming robotic revolution in China that will unleash a new Gen R, the new AI guardrails that are stricter than Europe’s, the forest of over 120 million trees that Ant Financial has planted and the red lines that she could never cross as a journalist. 

Join me and Christina for a fascinating discussion on the future of China, and the world. 

Here is a link to sign up for the China tour that Christina Boutrup leads: 
https://www.wavelengthleadership.com/global-tours/wavelength-china/

Please visit give.moneymajlis.com to get your free Money Majlis GiveCard that you can redeem to contribute to a charity of your choice. Join our giving movement today. 

Research by : Shekhar Krishnamurthy 

Production : Poddster

“Giving” partner: Goodworld