Not What I Expected

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells sits down with James Mirfin, who leads Visa’s global risk and identity solutions business. From managing unloved customer portfolios in London to running billion-dollar teams in Asia and New York, James’ story is packed with insight, ambition, and real-world lessons in leadership. He shares how a two-year relocation turned into 15 years abroad, what it means to scale trust in payments, and why confidence without arrogance is a career-defining mindset. If you're interested in fintech, fraud, identity, or leadership, this one's for you.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Not What I Expected for more honest conversations that go beyond the buzzwords in payments, onboarding, and risk.

💬 Got feedback or a guest suggestion? Reach out to us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamchennells/ and

🔗 Share this episode with someone who’d enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders in fintech are shaping the future. 🎧 Listen, learn, and stay curious.

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Season 2 of Not What I Expected brought us inside boardrooms, across borders, and into the minds of some of the most dynamic voices in payments, risk, and onboarding.

In this highlights episode, host Liam Chennells revisits the turning points, unexpected truths, and most powerful insights from the guests who defined the season — from career pivots and leadership lessons to mindset shifts and moments of real vulnerability.

Whether you’re scaling a startup, steering a global team, or navigating your next big move, these are the stories worth hearing again.

👉 Dive in for a fast-paced round-up of Season 2’s standout moments — and get ready to rethink what success in this industry really looks like.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells sits down with Scott Newby, Chief Compliance Officer and MLRO at Shieldpay. Scott takes us on a candid journey from hotel management and rugby dreams to leading compliance and fraud teams in banking and FinTech. He shares real-world lessons from high-risk roles, managing fraud, and rebuilding after a major FinTech collapse. With stories about presenting to regulators, chasing bad actors, and balancing compliance with commercial ambition, this conversation reveals the human side of financial crime prevention—and why showing your workings really matters.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Not What I Expected for more honest conversations that go beyond the buzzwords in payments, onboarding, and risk.

💬 Got feedback or a guest suggestion? Reach out to us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamchennells/ and

🔗 Share this episode with someone who’d enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders in fintech are shaping the future. 🎧 Listen, learn, and stay curious.

🙌 Not What I Expected is powered by Detected, the global leader in frictionless business onboarding.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells is joined by Conrad Lennard, who leads business development for security solutions across the UK and Ireland at Mastercard. From tearing his ACL at Lord’s to studying geography at Durham, attending Stanford, and navigating a pivot from insurance to AI fraud detection, Conrad’s journey is full of unexpected turns. He shares insights on collective resilience, machine learning in fraud prevention, and what it’s really like working for one of the world’s most powerful brands. It’s a conversation about people, risk, and purpose—with a few laughs along the way.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Not What I Expected for more honest conversations that go beyond the buzzwords in payments, onboarding, and risk.

💬 Got feedback or a guest suggestion? Reach out to us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamchennells/

🔗 Share this episode with someone who’d enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders in fintech are shaping the future. 🎧 Listen, learn, and stay curious.

🙌 Not What I Expected is powered by Detected, the global leader in frictionless business onboarding.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells chats with Aravind Narayan, leader in digital identity and fraud prevention at the London Stock Exchange Group. From his academic beginnings in India to navigating corporate life at Tata, PwC, and Amazon, Aravind’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and growth. Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into identity, innovation, and leadership.

Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, host Liam Chennells sits down with Anil Toraty, Senior Director for Risk Business Partners and Strategy at Visa. From entrepreneurial school days to navigating corporate red tape, Anil’s journey has been anything but linear. He candidly shares the highs and lows of his career, from battling mental health challenges to finding his groove at Visa. Discover how setbacks can fuel growth, why honesty is a game-changer in business, and the role resilience plays in career success. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that goes beyond the buzzwords, offering valuable insights on risk management, leadership, and personal development.

Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, host Liam Chennells chats with Jeremy Nicholds, the CEO of Judopay and former leader at Visa and MasterCard. Jeremy dives into his journey through the payments industry, from leading the Apple Pay revolution at Visa in Europe to driving some of the most well known brand partnerships in the industry. Learn about the innovations that drove the transformation of payments, the partnerships that made it possible, and the leadership lessons Jeremy gained along the way. 

Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells chats with Laura Birch, the Head of Enabler Partnerships, Europe at Visa. Laura delves into her fascinating journey from the world of retail to shaping the payments ecosystem at Visa. With dreams of working in Media shifting into time on the shop floor at Jack Wills, Laura soon found herself in an industry-defining payments team at global fashion powerhouse, Burberry.

Tune in to hear her story and learn more about navigating a career across multiple industries. Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam sits down with Neville Lacey, Group MLRO at Equals Money, to explore the intricate world of financial crime prevention. With a wealth of experience in AML and compliance, Neville shares his journey from the early days of his career to his current role, where he leads efforts to safeguard financial systems against ever-evolving threats. Discover how innovation, leadership, and a relentless focus on doing the right thing have shaped his approach to compliance. Whether you’re in the industry or just curious about the challenges of financial crime prevention, this episode offers invaluable insights. Tune in to uncover the human side of compliance and learn from a true industry leader.

Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures.

In this episode of Not What I Expected, Liam Chennells sits down with Alpesh Manji, a leader in global transformation and payments. Alpesh shares his journey from working at Visa to his current role at Barclaycard, providing insights into the complexities of the payments industry. Discover how Alpesh navigated challenges at TikTok, embraced consulting, and constantly pushed for innovation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in payments, business transformation, and the stories of those shaping the industry.

Don’t forget to subscribe & rate and review the show so we can continue bringing you insights from the industry’s most influential figures.