In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse podcast, Theodora Lau and Jas Randhawa discuss the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and implications for agentic commerce. They explore the challenges of chargebacks, the need for regulatory clarity, and the importance of consumer independence in the evolving landscape of e-commerce. While adoption is likely to grow, major risks include consumer manipulation, monopolistic outcomes, and the amount of personal data agents may require (buying, browsing, health, and other patterns), increasing privacy and security concerns. Now is the time to engage with policymakers and advocate for regulatory clarity and for the well-being of consumers. 

00:00 Welcome Back to One Vision + Introducing Jas Randhawa (StrategyBRIX)

01:10 What Is the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)? The Big Picture

03:27 How UCP Works: Product Cataloging for AI Shopping Agents

07:05 KYA (Know Your Agent): Identity, Authorization & Trust

08:58 Chargebacks in Agentic Commerce: Who’s Liable When Things Go Wrong?

12:02 Fraud Detection Breaks: Geolocation, New Signals & Re-Engineering Controls

13:44 Agent Independence & Consumer Protection: Bias, Collusion, and Oversight Gaps

21:28 Regulatory Clarity (or Lack Thereof): The ‘Wild West’ Phase + T&Cs Reality

28:06 Time to Get Ready: Travel Use Cases, Audit Trails, and Dispute Proof

33:26 Sanctions, VPNs, and High-Velocity Agent Behavior: Financial Crime Risks

37:12 Are We Too Early? Will Consumers Adopt—and at What Cost?

42:59 Privacy, Data Control & The Need for Neutral Standards Bodies (Wrap-Up)

47:45 Final Thoughts

#AI #AgenticCommerce #UCP #Agents #Fintech 

Hot take:  ”The amount of information this agent now needs to have about me is shocking and it scares me a little bit because you're talking about buying patterns, browsing patterns, sleeping patterns, health pattern. For this agent to be really effective, it just needs to know everything that's in my head, right? It's gonna be very effective, but that's again, a major risk because no one's watching out for the consumer.”

Hot take: “ The future of this world is unfortunately not you or me. It's a lot of these younger kids, their ecosystem is a lot different. These products are being designed for them.”

More about our guest 

🌐Jas Randhawa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randhawajas/ 

More about our host and One Vision Podcast 

🌐Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🌐Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence (book): https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🌐Unconventional Ventures (company): https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

🌐Listen to all One Vision Podcast episodes by visiting: https://shows.acast.com/one-vision 

**

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In this week’s One Vision Podcast, we welcome back Sandeep Mangaraj, now co-founder of Aileron Group, to discuss lessons from building a company in a crowded AI market and why AI success is more about people and process than technology. 

The conversation covers executives rushing into GenAI due to FOMO, the importance of starting with desired outcomes rather than applying GenAI everywhere, and why mid-market institutions may benefit from faster time-to-decision, less technical debt, and faster learning cycles. 

The key question is whether firms can afford the downside of waiting. And the answer is increasingly: No.

00:00 Welcome Back: Meet Sandeep Mangaraj 

00:55 Building Aileron: Lessons From a Crowded AI Market

03:49 The AI ROI Myth: What’s Actually Being Measured?

05:28 FOMO vs Outcomes: Picking the Right AI Use Cases

10:09 Falling Costs & Speed of Learning

12:40 Who Owns AI Outcomes and Who’s Accountable When It Breaks?

14:55 Third-Party Risk: Regulators, Vendors, and Dependencies

19:51 “Can You Afford to Wait?”

23:02 Closing: Act With Purpose in 2026

Hot take:  The barrier to AI success isn't technology, it's people and process. 

#AI #Fintech #GenerativeAI #DigitalTransformation

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Dive into the future of wealth with AI in Asia! 🌏🚀 Join Theodora Lau on the latest episode of One Vision podcast as she chats with Yves Roesti, Managing Partner & CEO Synpulse Group, about how AI is transforming the industry across APAC. From cultural nuances to regulatory challenges, they explore the intricate balance of human touch and technology, the unique challenges and opportunities in the region, the vision behind OpenWealth Association, and how AI impacts the future of consulting and wealthtech. 

📍Hot take:“I actually think that junior consultants are uniquely positioned to be supercharged by the AI movement. The question to ask is, what skills do you need to have, in order to thrive in an AI-enabled world?  Being resilient, being creative, asking the right questions, being curious, and having empathy and having interpersonal skills.” 

Episode highlights  

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

02:21 - AI Trends in APAC vs. US

11:56 - OpenWealth Association

18:00 - Future of Consulting with AI

24:11 - Contrarian Views on AI 

30:58 - Concluding Thoughts

#AI #Fintech #WealthTech #Asia 

More about our guest 

🌐Yves Roesti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yves-roesti/ 

More about our host and One Vision Podcast 

🌐Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🌐Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence (book): https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🌐Unconventional Ventures (company): https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

🌐Listen to all One Vision Podcast episodes by visiting: https://shows.acast.com/one-vision 

**

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Join Theodora Lau on this new episode of One Vision — the FinTech Fuse, as she hosts Elias Kruger, Managing Principal at Long-Range AI Consulting. Elias shares his journey from his role at Wells Fargo to launching his own AI consultancy. Discover insights into the transformative potential of AI, the importance of responsible implementation, the potential impact on training, and what the future might hold. 

Join the conversation and let's shape a responsible AI future together! 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:38 Elias Kruger's Career at a Big Bank

05:06 Transitioning into Entrepreneurship

07:02 AI's Impact on the Workplace

11:46 The Future of AI and Responsible Use

22:32 Hopeful Innovations in AI

📍Hot take: You can't beat competition by simply cutting your staff. You have to innovate with AI, you have to grow with AI.

#AI #FinTech #FutureOfWork #Innovation #ResponsibleAI #BankingOnAI #DigitalTransformation 

Find Elias Kruger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekruger1/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

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🌟 New episode alert! One Vision — FinTech Fuse is back with a power-packed conversation with Jody Bhagat, North America President at Engine by Starling. We talk about the critical role of technology in transforming banking operations and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Whether you're grappling with legacy systems or eyeing the cutting-edge of AI, Jody's insights offer valuable guidance on modernization strategies and the transformative potential of technology. Check out this engaging discussion to learn how this dynamic industry can be both vital and cool! 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:39 Understanding Engine by Starling

04:43 Challenges and Opportunities in the US Market

06:13 The Importance of Modern Technology in Banking

13:58 AI and Its Impact on Banking

21:38 Strategies for Bank Transformation

26:31 Looking Ahead: The Future of Banking

29:46 Conclusion and Farewell

📍 Hot take: Most banks and credit unions are spending 70 to 80% of their IT spend just on maintaining their legacy core, and it's providing little or no differentiation.

#DigitalTransformation #AI #FinTech 

Find Jody Bhagat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalbusinessgrower/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀New Episode Alert! 

🎙️Dive into the world of FinTech with our latest episode of One Vision — the FinTech Fuse. Join Theo and our guest Alex Jimenez, the OG of FinTech OG, as they explore the major themes for 2026 from innovation to governance, as AI and M&A take center stage. Explore how money movement might become ‘invisible’. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI, digital transformation, and the evolving landscape of the banking industry.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:51 Reflecting on 2025: Key FinTech Trends

03:22 AI in FinTech: Current State and Future Prospects

04:09 Challenges and Considerations in AI Implementation

13:27 The Evolution of Banking Industry

23:34 Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

📍 Hot take: “When you start thinking about the daily experience of digital banking for retail customers … the next wave is conversational.”

#AI #FinTech #DigitalTransformation #BankingOnAI #BankingIndustry 

Find Alex Jimenez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralexjimenez/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

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In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, we took a deep dive into Walmart with Finovate’s very own Julie Muhn. We started with Walmart's bold move to apply for an ILC charter in 2005, their foray into fintech with OnePay, and the wide array of services they now provide beyond retail. The conversation explored Walmart’s integration of emerging technologies like AI and agentic commerce, as well as potential future developments and implications for traditional banks in retaining customer loyalty and trust in an increasingly digital financial landscape.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:07 Walmart's Evolution in Financial Services

02:43 Walmart's Super App Ambitions

03:41 Walmart's Diverse Service Offerings

07:15 Challenges and Limitations of Walmart's App

11:01 Agentic Commerce and Future Prospects

18:31 Behavioral Data and Consumer Trust

26:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📍Hot take: (Referring to Walmart) They don't just have financial data, they have behavioral data. 

📍Hot take: The banking relationship or relationships will be secondary as the AI kind of chooses which payment method to use. 

#Walmart #Fintech #AI #AgenticCommerce

Find Julie Muhn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieschicktanz/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

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In this episode of One Vision, Theo hosts Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Director of Payments Practice at Perficient. Amanda shares her journey in financial services, focusing on financial inclusion and fairness by design, as well as the importance of empathy in banking. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities within the financial ecosystem, the need to adapt to changing consumer needs, in order to build a more inclusive future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:25 Amanda's Journey in Financial Services

05:39 Empathy and Financial Inclusion

06:33 Challenges and Opportunities in FinTech

12:19 Global Perspectives and Innovations

19:31 Consumer Protection 

24:02 Closing Thoughts

📍Hot take: “We're focused on automation and efficiency, have we lost the art of relationship building?”

📍Hot take:  ”If self-regulation works, then why did we introduce new rules in the last decade or so?” 

#AI #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #Empathy 

Find Amanda Estiverne-Colas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-e-37061b28/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

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In today’s fast-paced digital world, the way we interact with organizations continues to evolve. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, Theo sits down with Charles Oligbo, founder and CEO of Sawport. They discuss how Sawport is filling a gap in the banking experience with virtual branches, enabling customers to engage with their financial institutions without the need for physical visits while still maintaining the personal touch and security needed in today’s world. 

Banking should be accessible to everyone, anytime, and anywhere. How important is accessibility in banking for you? And what features would you like to see in your experience next? 

#AI #VirtualBanking #Innovation #CX #DigitalTransformation #BankingTechnology #FinTech  

📍Hot take:  Why don't we just take the branch and put it right at their fingertip where they can do everything without having to step out of their house? 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:36 Inspiration Behind Sawport

01:34 Virtual Branch and Target Market

07:33 Challenges and Future Capabilities

13:08 Future Vision and AI Integration

Find Charles Oligbo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesoligbo/ 

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/

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In this episode of One Vision the Fintech Fuse, we chat with Kristen Castell, Managing Director, Fintech CAFE (Center for Accelerating Financial Equity) and Ryan Venderlic, Program Manager at CAFE. 

The trio discuss the accelerator program's evolution, its focus on financial equity for low to moderate-income communities, and the transformative power of collaboration among founders. Kristen and Ryan also share insights on the impact of AI in fintech and future disruptions in financial services. Tune in to learn how CAFE is fostering mission-driven fintech innovations and supporting their founders post-program.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:17 Insights from the CAFE Accelerator Program

03:32 Evolution of the FinTech Ecosystem

05:32 Post-Program Support for Alumni and the Founders Circles

09:52 Mission-Driven FinTech and Challenges

13:21 The Role of AI in FinTech

17:24 Future Disruptions in Financial Services

#AI #Fintech #FinancialServices #FinancialInclusion #BankingIndustry 

📍 Hot Take: “Amazing people is Number One for us.”

Find Kristen Castell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriscastell/   

Find Ryan Venderlic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-venderlic-b6964458/   

Find Theodora Lau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ 

🔗 Theo’s latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: https://www.bankingonaibook.com/ 

🔗 About Unconventional Ventures and the One Vision Podcast: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ 

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