Veriff Voices

A technology expert with decades of experience, Sathya Gopalakrishnan's role at Veriff gives him a unique perspective. Our Director of Solutions Engineering collaborates with both internal teams from Sales to IT and with Veriff's customers, always keeping a clear focus on enhancing our offering. We sat down with Sathya to discuss how Veriff fosters productive relationships with customers, his thoughts on emerging themes in identity verification, and the importance of feedback in creating the best outcomes for our clients.

[01:11] Introduction [02:04] The importance of customer relationships for solutions engineers[02:49] How the Solutions team understand customer needs and translate them internally [04:15] Emerging themes in the identity verification space that are on the minds of customers[05:36] What customers expect from Veriff [06:36] What's on the immediate horizon for identity verification (IDV) [07:59] The move towards multiple data points for more effective IDV [08:47] How Veriff works with customers to pursue a holistic approach to IDV [10:30] Generative AI and its potential impact on IDV [11:37] How the Solutions team are preparing for changes like generative AI and Web 3.0 [14:05] How customer feedback can be impactful and help enhance Veriff's services [15:36] The concept of design thinking [16:49] How design thinking influences the relationship with the customer [17:37] Sathya's book recommendations that are relevant to solutions engineering [19:32] Sathya's love of movies and TV shows

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/42374lS.

At Veriff, we work tirelessly to refine our offering, harnessing innovation to ensure our verification products are accurate, scalable, and fast enough to meet new challenges and capture emerging opportunities. Key to this endeavor is Liisi German, our Senior Product Manager. We sat down with Liisi to discuss how her career has developed, what makes a successful product team, and why it's important to unlock the potential of both people and AI in identity verification.

[00:17] Introduction [01:05] Liisi's inspiration to pursue a career in product [02:32] Team collaboration to ensure successful product launches [03:57] How data and analytics are used to make better decisions about product development [05:29] The key to an effective strategy for designing and launching products [06:47] The evolution of Liisi's management style [10:24] Balancing requests from customers with business priorities [12:10] Leveraging customer input for optimal solutions [13:49] What does success look like in a product team [17:45] Bias in automated systems [20:27] How Veriff is addressing potential bias in its technology [22:57] The growing importance of AI in identity verification [24:50] Why humans will continue to play a crucial role

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/4jlSUSy.

As our Senior Vice President of Engineering, Hubert Behaghel brings years of experience at Amazon, Marks & Spencer, and Sky to his crucial role at the intersection of business and technology. He talked to us about helping the engineering community find its voice, as well as wanting to tackle what he calls the 'identity crisis online'. We also discussed the role of engineering in developing Veriff's products in collaboration with other teams, and how AI and machine-learning technology will impact engineering.

[00:16] Introduction [03:12] The business problem that Veriff solves [04:59] The 'identity crisis' online [07:53] How companies can address this identity crisis [11:30] Giving engineering more of a voice in the tech space [15:00] The process of engineering a new Veriff product [16:48] The importance of empowering a team [18:12] Collaborating with other teams within Veriff [20:40] Keeping up with market developments in identity verification [23:24] The risks and opportunities AI and machine learning offer [27:48] Hubert considers how living in different cultures has affected his outlook

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/4i779cX.

Taras Boyko is Veriff's Documents Product Manager and something of an authority on the huge range of IDs in use globally. In our latest Veriff Voices podcast he discusses identity documents, the challenges it can create within the identity verification process, and his team's mission to make verification easy no matter where you live. He also explains how his background in the highly theoretical world of semiotics serves him well in the far more practical environment of identity verification.

[00:18] Introduction [01:59] What are semiotics? [03:52] Why Taras moved to Estonia [05:03] The link between semiotics and digital identity [06:26] The importance of documents for a person's identity [08:19] The issues with identity documents [10:02] Use cases for identity documents [12:13] How many ID document types exist globally and what affects their validity for identity verification [14:59] The challenge of document versions and expiration [17:05] The kinds of documents that cause the most problems [19:49] Three ways to make the identity verification process easier for people

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/43JrdhZ.

As Head of Regulatory, Aleksander Tsuiman spearheads Veriff's privacy, data protection and product counselling functions. An experienced legal counsel with a passion for tech, he ensures Veriff is equipped both to meet its regulatory obligations and to safeguard its customers and users, now and in the future. In our latest Veriff Voices podcast he offers his insight into how regulation shapes identity verification and what that means for companies operating in the online world.

[01:11] Ensuring accountability around compliance within Veriff [04:53] The three key aspects of the regulatory challenges businesses face around identity verification today [06:34] Centralized identity and the EU's EIDAS law [07:25] The UK's trust services framework [08:03] Regulatory challenges [09:10] The technological challenge and issues around AI [11:28] The role Veriff is taking in helping regulators keep up with the pace of change in tech [12:21] Getting the right level of regulation [15:28] Why automation is the future of identification [17:24] Keeping on top of what regulation is changing, when and where [19:00] Advice to other companies operating in the digital world on how to manage their regulatory obligations [23:25] Working with other departments to ensure compliance [26:16] Key learnings from Aleksander's role as Head of Regulatory [31:40] Getting the best out of your team

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/42bh9f6 and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/CVsdX4vcWEg.

As Veriff's Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Janer Gorohhov acts as a key link between the company's origins and its future. A self-confessed introvert who has learned to live in the spotlight, Janer is equally committed to Veriff's products, its customers and its people. In our latest Veriff Voices podcast he predicts the advent of "IDV 2.0", offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and explains why founders need to grow with their companies.

[00:55] Summer Week 2023 [03:50] Spending more time with customers in the second half of 2023 [05:40] The evolution of identity verification [08:19] Veriff's role within the IDV industry [09:33] What Janer means by 'Identity 2.0' [10:18] How customer feedback informs product development [11:52] Favorite use cases [15:08] Key principles for leading a team [16:51] Janer's love of computing [17:50] The importance of family and exercise when dealing with stress [18:33] Innovative companies in their sectors [20:27] Personal and professional growth [24:04] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs [25:47] What we mean by creating a safer online world [26:23] We're building trust from the first hello by…

You can learn more on our website: https://www.veriff.com/podcasts/insights-veriffs-cofounder and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FvmMRhyNxNo.

Sue Schneider is Community Director and VP Growth & Strategy, Americas at Sports Betting Community (SBC). Having been involved in the internet gaming industry since the 1990s, Sue's wealth of experience and expertise make her a strong candidate for the title of industry legend. In our latest Veriff Voices podcast, she discusses how the online gaming industry has evolved and the issues it still faces, as well as her second life as a self-confessed 'disaster junkie'.

[00:16] Introduction [01:49] How Sue got into the gaming industry [02:44] The early days of the online gaming industry in the US and beyond [04:37] The evolution of the industry in the US since the 1990s [07:09] Negative perceptions [09:34] Taking an international approach [10:12] Advertising as the biggest issue the industry needs to address [15:06] Events and what makes them successful [16:42] How the pandemic affected gaming [17:46] Diversity in the online gaming industry [21:24] Sue's volunteering work in disaster relief [24:17] The importance of building trust in ensuring a sustainable future for gaming [26:32] Building out i-gaming as the next big step for the online gaming industry in the US [29:08] The potential industry growth in Latin America and Asia

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/42IRivF and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DsNFjockQC0.

Munna Poddar is the Senior Product Manager for Veriff's Fraud Prevention team. Having worked for PwC, Deloitte, and Microsoft, Munna brings over a decade of experience in designing, engineering, and implementing data driven solutions to address risk mitigation and fraud prevention at Veriff. In our latest podcast, he talks about his passion for creating a safe and accessible online environment for all, as well as his love of travel, and his French Bulldog.

[00:15] Introduction [01:40] Munna's passion for travel and professional background [03:14] Key skills for his role [05:24] The evolution of fraud [06:15] The difference in fraud across different regions [07:21] Trends in online fraud [10:01] The impact of fraud for different clients and taking a collaborative approach [11:30] The impact on the most vulnerable groups in society [12:47] Ensuring accessibility and minimizing the impact on the user experience [14:45] Munna's approach to leadership [17:00] The reasons he chose to join Veriff [18:55] Munna's love for dogs [19:49] "Veriff offers trust from the first hello because..." You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/4jlf4US and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/o-HMzZDAHO4.

A keen advocate for both diversity and the gaming industry, Micky Swindale is currently Global Head of Sales Enablement for KPMG, and leader of #WeAllWantToPlay Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Her illustrious CV also includes stints as President of the Isle of Man's Chamber of Commerce, and Vice President of its Commonwealth Games Committee. In our latest podcast, she talks about promoting responsible gaming, championing diversity, and social mobility. [00:17] Introduction [00:58] Sales Enablement as a role [04:55] KPMG and Micky's focus on the gaming sector [04:55] Why KPMG committed to supporting the gaming industry [06:15] The negative perceptions associated with gaming [08:14] Local challenges for the gaming industry [11:32] Changes to local and global jurisdictions [16:17] The evolution of the gaming industry [17:59] Diversity in the sector [19:27] The #WeAllWantToPlay initiative [21:10] Social mobility as a key issue for KPMG in the UK [22:26] How attitudes towards women are changing [24:30] How fear can be an obstacle to people speaking up for diversity [26:01] Men's role in promoting diversity [27:47] KPMG's target for women in leadership [32:02] Why 'Micky' is no longer a Michelle [33:25] Double standards around roles within a couple

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/42jwP09 and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Trq-lJON2kw.

For over 20 years, Viktoria Ruubel has been developing new products and building innovative business models at some of the biggest names in tech, from Skype to Meta. In our latest podcast, Veriff's Managing Director of Digital Identity explains why she's so excited to have joined the Veriff team, why she believes there's magic in reusable digital identities, and why expanding Veriff's core product towards a reusable digital identity platform could just be her most thrilling challenge yet. [00:16] Introduction [01:01] Viktoria's background and why she joined Veriff [03:16] What is digital identity and how does reusable identity come into play? [04:54] Why reusable identity is such an important concept for the future [08:25] The evolution of digital identity [12:32] The driving need for reusable digital identities [14:56] The difference between digital identity and other methods of verification [16:44] The benefits for individuals [19:49] The benefits for businesses [22:02] Veriff's vision for digital identity [25:29] Solving the problem of digital identity [28:17] Viktoria's approach to bringing new ideas to the table [29:19] Where will Viktoria's project will be in a year from now?

You can learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/43JqDAP and watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XzikrnaygGI.