One Vision

As one of the first flowers that bloom in spring, daffodils symbolize new beginnings, resilience, and prosperity. But what do the flowers have in common with fintech and rugby? In this new episode of One Vision, Theo chats with Sarah Kocianki, CEO of Fintech Wales, on her top priorities in growing the world-class collaborative FinTech ecosystem in Wales as she embarks on her new journey as the CEO of FinTech Wales. We explored the secret behind the prominence of female angel investors in Wales, as well as the impact of technology on work, talent, and culture of learning. Bonus question for our audience: What was the one term that we successfully navigated around in our conversation? Tune in to find out!***About One Vision: One Vision podcast, hosted by Theodora Lau, brings purposeful innovation to spotlight. It is where impact meets innovation. One Vision is a convergence of minds that dream of a sustainable world for future generations galvanized by innovation. The new season, Fintech Fuse! features the powerful trio of women in fintech: Barb McLean, Stephanie Foster, and Theodora Lau.***Unconventional Ventures: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6598548173482967040       Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLj99yHUUGFTHLdJeZqaPg?sub_confirmation=1    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

VC investment in startups is crucial for the industry. Yet, the funding into underrepresented founders is dismal and seems to be getting worse by the year. Could bringing more women into investment communities and helping them secure board roles be the answer we are looking for? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! We chat with Millicent Tracey on her impactful journey from banking and beyond. Millicent is an independent public company Board Director and Audit Committee member, FinTech Board Advisor, and former Fortune 50 senior executive. Tune in to hear her perspectives on what gets her excited in financial services and how we can own our power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Against the backdrop of economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, how can we make the supply chain more resilient? In this episode of One Vision, Theo chats with Rene Ho — CFO at Taulia, and Thomas Mehlkopf — GM and Head of Working Capital Management CoE at SAP, on realizing the synergies from the power duo of SAP-Taulia, building the future of finance with working capital optimization and liquidity. Change is inevitable, but we can put measures in place and be ready for surprises in this interconnected world. For more insights, download the CFO Perspectives: Unlocking Insights Through Conversation. #OneVision #SupplyChainFinance #FinancialServices #SponsoredAbout One Vision: One Vision podcast, hosted by Theodora Lau, brings purposeful innovation to spotlight. It is where impact meets innovation. One Vision is a convergence of minds that dream of a sustainable world for future generations galvanized by innovation. The new season, Fintech Fuse! features the powerful trio of women in fintech: Barb McLean, Stephanie Foster, and Theodora Lau. Unconventional Ventures: https://www.unconventionalventures.com/ Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6598548173482967040 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In many rural communities, credit unions are the financial institutions of choice. But these credit unions facilitate more than just money movement. As financial cooperatives, they are owned by their members and embedded within the communities that they serve. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! We chat with Carrie Forbes, CEO of League Data and Technicost on the changing technology landscape, the challenges and opportunities of transforming while preserving the human touch, and the future of consumer-driven banking. Bank with purpose, we can. Tune in and feel the love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of One Vision, we collaborate with Sonya Dreizler, Co-Founder of Choir, to introduce four special guests to our community: Valerie Escobar, Mohna Shah, Anthony Williams, and Yohance Harrison. Tune in to find out more about them, what drives them, and what they would put in a time capsule to be opened in 100 years. Did you know that there are over 7,100 spoken and signed languages in the world, and 75 countries under the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) umbrella? With such rich diversity, it is beyond time to change who we listen to. Join us.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the difference between open banking, open finance, and open data? And how can technology enable a true 360 degree view of a consumer, beyond just finance? In this episode of One Vision Podcast — FinTech Fuse! We chat with Michelle Beyo, founder of Finavator, about her career journey, what inspires her, and how she changes the ecosystem around her. As a fearless advocate, Michelle leads by example by being an active participant, and challenging the status quo to make the world more just. We are all part of something bigger and each of us bear the responsibility to make the world a better place. Fight for love and a more inclusive future. Because every voice matters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo and Barb chat with Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy & Content at Sardine, and the brain behind the Fintech Brainfood, on being infinitely curious. One of Simon’s passion topics and mission at Sardine is to eradicate scams from the Internet. According to Simon, not only is fraud a massively underrepresented trillion-dollar problem, it is also getting exponentially worse, with so much of it being underreported. It is, as Simon calls it, the biggest issue that impacts human misery. What does the future hold for the financial services industry and its workforce, against the backdrop of credit quality concerns, the rapid development of advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, and with big techs advancing? What are the top things on Simon’s list and what does he think is overhyped? Tune in and find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Against the backdrop of elevated interest rates and lingering economic uncertainty brought about by layoffs and geopolitical conflicts, it is perhaps not surprising to see consumers seeking alternative ways to consume and pay. At the same time, they are also demanding more. In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Barb chat with Julie Muhn, Senior Research Analyst, and the heart and soul of Finovate, on the state of consumer fintech. What challenges will PFM tools face? And how can financial services providers leverage data and technology to help consumers navigate their financial lives? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you get the chance to wake up tomorrow, what will you do with your day?” In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo chats with Natasha Harper-Madison, a city council member for Austin, an entrepreneur, and a champion for the local community and racial equity, on civic engagement and cultivating economic opportunity and mobility. It is often said, talent is everywhere, opportunities are not. If small businesses are the backbone of our society, what more can we do to enable them to thrive? How can we collectively partner across sectors to create a more vibrant startup economy?  More can be done — more needs to be done. And there is a cost of inaction. As Gandalf said to Frodo in Lord of the Rings: “All that we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” We hope Natasha’s story will inspire you to reflect and act. Because each day is a gift. Let’s fight the good fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we best invest in the ecosystem to help empower those who have been left behind by our mainstream financial services ecosystem, and enable them to build long term equity? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo and Stephanie chat with Kristen Castell, Managing Director of Fintech CAFE (Center for Accelerating Financial Equity), a non-profit committed to driving positive change in the financial industry, on building for everyday people. From advancing financial literacy to enabling sustainable financial growth and security, there is much that can be done. And when you invest in someone and help them become their best selves, something beautiful happens. We all shine — brighter and together.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beyond the sensational conversations, what is the real story behind decentralized finance? If programmable money is indeed our future, what questions should we be asking now and what should we be concerned with? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo chat with Ian Horne, author of “Why DeFi Matters” and head of content at Money20/20 Europe, on the sociology of money, the role of technology, and the future of finance. Whilst the view is very much dependent on your background and lived experience, Ian encourages us to park our bias and examine how the new paradigm of money can transform the future of financial services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you build a customer-centric financial institution? Being hyper-focused on your customers’ needs definitely tops the list. Especially in an environment where financial uncertainty is keeping many consumers up at night, banks are in the best position to act as an empathetic and trusted partner for those in need. In this episode of One Vision — Fintech Fuse! Barb and Theo chat with Rochelle Gorey, co-founder and CEO of SpringFour, a social impact financial wellness fintech company. By connecting consumers to vetted financial resources, this B-Crop enables consumers to meet their financial objectives, reduce household expenses, and avoid payment delinquencies. It’s a win-win solution, and one that is much needed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we reflect on our work and personal lives, what are we most proud of? What are the memories that we treasure the most? And would we do differently, if given the chance? Whether as VCs, innovators, or entrepreneurs, are we clear about our end goals and what drives us? And ultimately, what does success mean to us — as individuals? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo caught up with Gregg Schoenberg, the founding editor and co-founder behind the much read and beloved Financial Revolutionist. We talked about his career journey as a prolific writer, investor, and advisor turned executive coach. For those of you who miss Gregg’s prolific writing in the FR (myself included), this is a must-listen episode for you. And check out his YouTube videos, you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the magic with events, you ask? From fostering serendipity moments and building communities, to cultivating long-term and impactful relationships, there simply is no substitute to meeting people in person. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo caught up with Andrew Morris, Chief Content Officer for Fintech Islands, who has had the front row seat and witnessed the change in the industry from its nascent beginnings to now. Beyond networking, building relationships, and exchanging ideas, what else can we expect from the ultimate fintech event in the Caribbean? Tune in to find out. Or better yet, join us at FiX24! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been rapidly evolving in the past decade. Interests in AI, along with adoption and investment in AI, have witnessed a substantial increase. While tech stories are fun and exciting, our collective future is not just about bits and bytes. Rather, it’s about our shared prosperity: What will you do with the immense power available at your fingertips? As providers, how do we earn and maintain trust with customers, and how do we ensure transparency, fairness, and explainability — the cornerstone for responsible innovation? In this new episode of One Vision — Fintech Fuse! Theo welcomed Dr. Nashlie Sephus, Principal AI/ML Tech Evangelist from AWS. Curious about life as a tech evangelist? Passionate about responsible AI and using technology to create a better world? This episode is a must-listen for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are kicking off 2024 with a big BANG! In this episode of One Vision — Fintech Fuse! Theo and Barb welcome our first futurist on the show: Katie Schultz, aka Miss Metaverse, a well-known professional futurist and content creator. While fear and uncertainty dominate much of our newscycle, Katie reminds us that we do have a chance and the power to turn things around — that we can still find hope through challenging times and go after our dreams. Our ability to empathize and connect with each other is our superpower and what makes us uniquely humans. As we embark on another new year, let’s acknowledge and celebrate how far we have come.  Here’s to new beginnings, fresh starts, and the courage to live our lives with purpose — and passion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you could preserve memories and artifacts in a bottle, what would you keep? From the hype of the year (cue: generative AI) and renewed focus on small business and business fundamentals, to PFM tools and the symbiotic relationship between big techs and banks, there is never a dull moment in fintech. In this special year-end episode of One Vision: Fintech Fuse! Barb, Mary, Stephanie, and myself reflect upon a wild year that was 2023. What caught our attention and what do we most look forward to in the new year? Tune in to our final episode of the year to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to the World Health Organization, globally one in six people experience infertility in their lifetime and the rate continues to climb. Despite available treatment for a variety of cases, being able to start a family remains a distant dream for far too many due to financial constraints. In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo and Stephanie chat with Dr. DeShawn Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of BabyFever on bankable moments and getting to health equity, where financial inclusion meets dreams of parenthood.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small businesses account for 99.9% of all U.S. firms. They employ almost half of America's private sector workforce and represent 43.5% of gross domestic product. By almost any measure, small businesses are a crucial part of our economy and workforce. Yet, they are hugely underserved by the financial services industry. In this episode of One Vision, Theo, Stephanie, and Amelia chat with Lori Shao, CEO of Finli, a certified B Corp digital back office platform for small businesses, on her journey to entrepreneurship, the challenges that SMBs face, and the role that community banks can play. “I know in my heart whom to build it for,” she told us. Tune in and get ready to be inspired.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faced with persistent economic uncertainties and stagnant wage growth, will fintechs give us hope by bringing us the right product at the right time and empowering customers with more focus on financial well-being and education? In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo and Stephanie chat with Sebastian Builes, Co-Founder and CEO of Arcum, about his journey from payments novice to fintech founder, and his bullishness on Atlanta as a fintech hotbed. A year in the startup world is like a decade in the real world, and being a founder can be a lonely endeavor. Sebastian offers the following advice: Relationships and communities matter. Give back and pay forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.