Alumni Stories: Laura Arenas Dreger, An IT Risk Manager Caixa Bank and University Lecturer expanding her view on Fintech

Laura Arenas Dreger

Laura Arenas has both experience in Finance and Academia, as an IT Risk Manager at Caixa Bank and Lecturer at EALDE Business School and Universidad de Barcelona, she has been able to implement her Fintech knowledge in her professional career.

Fintech and Academia are close to their turning point, and I believe that the corporate, governmental, and academic agendas must be reinvented to keep up with the accelerated Fintech era.

Laura Arenas, IT Risk Manager at Caixa Bank and Lecturer at EALDE Business School and Universidad de Barcelona

CFTE: What motivated you to learn about Fintech? What is the relevance to somebody who works in a similar sphere to yours – that is IT Risk, banking, and Academia?

Laura: The main motivation was to become an expert in this subject, this knowledge and skills are very in demand currently and my intention was to keep up with its trend.

I recommend CFTE’s courses strongly for anybody who is working in IT Risk, banking or studying topics related to Fintech and the Finance industry, since it gives you an up-to-date view about Fintech and digital finance. I was able to get insight from some of the industry’s leading experts, understand  who is driving innovation in the Finance industry and how, as well critically evaluate the future of the industry. 

The Fintech and Digital Finance course with Christophe Chazot provided me with all of these  aspects and has given me the opportunity to master a strategic and competitive framework which I have applied both in my professional career and academic journey. 

CFTE: How have you implemented the knowledge you acquired through the courses?

Laura: I implemented the acquired insights into my research project by developing real world arguments and practical solutions, which culminated in scientific publications, congress participation and workshops.

I was able to learn a lot in just a short period of time and overall, the knowledge I acquired through the course took my research to the next level, as I was able to fully integrate real world practice with theory.  Fintech and Academia are close to their turning point, and I believe that the corporate, governmental, and academic agendas must be reinvented to keep up with the accelerated Fintech era.

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most? Any main takeaways?

Laura: What I enjoyed the most was definitely the opportunity to hear firsthand insights from experts who have had experience in the Fintech and Finance industry. I also enjoyed sharing my opinions with like-minded professionals from all over the world as well as solving exercises, which helped me make sense of all of the concepts reviewed in the course.

As “take away” I would say, there are tons of unexplored opportunities in this area and the demand for elegant solutions and new ideas is tremendous.

CFTE: And finally, describe yourself in 3 words or less!

Laura: Reliable, curious, and passionate.

CFTE Free Frintech Masterclass Online

Learn the skills of Fintech

Learn the skills of Fintech

More To Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

The Centre for Finance, Technology & Entrepreneurship (CFTE) is a global education platform that aims to equip financial professionals and organisations with the necessary skills to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry. Our leading training programmes, curated by global industry experts, help talent build skills to join the digital revolution in finance. CFTE’s courses are globally recognised with accreditations from ACT, IBF, CPD, SkillsFuture and ABS.

At CFTE, our mission resonates with every learner’s goals to rapidly advance in their career, to thrive in their next project or even to lead the disruption in finance with their own venture. To help you do this, CFTE gives you the tools you need to master the right skills in digital finance. We bring exclusive insights from leaders that are steering the developments in the financial sphere from global CEOs to disruptive entrepreneurs. With CFTE you don’t just learn what’s in the books, you live the experience by grasping real-world applications.

If you are looking for rich insights into how the Financial Technology arena is transforming from within, we can help you get the latest knowledge that will stir things up in your career. CFTE offers leading online programmes in digital finance, covering an expanse of topics like – Payments, AI, Open Banking, Platforms, Fintech, Intrapreneurship and more, that will help you conquer the financial technology landscape. With this expertise at your disposal, you will be on track to turbocharge your career.

You will be learning from a curated line-up of industry leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs hailing from Fortune 500 companies and Tech Unicorns, among others. They will each be presenting their knowledge and experience in the field of digital finance. No matter if you are embarking on a new journey or fortifying your role, these lecturers and guest experts will guide you through the perspective of established institutions like – Starling Bank, Wells Fargo, tech giants like – Google, IBM, successful startups such as – Kabbage or Plaid, among many more!