CFTE spoke to our alumni Gustavo Leal, who is currently an advisor at a fintech firm Kilde and a relationship manager at SingAlliance. Gustavo has made a brave turnaround from corporate finance to fintech innovation before finally moving to the Wealth Management industry. Let’s hear more about his journey and his dedication to lifelong learning. 

CFTE: What is your background? And what is your current job title and mission?

Gustavo: I come from a robust background in corporate finance and private banking, having accumulated years of expertise working in innovative companies. My journey began at IBM, which provided me with the opportunity to delve into diverse roles within corporate finance, embedded in a global organisation. This experience eventually led me to transition into the role of Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at an emerging FinTech company in Asia, marking a pivotal shift in my career trajectory. Currently, I am deeply entrenched in the investment world, serving as a Relationship Manager within an External Asset Manager (EAM) firm. This role allows me to leverage my background and experience to deliver value to clients, in alignment with their objectives and needs.

CFTE: Since when are you a CFTE alumni? How did you hear about CFTE and what programme did you take?

Gustavo: During my first year in Asia in 2019, I became acquainted with CFTE as I embarked on a journey to explore the diverse technologies and capabilities shaping the Fintech space. Eager to immerse myself in the dynamic startup ecosystem and establish new connections within a thriving hub like Singapore, I actively sought pioneering programs that could equip me with the skills to navigate an evolving financial industry landscape, while also connecting with fellow professionals in the region. Fortunately, I came across CFTE, a platform offering a range of courses that aligned perfectly with these goals. As a result, I enrolled in the AI in Finance and Intrapreneurship programs.

New Skills in the Financial Services Industry

CFTE: What was your main motivation for taking the courses? Were there any specific insights you gained throughout your career that prompted you to learn about these topics?

Gustavo: Having experienced a significant career transition after completing a full-time MBA program, I shifted from a large corporation to actively pursue opportunities in the startup landscape. This change brought to my attention the need to stay updated with new requirements and the array of tools available. While my tenure at IBM undoubtedly nurtured my forward-thinking approach, the rapid pace at which advancements unfold has underscored the crucial importance of continuous learning and the examination of diverse resources to remain prepared for the demands of the industry, particularly within the Fintech ecosystem. Guided by my curiosity, I delved into investigating how innovative companies approach credit scoring processes and explored various tools and frameworks designed to empower individuals in refining their investment strategies. Enrolling in courses like AI in Finance proved to be profoundly enlightening, offering a clearer understanding of multiple cutting-edge technologies available in the market. Additionally, participating in the Intrapreneurship program facilitated connections with industry peers, further enriching my experience.

CFTE: How have you implemented the knowledge and skills you acquired through the courses in your career?

Gustavo: The courses I completed have been instrumental in shaping my career journey. This became evident when I joined an early-stage Fintech firm in Singapore. I combined my years of sector experience with the recent insights gained from the courses to effectively manage complex data sets. This synergy allowed me to enhance credit evaluations using advanced machine learning techniques highlighted in CFTE’s programs. By merging existing knowledge with cutting-edge skills, I have made meaningful contributions to my company’s efforts in creating a leading platform in the Fintech space.

CFTE: You have a lot of experience in financial services. What is the best advice you would give to someone who wants to start his/her or develop a career in finance?

Gustavo: The finance industry is undergoing significant transformation, and we can anticipate more structural changes in the years ahead, driven by the technology at our disposal. While stringent regulatory requirements have typically imposed constraints on such changes, we are witnessing the emergence of a dynamic ecosystem of unregulated service providers. These providers are not only becoming more relevant and serving as complementary players to larger organizations but are also pushing regulated financial institutions to accelerate the adoption of new technologies. Hence, remaining up-to-date and open-minded is not merely a desirable trait but an essential requirement in such a dynamic environment. Furthermore, financial experts must genuinely embrace a passion for the numerous ways they can enrich society through more effective and well-informed decision-making procedures. This passion is crucial for embracing the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

CFTE: The current economic landscape in financial services is very uncertain and always evolving. Do you think professionals should continuously learn to improve their financial literacy and acquire new skills? How?

Gustavo: I’m a strong advocate for adopting a continuous learning mindset. This perspective holds significance not only for staying current and well-equipped to navigate challenges within your organization, but also for amplifying your overall achievements and network. I observe that the world is increasingly becoming both specialized and interdisciplinary. Therefore, enrolling in various courses can serve as a compass to help you stay focused while maintaining the enthusiasm needed to effectively manage the countless changes that come your way.

The Lifelong Journey

CFTE: If you had to describe the learning journey in 3 words or less, what would they be?

Gustavo: Drawing inspiration from the Agile method, I could emphasize the words ‘learn, deploy, and refine’ as a guiding mantra. This implies that individuals should strive to engage with the available content and tools, gain practical experience, and explore novel avenues as needed throughout their learning journey within an unending cycle.

CFTE: How would you recommend CFTE’s programme to your networks or those who wanted to upskill themselves?

Gustavo: I strongly recommend — and I have done so in the past — that professionals seeking to learn about innovative tools and valuable frameworks in a structured manner should consider trying CFTE courses. The platform is not only a repository of excellent content, but it’s also a place where you can expand your network by connecting with experienced professionals in the finance industry.

CFTE: Any other thoughts on your journey with CFTE?

Gustavo: It was a pleasure to be both an Alumnus and an affiliated consultant at CFTE. As I took my initial steps in Asia, I turned to CFTE to discover cutting-edge technologies available for financial professionals and enhance my network in the region. Additionally, I provided support to the company on internal initiatives, which afforded me the opportunity to engage further with the fantastic CFTE staff and its wonderful founders, all while contributing valuable insights.

The Importance of Multidisciplinary Learning

This journey showcases an agile approach to career development. Through flexible learning in the latest subjects, including AI in Finance and participation in the  CFTE x Revolut extrapreneurship programme, Gustavo was able to enter the fintech industry. Financial industry professionals have to continuously develop their skills in order to grow in the industry and manage innovative fintech projects effectively.

The  industry undergoes a rapid transformation, while fintech products are created with regulations built around them. Executive education is important for developing companies, countries at a large scale. 

“Hence, remaining up-to-date and open-minded is not merely a desirable trait but an essential requirement in such a dynamic environment. Furthermore, financial experts must genuinely embrace a passion for the numerous ways they can enrich society through more effective and well-informed decision-making procedures.,” – as Gustavo Leal suggests. 

Learn more about our AI in Finance course and follow Gustavo Leal on LinkedIn to gain insight into the fintech field in Singapore. 

At CFTE, we believe in the importance of continuous learning, in order to prepare the capability and right knowledge in the workforce, or more broadly the whole community. In a digital-transforming world, we bet on people, and we are keen to share stories from our alumni like Gustavo Leal.

The post From CFTE Alumni to Chief Investment Officer at an emerging Fintech Company in Asia, before moving into the Wealth Management space – the story of Gustavo Leal appeared first on CFTE.

*This interview has been edited to fit.

Last month at CFTE’s five year anniversary in Singapore, we had a great chance to interview our alumni David Armstrong, the COO at MoneyFitt and Ka-ming Lim, the CEO at MoneyFitt. David and Ka-ming have professional backgrounds in financial sectors for several years in large organisations worldwide. They decided to start their own business to co-found MoneyFitt. In the Alumni story, they will share with us what is the story behind founding MoneyFitt, an innovative platform to enhance financial literacy in society.

CFTE: You are both CFTE Alumni. How did you hear about CFTE and what programme did you take? 

D: I was moving to Singapore and wanted to pivot into Fintech. Huy, who is the Co-founder at CFTE, was one of the professors for the Fintech course I took through the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. I connected with him on LinkedIn and heard about CFTE through his LinkedIn profile. I took part in the Extrapreneurship course with Revolut, the excellent AI in Finance course, as well as attended various events in Singapore and London. 

K: I heard about CFTE’s AI in Finance course from somebody at Ngee Ann Poly at the Singapore Fintech Festival (and we’ve been taking in stellar interns from Ngee Ann Poly ever since!) 

David and Ka-ming’s Career in Finance

CFTE: What are your backgrounds? And what are your current job title and missions? 

D: I have a background in finance, corporate restructuring, and consultancy work.  I am the COO but also manage the company finances day to day.

K: My background is in investing, both on the sell-side as well as buy-side, in London, Singapore and New York with firms such as Schroders, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan. I got my MBA from Columbia while working in New York, and was a partner in a hedge fund in Singapore during the Lehman Crisis. I am the CEO and my mission is to help everyone, young and old, to have better lives by making better financial decisions.

The journey becoming entrepreneurs

Building a successful and thriving business is not easy. It requires a wide range of skills in terms of collaboration, business development, networking, resilient and growth mindsets and experience in the industry. David and Ka-ming both have several years of experience in traditional finance in leading firms. They mentioned making the transition from employees to entrepreneurs is challenging but rewarding. Herein, David and Ka-ming shared the turning point for them to shift their career path to be entrepreneurs in Fintech. 

In addition, they will take us to know more about their company—MoneyFitt and their aim to enhance financial literacy to help more people become financially independent and self-sufficient globally. 

CFTE: You both co-founded MoneyFitt. When did you get the Eureka moment and what were the reasons behind founding the company? 

D & K: It is always great to think of there being a single, leap-out-of-the-bathtub Eureka moment, but in reality, we had been working on numerous approaches over the years to improve financial wellbeing and financial literacy in general. Prudential Singapore’s consumer-focused problem statement in the Pru Fintegrate competition (run by CFTE alum and general dynamo Magdalene Loh) directed our previous B2B focus towards something more user-facing, but with a unique and robust business model that could solve a specific pain point. In this case, it was to provide warm leads to financial advisors and other service providers.

CFTE: Can you tell us more about MoneyFitt’s mission? How important is financial literacy today, and what problem are you solving in the industry? 

D: Financial literacy is a huge issue and is a crucial component of everyone’s overall wellness, including mental and financial health. Unfortunately, it is often not taught well in schools. Recent shocks around Covid and now inflation have shown it is even more important than ever to have a basic level of knowledge that you can act upon to build a financial safety net, ensure you have the right level of insurance coverage, and have a savings and investing plan. 

We have recently created The MoneyFitt Morning daily newsletter for those looking to improve not just their financial literacy but their “investment literacy” as well. You can subscribe here. 

K: Financial literacy is important, but taking action based on it is key! Our brand new app, which is currently optimised for Singapore, helps users with not just WHAT to do but also WHICH to do first and WHY. Prioritising what actions to take first is crucial as we can all get inundated with (even good) advice and end up paralysed, doing none of them! You can download the app here.

CFTE: Networking is one of the requirements to expand one’s business. After two years of Covid, does the power of networking still exist? 

D: Definitely! There was lots of revenge networking at the recent Singapore Fintech Festival, for example. I think in-person networking at these major events will always be very popular. I met Ka at a CFTE event so MoneyFitt in its current form would not exist without that networking opportunity. 

K: I would say it is even more important now, after such a long period of enforced social distancing. Not too surprisingly, people now seem more comfortable taking follow-up meetings virtually than before, but that initial in-person meeting is key.

CFTE: The current economic landscape in financial services is very uncertain and always evolving. Do you think professionals should continuously learn to improve their financial literacy and acquire new skills? How? 

D: Everyone needs a basic level of understanding. Even highly-skilled professionals in law or medicine may not have good financial knowledge. Many people outsource their finances and pay high commissions or have advisers that are not fit for purpose. 

K: Professionals are often ignored when discussing financial literacy. It’s not that only non-professionals were let down by the education system in terms of learning the basics of personal finance, we all were! Improving financial literacy and investment literacy is a journey we can all benefit from, and which are skills that as a society we should all try to promote. How? By downloading our app and subscribing to our newsletter! 

CFTE: To conclude this interview, what is the best advice you would give to someone who wants to start his/her fintech business or develop a career in Fintech? 

D: Look to get involved and network with people who are already in the ecosystem. The CFTE community is actually very supportive and friendly as a starting point, and their THINK platform has a huge amount of high-quality content. 

K: Go forth and network… and seek mentorship and guidance from all quarters. Have your North Star but don’t be afraid to pivot. 

CFTE: Any other thoughts on your journey? 

D&K: Support from the CFTE community has been very helpful. How you build the team around you, particularly if you have a Co-founder, is the most important decision you can make!

Continuous learning in this uncertain era

The current economic landscape in financial services is very uncertain and always evolving. Professionals should continuously learn to improve their financial literacy and acquire new skills. David mentioned that everyone needs a basic level of understanding of finance. 

Even highly-skilled professionals in law or medicine may not have good financial knowledge. Many people outsource their finances and pay high commissions or have advisers that are not fit for purpose. In addition, Ka-ming said professionals are often ignored when discussing financial literacy as the current education system lacks teaching people the basics of personal finance management. 

“Improving financial literacy and investment literacy is a journey we can all benefit from, and which are skills that as a society we should all try to promote,” noted David and Ka-ming. 

Make sure to check the MoneyFitt website to learn more about managing your money and knowledge of financial literacy! 

At CFTE, we believe in the importance of continuous learning, in order to prepare the capability and right knowledge in the workforce, or more broadly the whole community. In a digital-transforming world, we bet on people, and we are keen to share stories from our alumni like David and Ka-ming’s.

The post From CFTE Alumni to co-founding MoneyFitt – the story of David and Ka-ming appeared first on CFTE.

Ádám Majerusz is a second-year International Business student at Corvinus University of Budapest. Besides that, he is part of the Finance Master Club student organization. They offered him the opportunity to do CTFs Payments in Digital Finance Course for free and  was very happy to accept it, since it is an area which has evolved enormously in recent years, and he wanted to know more about the new technological solutions. Also currently, he is taking a Real Estate Consulting and Valuation internship with PwC Hungary.

CFTE: What motivated you to learn about Digital Payments?

Ádám: Honestly, it was an easy decision to accept the invitation from my student organization. I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to learn about the payments industry. I believed I could gain knowledge which I would not get at the university. As a student, I do not know exactly where I want to work later, but finance and payments are very much among the potential areas. And I believe it is important for a business student to be up-to-date with the latest changes in the payments sector. It was important that only basic knowledge was enough to complete the course, because the course materials were well-organized. It starts with the history of payments and the basic terms, and at the end of the course we get to know the latest innovations and strategies. So, I highly recommend it to other students!

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most about the courses?

Ádám: What stood out to me is definitely the quality of the course. The teachers had a high level of expertise. I really liked the interviews where we got a lot of useful insights. I think the level of professionalism is what makes the course special.

CFTE: If you could describe yourself using only 3 words, what would they be? 

Ádám: Persistent, optimistic and competitive.

The post Alumni Stories: Ádám Majerusz, International Business student at Corvinus University of Budapest appeared first on CFTE.

Zahid Kalolwala is a Senior Director and Remittance Head at Al-Rajhi Bank. With worldwide experiences under his belt, he’s worked all across the world: from the UK, Hong Kong, UAE, Kuwait to Saudi Arabia. Zahid considers himself to be a continuous learner and has been upskilling himself in areas such as Fintech or AI in Finance. 

CFTE: As somebody who’s heavily involved in the Finance industry, what motivated you to learn about Artificial Intelligence in Finance? Were there any specific insights from your professional experiences that prompted you to explore this topic?

Zahid: Given the fast pace at which the Finance industry landscape is changing, it is imperative for professionals to keep up and stay up to speed. From Fintech, RegTech, AI, ML, Cloud, Crypto, Big Data to Open Banking and Digital Payments, CFTE courses are meticulously put together and taught by those transforming the industry today, making it extremely relevant for any audience. CFTEs forward-thinking and in depth course programs lay the foundations for hands-on applications and provide professionals with tools to thrive in digital finance.

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most about the course?

Zahid: All CFTE programs are punctilious and futuristic; taught by industry leaders spearheading the transformation; making it easy and relevant for all audience types.

CFTE: Any main takeaways that have stuck with you? Have you been able to use what you learned in real life?

Zahid: The best thing about a CFTE course is its real life application in scaling businesses and solving the most complex of corporate problems. Over the past few years, I have applied the knowledge gained and have witnessed positive impacts.

CFTE: And finally, if you had to describe yourself in 3 words or less, what would they be?

Zahid: Change maker, Influencer and Thought Leader.

The post Alumni Stories: Zahid Kalolwala, A Senior Director on a Constant Quest to Upskill Himself in AI and Fintech appeared first on CFTE.

Udeme Akwaowo Promise holds a Bsc in Finance and Banking from University of Port Harcourt. He is currently working as a Market Control Analyst in Nigerian Exchange Group which is the Capital Market Financial Services Industry in Lagos, Nigeria. He completed the “CFTE Global Fintech internship program” and the “THINK What is Fintech”?

CFTE: Given your Finance background, were there any insights you gained through your experiences that prompted you to learn more about Fintech?

Udeme: Yes there is as the increasing emergence of technology is evolving and most finance functions have been linked to Fintech as such, I felt it was imperative for me to learn more about the fundamentals of fintech. I gained insights from the Fintech Masterclass 360, AI in Finance and Platforms in Fintech.

CFTE: How have you implemented what you learned? 

Udeme: I was able to write a Fintech article on Nigeria and Africa titled “Fintech and the Nigerian Fintech Space” and I also followed an online fintech community called “Africa: The Big Deal” that talks about current finance related happenings in Africa. However, I am still open to learning more about Fintech and getting the opportunities to practice it will just be perfect, especially in the area of Data Analytics and AI in Finance,

CFTE: What did you enjoy about your learning experience and what were the main takeaways for you? 

Udeme: I really enjoyed the whole learning journey experience and the main takeaway was the reality that I partnered with passionate fintech colleagues across the globe. I was lucky enough to be part of a team to work on a Paypal Case Study Project called “How can Paypal retain its position of dominance and be the preferred payment provider among merchants?” using SWOT and PESTLE Analysis to identify the internal and external factors of the organisation’s environment. It was fascinating as well as remarkable being able to share ideas and knowledge with one another.

CFTE: Finally, if you had to describe your characteristics in 3 words, what would they be?

Udeme: Relentless, Ambitious, Focused

The post Alumni Stories: Promise Udeme Akwaowo, A Finance Professional Seeking to Get Opportunities for Practicing Fintech appeared first on CFTE.

Ricardo’s professional roots come from finance and managing control. After developing over 25 years of experience as an Account Officer and Chief Accountant, first from 2002 as a Chief Financial Officer, and from 2018 to 2020 as both Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer in charge of an Italian SME working on order in EU and ME markets.

In 2020, after a long experience as a Corporate Executive, he opened a new chapter as Management Consultant & Advisor to support projects for enterprises, their boards, middle management towards improving business processes, spreading innovation, embedding digital transformation in supply chain and finance by using e.g. fintech’s ecosystem platforms or BI DSS in financial planning.

After 25 years, it was a long professional journey embarked since 2014, which firstly brought me back to study a Master degree in Administration, Finance and Management Control at Carlo Cattaneo University. Then becoming part of a C-level community as an AITI Italian Association of Corporate Treasurers (part of EACT), even as s member of it’s Fintech Committee, ANDAF Italian Association of CFO (part of IAFEI) and Supply Chain Finance Observatory at Politecnico Milano School of Management to gain professional certifications as a Treasurer and Innovation Manager.

CFTE: What motivated you to learn about topics such as Open Banking, Platforms, AI in Finance or Fintech? 

Ricardo: I strongly believe that all four areas are part of the epoch-making change called digital transformation. Began in the early 2000s and becoming increasingly pervasive in business and society since the 2008 financial crisis.Having always worked in the area of finance and general management, particularly on supply chain, and supporting the combination of knowledge and technology, I had a natural pulse and curiosity to investigate the potentials and benefits for companies by integrating, for example; a credit risk management platform to link finance areas with procurement areas. 

Talking many times within companies or AITI FinTech Committee, I do believe the introduction of PSD2 has been a detonator for the entire fintech ecosystem and financial services, opening up to greater competition on payments side by sharing of bank account information, rather than allowing Insurtech to offer additional or alternative services to improve customer experience. Exponentially increasing due to API’s potential of collaborative platforms for risk management, integrating both in financial planning and management control BI DSS based on AI and advanced analytics.Considering all this is linked to technologies such as Cloud, IoT, Big Data, Mobile Connectivity, it’s easy to think of the innovative boost for business models.

CFTE: How has CFTE supported your professional development? Have you been able to use any of the skills and knowledge in your role as CFO and management consultant? 

Ricardo:

Ironically I can say that CFTE found me!

In 2019 as speaker for an Italian financial forum, I illustrated the importance of FinTech solutions in Supply Chain Finance. Their pervasivity for organizational change by breaking down silos and introducing a collaborative mindset between board, procurement, production, logistics, compliance, HR, finance and IT.

In addition to this, increasingly stringent rules and practices in terms of reporting, disclosure and compliance towards the banking world have come. As of 2021, EBA guidelines have been added, making it necessary first of all the integration in business processes of risk management platforms, predictive analysis of scenarios through data analytics and AI.

In 2020, I crossed my path with CFTE community and lecturers as I needed to know in an organic and structured way on how much the FinTech 2.0 ecosystem model had become a service for SMEs as well as corporations and consumers, a tool for the optimization of working capital, how blockchain itself was contributing to change the face of business and finance. Currently, as a management consultant, I’m noticing how FinTech enables and accelerates a proactive awareness of the company’s business model, and how it can be redesigned and improved.

CFTE: Which lessons have stuck with you since finishing the courses? 

Ricardo:

The Fintech Foundation Course was my first training experience and inevitably the topics covered were the roots of the knowledge path in the FinTech ecosystem. In this regard, it was essential to learn about the growth of “Credit Karma” from Huy Nguyen Trieu, the concept of “Tipping Points” from Ronit Ghose, the disruptive impact story of blockchain and bitcoin on finance and in terms of innovation on payments from Eric Heresnyi of Streamdata.IO on how much PSD2 has contributed to the growth of APIs, the simplicity with which Adrei Kirilenko addressed a technical and complex topic like blockchain and lastly, the transition from challenger banks to ICOs by Janos Barberis.

Perhaps the most fascinating journey was the one with Daniel Liebau on the topics of Venture Capital, Finance 2.0 and startups, probably because they gave me a lot of food for thought on the dimension that business models can take. I would like to give a special mention to the course on platforms in financial services by Huy and Stephan Murer, which perfectly traces the birth and evolution of open banking, PSD2, APIs and Digital Ecosystem.

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most about your learning experience? 

Ricardo: First of all, the opportunity to come into contact with high-level experiences and cases, in areas where the FinTech ecosystem is at the center of the transformation of economic models, financed by governments (e.g. Singapore but also the UK or France). This broadened my vision and facilitated the comparison with Italy, where FinTech is facing a season of great ferment and evolution which is transforming incumbents, opening stock market to innovative startups, bringing finance on agendas of policy makers, pushing towards a strong integration between finance, supply chain, AI, blockchain and waiting for adequate government fundings to support this effort.

CFTE: Lastly, if you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be? 

Ricardo: Emphatic, Dreamer and  Heretic innovator.

The post Alumni Stories: Riccardo V Spinelli, Professional Management Consultant and Advisor Seeking to Expand Fintech Understanding appeared first on CFTE.

Mahesh Rupawalla, an ex-investment banker with experiences in M&A, equity and debt capital markets, corporate finance, governance and equity trading. He has since transitioned into a role of a consultant,  advising on corporate strategy, business expansion and fundraising with SMEs, startups and Fintech companies. 

CFTE: Why did you decide to learn about Open Banking & Platforms?

Mahesh: In my previous position, I saw how our equities trading business was under threat by new incumbents who made investing a simple and easy process.  Advances in technology created greater transparency and threatened the role of pure intermediaries.  

Presently, I am helping a Fintech company in its regional expansion plans.  They offer payment with embedded billing and claims management accounting services to SMEs.  Their business model requires them to collaborate with banks and payment service providers.

I realised that technology was driving Fintechs to evolve traditional business models to democratize financial services. I chanced upon the Open Banking and Platforms Specialisation Program as I was researching available courses that would advance my knowledge of Fintech and their business propositions.  Upon review of the CFTE’s Open Banking and Platforms programme content, I was convinced that the breadth and depth of the programme would give me a good comprehension of the subject matter.  The fact that the programme was offered by a training provider accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF), Singapore, and listed as “Future-Enabled Skill” by IBF also helped.

CFTE: How have you applied the skills and knowledge acquired through the course?

Mahesh: The course has given me the knowledge that now allows me to better appreciate the dynamics driving the growing surge of Fintech offering innovative and customer friendly financial products and services. In my current engagement with Fintech companies, I am able to apply the knowledge acquired to foster better collaboration and win-win propositions with partners in the ecosystem.  

The course is broad and yet sufficiently detailed and gave me a good grasp of the forces driving the Fintech “revolution”, the business models adopted by incumbents and new entrants, the advances in technology driving it and regulatory and operational risk management.  The course allowed me to have more informed conversations with platform providers and participants in the fintech eco-systems.

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most about learning about Open Banking & Platforms? What are the key takeaways for you?

Mahesh: The course is organised in 5 modules and is broken down into chapters covering specific topics.  This allows for bite size learning without having to refer back to previous chapters/modules.  I liked how besides the Introductory first module, the 4 other modules do not have to be taken in any particular order and allow you to start on the module that interests you the most. The quizzes at the end of each chapter was a good feature to test our understanding of each chapter.

I also enjoyed the sessions with the industry Experts as it gave the concepts and subject matter a practical perspective. These speakers, being market practitioners, shared real life examples of applications and issues facing the industry.

CFTE: Before we end, I have one last question! If you could describe yourself in 3 words or less, what would they be?

Mahesh: Inquisitive, analytical and committed.

The post Alumni Stories: Mahesh Rupawalla, Ex-investment banker turned consultant passionate about Fintech and Digital Innovation appeared first on CFTE.

Alessandro Serena is a Fintech enthusiast and a Senior card issuing specialist in Delivery Hero where he is deepening his knowledge in the Payments Industry, from both the Issuing and Acquiring perspective.

His journey with CFTE started with curiosity. Over the past years, he has felt like the payments and Fintech world are carefully guarded by those who work in it, which made him motivated to learn about the detailed aspects of the industry, from regulation to technical architecture. 

CFTE: As a professional in the banking industry, what prompted you to learn more about Open Banking and Platforms? Were there any insights you have gained that have led you to explore this topic?

Alessandro: Open Banking was rather unknown at my latitude. It has been a reality in the Baltics for years but in Italy, the majority was still focused on retaining full ‘ownership’ of customers. Therefore when PSD2 came out I perceived it as a sort of revolution and I started to imagine all the different business scenarios it would open. The most vivid was the chance to give customers banking, insurance, utilities etc. through a single subscription managed by a sort of relationship layer, able to collect information from the different areas.

CFTE: What were the main takeaways for you? Have you been able to implement any of your learnings in your career, if so, how?

Alessandro: This course helped me to better frame and understand the different areas of Open Banking and its challenges. Today, I find myself with a number of authoritative sites and personalities that allow me to stay up-to-date. Similarly, as I progressed with my studies, I drew up a list of topics that I did not know before and that I can now explore independently. Finally, I had the opportunity to interact with some of the companies mentioned in the courses and evaluate with them possible collaborations: it was easier to get along because I already knew the type of work they were doing.

CFTE: What was the most enjoyable part of the course and why?  

Alessandro: The most enjoyable part of the course was the module on incumbents transformation. We relate almost every day with these entities and we may spend years working for them, therefore I found it fundamental and compelling to understand the challenges of major incumbents and have a glimpse at how they’ll transform in the years to come.

CFTE: Finally, if you had to describe yourself in 3 words or less, what would they be?

Alessandro: Enthusiast lateral thinker.

The post Alumni Stories: Alessandro Serena, Senior card issuing specialist in Delivery Hero appeared first on CFTE.

Tanya Campos is a Business Operations Manager for Brankas, the leading open banking enabler in South East Asia. She is a Certified Public Accountant, with a diverse array of experiences in various roles and industries from consumer goods to pharmaceuticals, and even in the energy sector. She then decided to make a career shift into FinTech because she believed in its potential to uplift lives through financial inclusion and connectivity, especially in highly unbanked populations such as her home country, Philippines. She was part of the CFTE Extrapreneurship 2021 Program, an Early Adopter of CFTE THINK, and also a mentor in the Global FinTech Internship Experience.

CFTE: Can you tell us a little bit about your career progression over the past couple of years? Has CFTE played any role in how you developed professionally?

Tanya: The past years of my career have mostly been in commercial finance, sales and operations. I was not in financial services, technology, or anything closely related to FinTech. I joined the CFTE Extrapreneurship Program in collaboration with Uber Pay in March 2021 to get a taste of what a Digital Payments career has to offer. I was part of an international cohort tasked to tackle a real-world problem statement from Uber.

After that, I was fortunate to be part of the CFTE THINK Early Adopter Program, where I was one of THINK’s beta testers. It was a fulfilling experience to help develop and improve the THINK platform. My favorite course on THINK is “Building Blocks of Tech in Finance” since it gave me an overview of the technology behind FinTech. I’m also very honored to have been one of the mentors in CFTE’s Global FinTech Internship Experience. All these experiences in CFTE helped empower me to pursue a career in Financial Technology.

CFTE: What have been your most memorable experiences with CFTE?

Tanya:

I’ve had a couple of memorable experiences with CFTE! During the Uber Extrapreneurship Program, I got the chance to learn and work with different nationalities, and to learn about the FinTech industry in their regions. The program was a confluence of diverse perspectives in finance and technology.

My most unforgettable experience with CFTE would be the Global FinTech Internship Experience. It was such an honor to be part of a large-scale global initiative to equip the youth with FinTech skills. I met bright young minds from all corners of the world, and I’m grateful for the chance to share my experiences in FinTech and in business with them. I also got to learn from their intelligent questions and their piercing insights. It’s truly something I won’t forget!

CFTE: What are the main lessons you have taken away from this journey you’ve been on with CFTE? 

Tanya: I’ve learned the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, being able to connect, communicate and network globally. Our world is quickly changing, so companies and professionals must constantly evolve and adapt. Also, technology has allowed us to live in a borderless world. Now, more than ever, we can connect with mentors, colleagues, and thought leaders from across the globe.

CFTE: If you had to describe yourself in 3 words or less, what would they be? 

Tanya: Bold, driven, and curious!

The post Alumni Stories: Tanya Campos, Business Operations Manager wanting to shift her career focus from Business Administration to Financial technology appeared first on CFTE.

Hemal Thakore is an EMEA Credit and Collections Analyst at Equinix from the UK. He has an MBA from Haroun Education Ventures and enjoys multi-disciplinary learning. His professional background is mainly within the credit and accounts receivable.

CFTE: What motivated you to learn more about Fintech and Digital Finance Payments?

Hemal: Fintech and the emergence of blockchain technology will have a big impact on financial services and banking. I enrolled with CFTE to learn from experts about the way the technology has evolved and comprehend the implications for regulations. In the last 10 years, $200B has been invested in Fintech startups. For instance, Alibaba launched the largest money market fund in the world,  Goldman Sachs developed its own digital bank and Stripe became bigger than 99% of the banks. There are multiple concepts that fall under the domain of Fintech, from Artificial Intelligence to robo-advisors and Blockchain to virtual banks.

CFTE: What were your main takeaways from the Payments in Digital Finance course?

Hemal: From the Payments specialisation, I learned about the ways of making digital finance accessible to the unbanked. I also gained some valuable insights into the developments of alternative forms of payment and central bank digital currency. Prior to the course, I was not fully aware of the regulatory initiatives across the regions that enable a payment initiation market.

CFTE: What did you enjoy the most from the course? 

Hemal: I enjoyed learning from various fintech leaders at different organisations who were able to explain how these fintech developments have changed the ways in which they are operating. The course was thorough, and I benefited from the additional readings and resources.

CFTE: If you could describe yourself using less than 3 words, what would they be? 

Hemal: Detail Oriented and curious to learn.

The post Alumni Stories: Hemal Thakore, Global Account Manager exploring more about Digital Finance Payments appeared first on CFTE.