2017 was a bumper year for Fintech. 2018 will be even bigger and to make sure you’re don’t miss out on the bonanza, we’ve outlined 3 simple steps to help you become a Fintech pro…
The fact is Fintech is becoming more and more integrated within financial services. The media frenzy has focused on blockchain and cryptocurrencies but there is so much more to the world of Fintech.
Whether you’re a financial professional eager to understand the impact Fintech will have on your career or you’re interested in uncovering new opportunities, follow our 3 steps and your Fintech journey will well and truly be underway.
Step 1: Soft introduction
Learning is a pretty logical process.
To master any subject, you need to take it slow, especially at the beginning. The last thing you want is to be overwhelmed by definitions, concepts and theoretical frameworks which have little context.
So in this crucial first step, learn from the thought leaders who know what they’re talking about. People who’ve been there and done it.
Here are 3 great blogs from well-respected leaders in Fintech who’s opinions will give you some great insigths:
- Disruptive Finance: Huy Nguyen Trieu – CEO of The Disruptive Group and Co-founder of CFTE. Huy’s blog is a collection of wisdom from a Fintech influencer who has successfully managed his own tech startup, worked as an MD at Citi and helped design 3 Fintech courses at Oxford Said Business School, Imperial College and CFTE.
- The Finanser: Blog of highly regarded Finance commentator and strategist, Chris Skinner. He is regularly referred to as one of the most influential people in banking and his blog provides fresh insight into the state of banking and the impact of technologies on the future direction of the industry.
- Faisal Khan: Blog of digital payments expert Faisal Khan who is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on cross-border money transfers and much much more. Given the payment sector is one of the most mature Fintech verticals, it’s a must read to understand the broader development of Fintech across the globe, especially in the emerging markets.
We’ve noted three particularly strong blogs but of course, there are much more. For an almost exhaustive list of Fintech blogs, you can go here.
Other resources…
Once you’ve become well accustomed to what the experts have to say about Fintech it’s time to take a deeper dive.
There are a number of books and notable Fintech reports that should be on your reading list.
Books like the aptly named “The Finteck Book” which was co-authored by CFTE board member Janos Barberis.
And reports like Citi bank’s “How Fintech is Forcing Banking to a Tipping-point“(the most downloaded Fintech report ever), produced by another CFTE board member, Ronit Ghose, are great places to start.
For a full list of books, this way.
Step 2: Invest time into studying the subject
Free resources are great, but if you’re serious about learning Fintech then there are no shortcuts. Just as it takes years to master any discipline in finance (think tuition fees and study time) it will take effort to become a Fintech pro.
Your next and logical question should be, “where do I invest in learning about the Subject?”
We’ve got you covered.
We’ve had a look at some of the top Fintech courses on the market and highlighted the 7 courses that should be on your shortlist.
From courses aimed at beginners to those that target entrepreneurs with ambitions of creating the next PayPal, there is something for everyone including CFTE’s first online Fintech course Around Fintech in 8 Hours.
For a complete breakdown head over to “From blockchain to machine learning, the best Fintech courses revealed“.
Step 3: become an active member of the community
Good. You’ve absorbed what the leading thinkers in Fintech are talking about and you’ve chosen a course that will provide you with a structured learning programme to truly grasp the world of Fintech.
Now what?
To continue on your learning journey, you need to be actively engaging with like minds.
People who will stimulate your imagination and provide you with new and interesting perspectives on Fintech.
So step 3 is all about networking.
And thankfully we live in an age where there are a plethora of opportunities to network, especially in Fintech.
There are a wide number of events to choose from and a quick search on platforms like Eventbrite and Meetup will give you a flavour of what’s happening in your locality.
So what are you waiting for?
Do a quick search to see whats on in your area. You’ll quickly start to get a feel for the trends that are in demand.
And that’s it.
Now all you need to do is brush up on those soft skills!
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