Fintech Files: Insights on TECH by BCG Platinion

How does a region skip the traditional path of banking entirely and jump straight into a digital future? Central Asia has become one of the fastest-moving digital banking regions in the world. In this episode, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, reflects on what’s driving this rapid shift and how it’s reshaping competition, customer expectations, and the overall financial landscape. We discuss TBC’s approach to entering Uzbekista...

What does it take to create payment infrastructure from the ground up in one of the world’s fastest-growing fintech regions? Recorded at Money 20/20 in Riyadh, PayTabs CEO and Founder, Abdulaziz Al Jouf, reflects on how the company helped establish one of the Middle East’s earliest fintechs. We explore the challenges of launching in a cash-reliant market, the role of cultural understanding in earning trust, and how partnerships wit...

Money moves digitally across invisible networks every day — but what actually carries it from one place to another? Fireblocks CEO Michael Shaulov joins us to unpack the evolution of digital payment rails; the networks and infrastructure that move money in our digital world. We explore how cybersecurity, blockchain, and new forms of currency are reshaping global transactions. Michael shares how Fireblocks’ “security by design” appr...

How can wealth management become more intuitive, transparent, and accessible? Dhruv Arora, Founder & CEO at Syfe, a leading wealth management platform based in Singapore, shares how Syfe is redefining investing for the mass-affluent segment in Asia-Pacific. Drawing on his background in traditional finance, Dhruv reflects on building trust in emerging markets, how technology and digital advice are reshaping investor behavior, an...

How can financial planning evolve from numbers on a spreadsheet to a tool for shaping life goals? 

Adrianna Adams, Head of Financial Planning at Domain Money, joins Fintech Files to explore how technology and new fee models are transforming the way millennials and Gen Z engage with their financial futures. Drawing on her journey into the field, Adrianna shares how Domain Money is making personalized, confidence-building financi...

In Season 5 of Fintech Files, our three hosts are traveling across the global fintech landscape, uncovering the most exciting stories from the world’s leading innovation hubs. From embedded payments to crypto, from financial inclusion to the future of millennial finance, they’re diving into the breakthroughs, bold ideas, and unexpected questions defining what comes next.

We’ll be talking to founders and experts behind some of the br...

We’re wrapping up Season 4 of Fintech Files with a special episode reflecting on the past season, while also looking ahead to the future of fintech. Hosts Bianca, Nora and Annika dive into the trends they have seen shape the industry, from AI-driven transformation and the rise of digital banking to the growing focus on sustainability and financial inclusion. 

Beyond fintech, this episode pulls back the curtain on life at BCG Pl...

We’re bringing back one of our favourite episodes from Season 3! We dive into the complexities and opportunities within Africa's financial services sector with Alfred Mukudu, Financial Services Go-To-Market Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) South Africa. With over 50 countries and about 42 different currencies, Africa presents a unique landscape for financial innovation. Alfred shares insights into the critical role of interoperabi...

How can allowing customers to “own” their data reshape finance for everyone’s benefit? Mr. Open Banking himself, Eyal Sivan, joins Fintech Files to discuss how open banking rose from the 2008 financial crisis to become a worldwide movement centered on competition, innovation, and transparency. With over 25 years in IT and banking technology, Eyal breaks down the core principles behind open banking, clarifies myths around security, ...

What does it take to drive sustainable change across regions and bridge global disparities? To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the incredible contributions of women in sustainability and fintech with two accomplished leaders: Cynthia Salicrup and Sandra Carrillo, partners at Environmental Resources Management (ERM). Drawing from their extensive experience, they share their pathways into the world of sustaina...

How can entrepreneurs in emerging markets break the mold and foster economic growth amid unpredictability? In this episode, Nader Abdelrazik—founder of MoneyHash—shares how he navigated life during the Arab Spring, was motivated to become an economist, and ultimately built a fintech startup. Nader discusses the unique challenges of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, from buyer and investor skepticism (aka the “foreigner compl...

In this special throwback episode, we revisit our Season 3 interview with Vera Futorjanski, Founder and CEO of Beyond Global and Veritas Ventures. 

How many globally lack access to banking? Astonishingly, one in three. In this insightful conversation, Vera Futorjanski, former Head of Communications at Rocket Internet and founding member of Dubai Future Accelerators, shares her journey. Emphasizing the transformative role of tec...

How do we achieve inclusive growth and break the glass ceiling? Subhashini Chandran, Mastercard’s SVP of Social Impact, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa, shares insights from her journey—from leading India’s largest tea business to driving global initiatives that empower women and foster equitable growth. With a deep understanding of systemic challenges and opportunities in global supply chains, Subhashini highlights how technology...

Suzy Ferreira, co-founder of Dinie, is on a mission to transform credit access for small businesses in Brazil. In this episode, Suzy shares her journey and the inspiration behind Dinie, an embedded lending fintech breaking barriers for SMEs. Discover how Dinie’s innovative, data-driven approach—embedding lending into platforms like iFood and leveraging real-time insights—is empowering small businesses to access the credit they need...

Happy Holidays Fintech Files listeners! As a special holiday treat, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from Season 3 with Radicant’s Eve Morelli.

Eve Morelli, Head of Sustainable Transparency unveils Radicant's unique approach to sustainable finance. Discover how this Swiss digital banking startup integrates the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its framework, ensuring users can see where their money is going a...

How can the financial sector lead the way in global decarbonization efforts? In this episode, we sit down with Mustafa Bosca, Co-Founder and Chief Decarbonization Officer at CarbonSifr, to explore the pivotal role financial services play in combating climate change. We delve into how Mustafa helps banks and organizations measure, reduce, and remove their carbon footprints, leveraging data to drive impactful change. Mustafa also sha...

How can technology make homeownership more accessible while supporting Europe's climate goals? In this episode, we sit down with Geert Van Kerckhoven, co-founder of Oper, to explore the challenges of housing affordability in Europe and the impact of the EU Green Deal on mortgages. Geert discusses how technology can empower banks and loan advisors to better serve clients, helping more people navigate the complex process of buying a ...

How can we create credit histories for unbanked people? In this episode, we sit down with Rajat Dayal, CEO and Founder of YabX, to explore how his company is revolutionizing credit access in emerging markets. About 1.5 billion individuals and businesses have no access to credit or any other financial product. Rajat shares insights on leveraging alternative data, like mobile wallet activity, to create credit histories for those over...

How can financial institutions drive sustainability and responsible AI practices? In this episode, we sit down with Anne Kleppe, a leading expert in sustainability and responsible AI at BCG. Anne shares her insights on how banks and financial institutions can leverage their influence to promote sustainable practices, reduce their carbon footprints, and use AI responsibly. We explore the challenges of measuring financed emissions, h...