Episode 560: Killing It: Ohad Samet on Reimagining Debt Collection

In This Episode In this week's episode of Breaking Banks we bring you the next feature in our Killing It series as host Jason Henrichs connects with Ohad Samet, Co-Founder and CEO of TrueAccord. Several calls from unknown numbers and one unpleasant conversation about a forgotten credit card with a relatively small balance was the impetus for Ohad to reimagine the debt collection process and the genesis of TrueAccord. Prior experience as the Chief Risk Officer of Klarna, a European payments company, and experience with other start-ups in the area of risk and analytics served him well. Development is an upward spiral and founding a company (companies actually) involves a lot of self-expression and is often less about the money and more about what you want to do. At some point, though, you may need to fire yourself. Another candid and enlightening conversation in the series with relevance for all. Read the entire transcript here. Podcast Content: Chapter 1: 00:00 - Welcome and Episode Overview The Breaking Banks team introduces the episode, diving into the journey of starting, scaling, and transforming companies with the founder of TrueML. Chapter 2: 02:50 - From Klarna to TrueML: A Founder's Motivation The guest recounts his early career successes, his departure from Klarna, and the personal and professional motivations behind starting TrueML. Chapter 3: 08:20 - A Personal Problem Sparks Innovation A forgotten credit card bill becomes the inspiration to reinvent debt collection, blending personal experience with professional insight. Chapter 4: 13:45 - Building a Resilient Structure: Two Businesses in One Insights into creating a dual-entity business structure for scalability, regulatory compliance, and innovation within TrueML. Chapter 5: 20:10 - Letting Go: Redefining Leadership Roles Exploring the challenges and personal growth required to delegate responsibilities and allow a company to grow beyond its founder's direct control. Chapter 6: 27:30 - Reinvention and Identity in Leadership The guest reflects on balancing personal identity with professional roles, highlighting lessons learned from multiple startup journeys. Chapter 7: 33:50 - The Art of Firing Yourself When and how to step back as a leader, with practical advice on hiring executives and knowing when it’s time to delegate or move on. Chapter 8: 41:10 - The Evolution of TrueML: Reinventing Debt Collection TrueML's role in transforming the debt collection industry, emphasizing technology, strategy, and long-term vision for impactful innovation. Chapter 9: 47:15 - Final Thoughts: Leadership Lessons from the Journey Key takeaways on leadership, scaling businesses, and staying grounded as a founder, with a look toward the future of TrueML. Chapter 10: 50:00 - Outro and Credits The Breaking Banks team wraps up the episode, thanking the guest and reminding listeners to engage with the show and share their thoughts. Related Content: Episode 102: The Debt Collection Process Episode 561: Demystifying Fintech: Insights on Banking's Future Huawei Does Gen-Fi Bank-Fintech Partnerships, Open Banking and AI...oh my! Episode 562: Hot Takes: Regulatory Headwinds for BaaS https://youtu.be/Ev2DwaPJh-o