Searching for Mana with Lloyd Wahed

The future of money is here as Octopus Ventures Partner Zihao Xu sits down with Lloyd to discuss how he finds tomorrow’s fintech behemoths.After starting his career with renowned strategic consultancy Roland Berger, Zihao moved into the venture capital sphere with Octopus, which identifies “unusually talented entrepreneurs” and offers early-stage funding. In this in-depth conversation, Zihao tells us what he looks for in an entrepreneur, how he determines the potential of products that haven’t even been built yet, and why effective staffing is the most important thing in building a successful enterprise. Plus, Zihao lets us in on what the next decade of fintech has in store and whether the shift to fully digital currencies is inevitable. Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:05:55: What constitutes unusual talent and how does Zihao identify it?08:52: How Octopus prioritises product in early-stage investments17:48: The importance of staffing effectively in early-stage businesses.21:52: How the internet is spurring major changes in finance29:30: What does the next decade of finance have in store?35:35: Why Octopus is investing in crypto derivatives39:40: Zihao’s path into (and out of) consulting43:29: How Bitcoin spurred Zihao to follow his passion49:45: What Zi does to be the best venture capitalist possible.39:10: How to increase executive diversity in FinTech41:05: How to build a purpose-driven culture

PensionBee Founder and CEO Romina Savova joins Lloyd to examine a sector that’s ripe for disruption: pensions.That’s the idea behind PensionBee, which Romina founded after working at behemoths like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. When she tried to consolidate her pensions in one place, she found the task impossible and received little to no help from financial advisors or her provider. That led her to found PensionBee, which has partnered with some of the sector’s biggest money managers, including Legal & General and BlackRock.In a far-reaching chat with Lloyd, Romina tells us about the advice gap in pensions, the rising demand for responsible investments and why sustainability and strong ROI aren’t mutually exclusive. Then she lays out her career trajectory from law to finance, outlines which types of businesses should pursue venture capital, and tells us how to build a purpose-driven culture.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn

Meniga Co-Founder and CEO Georg Ludviksson sits down with Lloyd to outline how to found a successful FinTech.That’s a topic Georg has plenty of first-hand experience with. After developing one of Iceland’s most popular video games, Georg moved into tech, partnering with Nokia on an early mobile internet venture. That led him on to Harvard Business School before he founded Meniga, a digital banking company that boasts over 40 implementations with some of the world’s premiere retail banks.In his chat with Lloyd, Georg tells us why incumbents are actually making open banking possible and how the lines between banks and fintechs are blurring. Plus, he lays out how to have difficult conversations about founding equity, striking a balance between personal and business development, and how to maintain virtual relationships in a post-pandemic world.Follow Mana Search on Twitter: https://twitter.com/manasearchukFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana-talent/Episode Highlights:06:34: How Meniga is so much more than a core banking solution09:20: Why financial literacy is the key to career advancement14:12: Why have incumbents been hesitant to embrace open banking?20:30: Maintaining sustainable growth at Meniga26:13: How Georg created one of Iceland’s most popular video games31:53: Georg’s biggest tip for nw founders36:55: How Georg deals with leadership stress43:55: The best ways to balance work and personal life47:47: The trait that helped Georg succeed51:30: How to maintain virtual relationships56:20: Teasing Europe’s next up-and-coming tech hotspot

Scalable Capital Founder Adam French tells Lloyd Wahed how he went from a student at LSE to the founder of a wealthtech leader that partners with the world’s largest asset manager.So what accounts for Adam’s tremendous career growth? After interning with Goldman Sachs, he quickly moved up into director roles within the bank’s trading division. But his relentless pursuit of self-betterment led him to leave the investment giant to make a go of it with his four partners. Together, they founded Scalable Capital, a wealthtech company that boasts a $460 million valuation and a close partnership with BlackRock.On the podcast, Adam and Lloyd discuss the reason Scalable is moving beyond robo-advising, the traits that make so many Goldman alums great founders and what it takes to raise funds for new ventures. Plus, Adam shares insights from his collaboration with BlackRock and explains why investing firms need to start targeting millennials.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:02:16: What Scalable Capital’s up to and how it’s broadening its proposition10:53: The importance of a solid founding theme15:33: Why Scalable was founded without a CTO23:53: Adam’s biggest opportunity at Goldman Sachs28:42: Why Goldman alumni make such great FinTech founders36:04: The long road to regulatory approval39:08: How Scalable fostered user trust so quickly45:43: Establishing the partnership with BlackRock53:54: The traits that differentiate Scalable from other wealthtechs58:54: Why millennials need better investment platforms as they age

Searching for Mana dives deep into WealthTech this week as Ned Phillips (Founder and CEO of Bambu, co-host of the WealthTech UnWrapped podcast) sits down with Lloyd to talk robo-advisors, sales and so much more.After starting out as a London insurance salesman in the early 1990s, Ned found success in the east as Etrade’s Managing Director for Asia. Since then, he’s become a leader in the global WealthTech space, providing solutions to HSBC, Standard Chartered, Franklin Templeton and more. And he’s only just getting started.On the podcast, Ned tells Lloyd about the skyrocketing demand for robos amongst banks and why he wants the name ‘Bambu’ to be synonymous with WealthTech. He also explains why he never hires anyone who’s rude to a waiter, why salesmen should always work as a team of two, why a positive attitude is everything, and how FinTech is poised to be a pillar of the Singaporean economy,Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedInCheck out Ned’s podcast, WealthTech UnWrapped Episode Highlights:03:20: Ned introduces us to Bambu and explains why he wants to rule the world of WealthTech11:55: Big demand from banks: why so many companies are seeking out robo advisors20:05: Turning Bambu into THE global WealthTech company22:30: How Ned determined his career path27:31: Ned’s superpowers: competitive spirit and relentless positivity35:30: Why Ned prioritises attitude above skills when hiring40:10: Lloyd’s advice for job interviews: “Be disgustingly well prepared”46:15: Be the solution: Ned’s tips for being a great leader50:25: How fintech could become the fourth pillar of Singapore’s economy

Julie Ashmore Dann (CEO, Rapid Cash at NatWest) sits down with Lloyd to talk about how her company is making loans simple for SMEs.After entering the industry as a remittance processor, Julie developed her expertise in small-business lending at such companies as Bibby Financial Services, HSBC and Growth Street. In January 2020, she joined Rapid Cash, which helps SMEs get loans in a matter of days rather than months.In this episode, Lloyd and Julie discuss the ways Rapid Cash has already helped companies weather pandemic-related crises before outlining the benefits of establishing fintechs at major financial institutions. Later they delve into Julie’s leadership experience, outlining the benefits of small, agile teams and sharing Julie’s lessons from a perilous polar expedition!Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:06:34: How Rapid Cash helped small businesses get the money they needed to make PPE during the pandemic16:15: Why customers need increased choice of SME loans during COVID-1925:00: The future of work: why smaller teams will place a greater emphasis on the customer experience34:20: How banking became more entrepreneurial over Julie's career41:23: How Julie remains ridiculously optimistic in trying times45:27: Career paths: rapid rises vs sustained success54:00: The hardest moment Julie faced on her South Pole expedition and how she overcame it

Michael Brown (Senior Market Analyst, Caxton FX) joins Lloyd for a special Thursday episode tackling the latest economic developments in the UK.Since joining Caxton FX in 2016, Michael has shown an impressive knack for predicting developments in the foreign exchange markets. In this episode, he shares why traders are bracing for a no-deal Brexit and tells us which currencies to invest in for Q4 2020. Plus, Michael warns us about of COVID-related economic shocks, a W-shaped recovery for the housing market and the dangers of negative interest rates at the Bank of England.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedInEpisode Highlights:02:43: Why traders now predict a no-deal Brexit.04:19: Don’t go below zero: predicting the Bank of England rate cut08:55: Can the UK control a second wave of COVID-19?11:20: The hot currencies traders should invest in for Q4 202013:44: Michael's biggest economic fear15:40: Taxing big tech giants: should the UK do it?17:25: How did Michael form his passion for economics?20:48: Why Michael didn't go to university24:32: How AI can (and can't) improve foreign exchange30:22: Michael’s big advice for forex traders

Richard Davies (CEO of Allica Bank, Non-Executive Director at Revolut) joins Lloyd to discuss the state of SME lending post-COVID and what it takes to succeed at the UK’s biggest fintechs.And he should know. Throughout his career, Richard has moved seamlessly between major incumbent banks and innovative digital challengers. He served as a Managing Director at Barclays and as COO at HSBC, but he has also thrived as a banking CEO at both OakNorth and Revolut. Recently, Richard took the first step on the next bold phase in his career: launching Allica Bank, a digital challenger that hopes to disrupt the underserved world of SME lending.In this episode, Richard and Lloyd talk about Richard’s path from tree surgeon to executive at Europe’s fastest growing fintech, as well as the importance of achieving both scale and profitability. Plus, they tackle the big question: are salary deposits the best sign of success amongst digital challengers? Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:02:20: Explaining SME lending and the issues incumbents face in this sector10:22: From tree surgery to KPMG: how Richard got into banking21:50: Do you have to drive a Jaguar to succeed in banking?29:22: Richard's experience with Revolut32:05: Why profitability has become catnip for investors37:26: The traits you need to thrive at the UK’s biggest fintechs40:15: Revolut as super app: why getting salary payments is no longer objective number one.52:48: Fixing the UK post-COVID and Brexit: what Richard wants to do with Allica.

Gregory Pastore sits down with Lloyd and tells us how financial consultancies are preparing big banks for upcoming changes to global regulations.After building up impressive experience with a major US bank (JP Morgan) and a Big Four consultancy (EY), Greg has made waves as Baringa’s Director Finance, Risk and Compliance. He tells Lloyd about the company’s game-changing work on climate risk, why major banks need to work collaboratively and why regulators need to adopt commercial mindsets. Plus, he fills us in on why working abroad can help senior level managers advance faster and shares the one soft skill he looks for when hiring.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:08:05: Why outside teams offer better regulatory recommendations than their in-house counterparts15:40: How Baringa is changing the game on climate change risk exposure20:30: The secret to Greg's success: applying a commercial mindset to regulation29:00: Why big banks need to work together to survive global regulatory change35:00: The regulatory potential of blockchain technology45:05: The one trait Greg looks for in a candidate53:50: The final frontier: what promise does space hold?

Drs Beatriz Carrillo Garcia and Vivianna Rodriguez Carreon talk to Lloyd and Mana Search Co-Founder Mimi Nguyen about the hidden factors in great leadership!Since collaborating at the University of Sydney, Beatriz and Vivianna have used their Theory U framework for measuring and imparting leadership skills in students. Joining us from Australia, the duo explains how to prevent personality clashes in interdisciplinary teams, the benefits of mindfulness at work and how team members can overcome vulnerability to communicate effectively.The conversation also turns to employee engagement and why the best leaders are master psychologists. And it all concludes with a chat about the key takeaways from working through COVID-19!Mana Search on TwitterMana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:02:00: Beatriz and Vivianna discuss their credentials and research06:43: How Theory U instills key leadership skills16:20: Tolerating different ways of working in interdisciplinary teams26:20: The ways in which leaders create productive environments30:55: Why safe spaces are the key to effective collaboration41:30: How much time should be spent in meetings?51:00: Keeping employees motivated and engaged with their work56:45: Why companies can’t take a top-down approach to their values.1:03:55: How to enact change in large organisations01:09:00: Creating optimal working conditions during COVID-19