One more thing – financial services, tech & human intersection
In this series, One more thing, Theodora (Theo) Lau, a prominent speaker on all things fintech and innovation, writes about the intersection of financial services, technology, and the human element.
She discusses how fintech can promote change and innovation to create a more fair and inclusive system globally and shape a better future for all humankind.
Financial services can play a more crucial role in lifting people out of poverty and help break the cycle of inequality, and with focus and intention, more inclusive economic growth can finally be within reach.
Theo is the founder of Unconventional Ventures, a public speaker, and an advisor with extensive experience in tech and start-up ecosystems. She is the co-author of Beyond Good, and host of One Vision, a podcast on fintech and innovation.
Connect with Theo on LinkedIn, X @psb_dc, and Mastodon @[email protected].
We are all living on borrowed time
Together, we can create meaningful change through collective action that can last generations.
AI as the new frontier: empowering credit unions for future growth
How can credit unions leverage AI to help boost deposits and improve loan growth?
Cultures have no borders
The financial services industry has a key role to play in shaping a truly borderless financial world.
Human connection in the age of AI
Even in the age of an AI arms race, we can still reclaim what is uniquely human: our empathy.
Forget the accolades and the pleasantries and pay us
For this International Women’s Day, and for all the days that follow, my message is simple: pay us.
When goals become aspirations, where does that leave us?
Fundamentally, I believe that businesses can be an important force to drive societal change.
If 2023 was the year of AI hype, will 2024 be the year of AI governance and responsibility?
In 2024, we must ensure that issues around privacy, fairness, and biases in AI are addressed.
Building a world for the 99%
We have the technology to create a more supportive ecosystem for millions of SMEs worldwide.
Are we AI ready?
As we continue to layer AI technology into our day-to-day lives, the risks continue to multiply.
Can you seek out the line that we cannot see?
If you have the power of the pen but you choose to look the other way, then what hope do the rest of the people have?
What we don’t dare talk about
The financial services industry and society in general needs to do more to support women going through the menopause.
Sibos 2023: Empathy and AI – banking’s duty of care
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with humans to decide where, when, and how AI is deployed.
You’ve checked the DEI box. Now what?
To truly transform is to have DEI values infused in the DNA of your company.
On the evolution of work
The future of work is human — and tech can help create new economic opportunities for more people.
The trust that binds us
What will become of the trust that binds us when people misplace their faith in faceless algorithms?
The future of work is a story of data and empathy
The future is not about using technology to displace humans, but leveraging technology to be more human.
A tale of two worlds
We have a responsibility as an industry to do more to improve financial security and create a more equal society.
ChatGPT and generative AI – what does banking have to do with it?
Ready or not, the generative AI genie is out of the bottle and there is no going back.
Diversity of socks is our future
Awareness does not always translate into action, unfortunately. It’s intention that we need.
Reasons to be hopeful for 2023
Perhaps, the universe has a plan hiding in plain sight. The glimmers of hope that are just around the corner...
Being an entrepreneur: from A to Z
It’s easy to start a company, but it’s much harder to sustain it.
Sibos 2022: Food, shelter, water – what does banking have to do with it?
Banks can play a crucial role in lifting people out of poverty.
Video: Theo Lau at Finovate Europe 2022 – the future of AI in finance
FinTech Futures chats with Theo Lau about the use of AI in finance and future tech trends.
Digital makes the world go round: a reflection
We have the tools and resources to do more, and to do better, but more action is needed.
A jar of hope
We might be from different backgrounds, but we are all part of the universe.
It’s time to put our heart back into our ecosystem – and build what matters
Access to financial services is a crucial tool to help our most marginalised citizens escape poverty.
Just do it?
How can we, as an industry, be more empathetic and create solutions that matter?
My dollars matter
Branch closures hurt not only consumers, but also small businesses and their local communities.
A voyage of optimism from the city of angels to mountains of clouds
Entrepreneurs, local governments and socially minded enterprises spark innovation in their communities.
Is voice the next UI?
Theodora Lau discusses what the future might look like for fintech and brands.
Celebrating Finovate’s #WomeninFinTech
For fintech to be for everyone, it needs to be from everyone.
The empathy deficit
As the cost of living continues to rise, what will banks do? What should they do?
The forgotten faces of diversity: the invisibles
To be successful, diversity and inclusion must start from within – and it must be built into the culture.
The forgotten generation: driving digital adoption with older customers
Everyone - regardless of their age, would like a good user experience.
True diversity or tokenism
It is not only time for us to say: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. It is now time for us to hold ourselves accountable.
We were all beginners once
Be intentional in finding new voices. And be intentional in elevating them.
What the Fintech? Episode 10 | Diversity & inclusion: AI bias
Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures provides her take on artificial intelligence.
What the FinTech? | S.5 Episode 11 | Banking Tech Awards 25th anniversary special with Monument
In this podcast episode, we chat with Sudip Dasgupta, CTO at Monument Bank and Banking Tech Awards judge.
Azqore selects Volante Technologies’ PaaS tech for SEPA instant payments
Azqore previously selected Volante to accelerate its ISO 20022 adoption programme in 2022.
UAE’s Mashreq Bank appoints Tushar Vikram as new India head
Vikram previously served as Citibank India’s head of commercial banking for over nine years.
Bain Capital reportedly closing in on deal to acquire Envestnet
The potential deal could be announced as early as this week, according to a report by Reuters.
TymeBank promotes former Retail Capital chief Karl Westvig to CEO
Westvig first joined TymeBank in 2023 through its acquisition of Retail Capital.
First Federal Bank of Kansas selects Jack Henry for core processing solution
FFBKC aims to leverage Jack Henry’s tech to extend its services to SMBs.
Islamic finance start-up Ethos taps Thought Machine for core banking tech
The start-up will leverage the partnership to launch deposit accounts and home purchase plan mortgage services.
Spanish wealthtech Allfunds names two new senior executives
Paola Rengifo and Miguel Ángel Treceño are the latest additions to Allfunds’ leadership team.
NatWest enables bank-verified digital identities for Nordic structured finance business in partnership with OneID
NatWest will apply OneID’s bank-verified digital identity solution to its structured finance business in the Nordics.
Visa and Mastercard to extend inter-regional interchange fee caps in the EEA until 2029
The payments giants originally agreed to the caps to settle an EU antitrust investigation in 2019.