Couchonomics with Arjun

Digital Leadership: Embracing the New Tech Age

This week, we sit down with Pedro Sousa Cardoso, Chief Digital Officer at Emirates NBD, to explore the state of banking in the UAE. We have an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of CDOs, increasing collaboration between banks and fintechs, and venture building within banks, using Liv Bank as an example.

Tune in to discover how Emirates NBD is leading the charge in banking innovation.

#CouchonomicsWithArjun #DigitalTransformation #FinTech #BankingInnovation #EmiratesNBD #Banking #BaaS #BeyondBanking #CDO #Innovation

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In this episode, Arjun sits down with Roger Rouhana, CEO of Alpheya, to explore the future of wealth management in the MENA region.
Their conversation delves into global wealth and asset management trends, highlighting the growing demand for innovative digital solutions and the crucial role of robo-advisors in making wealth management more accessible.
They also discuss Alpheya's mission and foundation, the evolving landscape of wealth management in the GCC region, and the impact of trading apps on the wealth tech industry.
Don’t miss our insightful discussion on how technology is reshaping the world of wealth management. Tune in now!

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Dive into the vibrant and ever-evolving world of FinTech as we explore the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2023 which is happening 15-17 November 2023. This is the global event where policy, finance, and technology not only meet but converge to reshape global economies.

Joining Arjun for this special episode is Pat Patel, the Executive Director of Elevandi. Having led the International FinTech Office at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and played a pivotal role in shaping the digital economy, Pat offers a unique insider's perspective into the preparations and expectations of SFF.

Pat reveals some of the major industry leaders and key figures marking their presence at the event, including insights about Ajay Bhanga, the new president of the World Bank, and Eric Jing from Ant Group.

From policy discussions and financial tech showcases to its vast size resembling six giant warehouse hangers, Pat emphasizes the diversity and scale of the event. He also highlights the key thematic focuses of SFF this year, such as re-architecting the monetary system and the pivotal role of AI.

Other topics discussed:

• The significance of Ravi Menon's last festival address.
• Importance of talent pipelines in the global economic climate.
• The expansive evening festivities, turning Singapore's Club Street into a week-long street party.
• The challenge of navigating the vast offerings of SFF.
• Arjun's humorous take on the need for digital visiting cards and energy drinks to make the most of the festival.

Tune in to get a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from SFF 2023 and why, if you're serious about FinTech, it's an event you cannot afford to miss. Follow the journey with Arjun and Pat Patel as they discuss the nuances, attractions, and future trajectories of the festival. Don't miss out on this exclusive insider's view into the world's largest fintech event!

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Leila Hurstel might have the coolest job title ever as the Chief Metaverse Officer at Verse Estate, but today she wears the title of guest on Couchonomics. Settling comfortably into the famous couch, Leila shares a brief overview of her time spent studying fintech at Harvard before pioneering the AllStarsWomen DAO.

Leila shares how the decentralized autonomous organization arose out of a deep desire to transform society, and how blockchain technology enables her to do that with a committed, dedicated community. Leila describes how community is key to many of the futuristic projects in the works, including the metaverse.

Regulation for the metaverse is still massively behind the curve, and in many ways, this represents the underdeveloped metaverse environment. However, Leila is quick to point out that this represents a massive potential for growth more than anything, and many companies have begun to recognize it.

Major corporations such as Gucci and Nike have taken to the metaverse for a more immersive experience, Leila explains. and the numbers indicate a massive underlying demand for the product, as up to 21 million people have actively interacted with the metaverse. Although the metaverse is, in many ways, still restricted to floating heads and half-bodies, Leila believes that this simply signals how early the market is in its ambitious development cycle. Leila points to interoperability as one of the main building blocks that will form the foundation of the metaverse.

Decentralization, distinctions from web 3.0 and much more: Leila gives a complete tour of everything you need to know about the fledgling metaverse.

Listen to the full episode now to discover how:

• Companies are making the jump into the Metaverse and how this will fuel the growth of the metaverse (05:00-15:00)
• The metaverse differs from web 3.0, and how the user-centric approach of web 3.0 will redefine modern instant communication (15:00-25:00)
• The metaverse is truly a multiverse. We also explore real-world applications of the metaverse, including digital twins and much more. (25:00-35:00)

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"We're behind the scenes. We make money move."
In the latest episode of Couchonomics, Arjun was joined by Jan Pilbauer, Chief Executive Officer of Al Etihad Payments, a national payments utility and fully owned subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE.
Al Etihad Payments recently launched Aani, a "payments experience" that allows you to make instant payments to people or merchants from your bank accounts, wallets, or other sources. We spent a good portion of the episode exploring this latest venture, and how it is furthering Al Etihad's mission of powering the payments that make the UAE thrive.
In the episode, Arjun and Jan spoke about:

• The emergence of national payment infrastructures, whether they're commercially owned, state-owned, or mutual/cooperative models
• All things Aani, from how Al Etihad identified this gap in the market to the problems they’re solving with this payment experience
• The unique challenges facing payments in the UAE, with the dichotomy of the region being digitally enabled but still relying strongly on cash in particular areas
• Trends shaping the payments sector, such as the technologies enabling transformation in the industry
• The cashless versus "less cash" debate and how it applies to MENA
• How to enable faster payments: will CBDCs help?
• Open finance and debit card innovations taking place in the UAE
• Opportunities in the space of B2B payments
• Future banking models and the challenges facing the adoption of open banking

If you, like Arjun, are a "payments geek", this episode is definitely one to add to your listening lineup for the week!

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