Everything is Fintech

Everything is Fintech Live: With Olugbenga Agboola (Flutterwave) & Benjamin Fernandes (NALA)

In this episode of Everything is Fintech, hear from two of Africa’s most inspiring fintech leaders— Olugbenga "GB" Agboola, the CEO and co-founder of Flutterwave, and Benjamin Fernandes, the founder and CEO of Nala Money. They share their raw, unfiltered stories about what it really takes to build game-changing companies in Africa’s complex financial landscape. From navigating impossible visa challenges to figuring out how to make payments work across 54 countries, this conversation is packed with insights, laughs, and moments that will make you stop and think. GB and Nala’s founder talk about the hustle, the heartbreak, and the hope that drives them to keep pushing forward. You’ll hear about the “Flutterwave Mafia” (yes, it’s a thing), the untapped potential of Africa’s booming population, and why building fintech in Africa is both the hardest and most rewarding thing they’ve ever done. Episode Highlights: * GB’s journey from PayPal engineer to building Flutterwave in 2016. * How Nala Money pivoted to cross-border payments and the grind of building local infrastructure. * The crazy regulatory maze of operating across Africa’s 54 countries. * Why Africa’s growing population is the biggest opportunity for fintech. * The inspiring ripple effect of Flutterwave alumni starting their own companies. Follow Money20/20: YouTube: @Money2020Tv [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCip4CIpmM13NOAH-j9GiAzg] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020 X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

Everything is Fintech Live: Schroders' CMO, Beth Saint

What happens when a 220-year-old investment giant collides with cutting-edge tech? Beth Saint, CMO of Schroders, is here to spill the secrets. Tune in to Everything is Fintech, where Beth takes us behind the curtain of one of the most respected names in finance to reveal how she’s shaking up the game. Highlights include: * Why AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s Schroders’ secret weapon for hyper-personalized customer experiences * The bold move to turn 6,000 employees into brand amplifiers (and why it works) * How trust is built in the chaos of market crashes—and why reputation is everything * Beth’s unapologetic take on modernizing a legacy brand without losing its soul The conversation is raw, real, and packed with insights that will make you rethink the future of finance and marketing. Schroders: https://www.schroders.com/en/global/individual/ Follow Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsaint/ Follow Money20/20: YouTube: @Money2020Tv [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCip4CIpmM13NOAH-j9GiAzg] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020 X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

Everything is Fintech Live: With Michael Cavallaro (Manifest Financial) and Crystal Jackson (essentL)

Delve into the dynamic world of the creator economy with two visionary leaders: Michael Cavallaro, Co-Founder and CEO of Manifest Financial, and Crystal Jackson, Founder of essentL. Together, they share their unique journeys and discuss how fintech is reshaping the landscape for creators, solopreneurs, and micro-businesses. Michael Cavallaro brings his extensive experience in investment banking and fintech to the table, offering insights into how Manifest Financial is addressing the critical gaps in financial services for creators. From providing business banking solutions to tackling challenges like credit access and cash flow management, Michael explains how Manifest is empowering creators to organize their finances, leverage their earnings, and scale their businesses. Crystal Jackson, a creator herself with over 5 million followers across platforms, shares her personal story of navigating the creator economy and the challenges she faced in accessing essential business infrastructure. As the founder of essentL, she highlights the importance of HR benefits, payroll, health insurance, and IP protection for creators who are building their brands and businesses. Crystal’s passion for helping creators treat themselves as corporations shines through as she discusses how essentL is filling a critical void in the market. This episode also explores broader themes, including the stigma creators face from traditional financial institutions, the rise of entrepreneurship among younger generations, and the growing influence of creators in shaping media consumption and commerce.  Tune in to learn how Manifest and essentL are paving the way for creators to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Manifest Finacial: https://www.manifestfinancial.com/ essentL: https://essentlcreator.com/ Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cavallaro-55a4296/ Follow Crystal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-jackson-mba-8893b72bb/ Follow Money20/20: YouTube: @Money2020Tv [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCip4CIpmM13NOAH-j9GiAzg] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020 X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

Everything is Fintech Live: Snowflake's Chief Information Officer, Mike Blandina

On the latest episode of Everything is Fintech, Mike Blandina, CIO of Snowflake, shares his deep expertise on the transformative impact of AI in enterprise finance. Drawing from his 35+ years in fintech and financial services, Mike explores how businesses can harness AI to drive innovation while navigating the complexities of trust, accuracy, and regulatory compliance. Key highlights include Snowflake’s groundbreaking approach to AI deployment, the importance of starting small with repetitive tasks to build reliability, and the role of human oversight in achieving higher accuracy.  Mike also delves into the challenges posed by fragmented data systems and evolving global regulations, offering actionable insights on how companies can remain adaptable and competitive in a rapidly shifting technological and geopolitical landscape. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the future of AI in enterprise finance and how to strategically implement it for long-term success. Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/en/ Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblandina/ Follow Money20/20: YouTube: @Money2020Tv [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCip4CIpmM13NOAH-j9GiAzg] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020 X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

Everything is Fintech Live: PayPal's GM, Small Business and Financial Services Group, Michelle Gill

In this episode of Everything is Fintech, we sit down with Michelle Gill, EVP and GM of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, to explore the cutting-edge developments in agentic commerce. Michelle shares insights into how PayPal is revolutionizing the payments landscape by enabling AI agents to autonomously complete transactions, manage subscriptions, and more. From the challenges merchants face in adapting to this new environment to the exciting opportunities for consumers, this episode dives deep into the future of commerce and the role PayPal is playing in shaping it. Key Takeaways: * Learn how AI agents are transforming commerce by autonomously completing transactions and creating seamless shopping experiences. * Discover how PayPal is helping merchants adapt to agentic commerce through simplified integrations and partnerships with major players like Google and Perplexity. * Understand the shift in consumer behavior and how AI-driven experiences are becoming mainstream, with 40% of holiday shoppers expected to use LLM surfaces for discovery. * Gain insights into what’s next for agentic commerce, including autonomous order dropping and inventory management by 2026. PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/home Follow Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-gill-47b2a85/ Follow Money20/20: YouTube: @Money2020Tv [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCip4CIpmM13NOAH-j9GiAzg] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020 X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20