Mike Hudak shares his journey from dropping out of high school to becoming a prominent figure in the fintech industry. He discusses his experiences at various startups, including Facebook, Monzo, Deliveroo, Blip TV and Sling Money, his latest venture.

Mike reflects on the differences between the UK and US startup ecosystems, the challenges of raising capital, and the importance of product management in building successful companies. He emphasises the need for dynamism in the UK to foster growth and innovation.

Mike discusses the evolution of team autonomy as a technology, the inception of Sling as a global payment solution, and the challenges of navigating regulation in the financial landscape. He emphasises the importance of user experience in blockchain technology, outlines potential revenue models for Sling, and offers valuable advice for the next generation entering the workforce during a time of rapid technological change.

Takeaways

• Mike dropped out of high school due to a lack of interest in traditional education and learned coding at home before taking a job at a startup.
• Transitioning to Facebook was like moving from the minor leagues to playing for Yankees.
• Persistence and learning from failures are key to success.
• Product management is crucial for aligning teams and ensuring project success. The product way of working is a form of technology.
• Timing is critical in the tech industry.
• Embracing novelty and risk is essential for career growth.
• The current era is a golden age of technological advancement.
• Learning from mistakes is vital for personal and professional development.
• Future careers will be shaped by emerging technologies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mike Hudak and His Journey
01:00 Dropping Out of High School: A Personal Choice
04:15 The Birth of Blip TV: A Startup Adventure
07:12 Transitioning to Facebook: Learning in a Big League
09:54 Moving Back to the UK: A Personal Perspective
13:17 Starting a New Company: Insights on the UK Startup Scene
17:28 Navigating the Startup Ecosystem: Challenges and Opportunities
22:05 The Role of Product Management: A Key to Success
24:53 The Technology of Team Autonomy
27:07 The Birth of Sling: A Global Payment Solution
34:38 Navigating Regulation in the Financial Landscape
37:55 Building a User-Friendly Blockchain Experience
41:13 Revenue Models and Future Growth
46:23 Embracing Change: Advice for the Next Generation

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In this episode of Interviews with Leaders in Fintech & Web3, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Christian Faes, Co-Founder and Chairman of LendInvest and Founder of Faes & Co, to explore his remarkable journey from lawyer to fintech leader.

Christian recounts his transition from practicing law in Australia to becoming a major player in the fintech industry. He shares how he built LendInvest into a market leader, tackled the challenges of scaling the business, and the hard-earned lessons from taking the company public. Now launching a new venture in the US, Christian provides invaluable insights on entrepreneurship, the importance of resilience, and the ongoing disruption of financial services through technology.

In this conversation, he debunks misconceptions about entrepreneurship, reflects on the realities of IPOs, compares the UK and US fintech markets, and highlights the supportive ecosystem in London. He also stresses the importance of building a profitable business while enjoying the journey along the way.

Whether you're a fintech enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is filled with practical advice for building a sustainable business in a rapidly evolving industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianfaes/
https://x.com/ChristianFaes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

Chapters

00:00 From Law to FinTech: Christian's Journey
03:45 Building LendInvest: Challenges and Successes
08:08 The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Misconceptions and Hard Work
12:37 IPO Insights: The Holy Grail of Entrepreneurship
17:27 Navigating Market Perceptions: UK vs US FinTech
20:29 Supporting FinTech: The Founders Group Initiative
24:15 Political Climate and Its Impact on FinTech
27:55 Why the US? Christian's Move and New Ventures
30:42 Building a New Lending Business: Strategies and Focus
34:02 The Ideal Founding Team: Traits and Dynamics
36:08 Breaking into FinTech: No Prerequisites Needed
37:54 Reflections on Career Choices: Learning from Mistakes

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Eager to unravel the intricacies of retail trading and fintech innovations? Join us as Elina Pedersen, the dynamic co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Your Bourse, shares her fascinating journey from the fast-paced world of Admiral Markets to spearheading her own venture.

Through Elina's insights, gain a unique perspective on the rise of retail trading and how it sets itself apart from the institutional giants. She offers an inside look at the motivations behind launching Your Bourse, emphasising the critical role of technology in bridging gaps for retail brokerages and enhancing trading safety and conditions.

In an enlightening conversation, we cover the transformative trends shaking up retail trading, from the essential role of data centres and low latency to the emergence of brokers crafting their own trading interfaces. Elina provides an honest account of navigating the competitive fintech landscape, particularly as a female leader in a predominately male field. She discusses the hurdles faced by startup brokers and the pivotal importance of education and advanced tools for success. As we reflect on the historical evolution of the trading industry, Elina's candid insights leave us pondering what, if anything, she would change about her remarkable career.

Takeaways

• Retail trading is speculative trading for personal gain.
• Elina's journey from marketing to CEO showcases rapid growth.
• Identifying gaps in the market led to the creation of Your Bourse.
• Your Bourse connects brokerages to execution venues and risk management.
• Low latency is crucial for trading efficiency and scalability.
• AI is simplifying developer tasks but won't replace them.
• Prop trading is a new trend in the retail trading space.
• Gold remains a popular trading instrument due to its predictability.
• The broker technology space is competitive and knowledge-intensive.
• Leadership requires transparency, feedback, and addressing blockers.

Elina Pederson https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-pedersen-59676014/
Matt Cheung https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Summary
Tamsin Hobley, Country Head for UK and Ireland at SIX, shares her journey in the finance industry and the importance of sales leadership and strategic sales. She emphasises the value of curiosity, listening, and building relationships in sales.

Tamsin also discusses the role of SIX in the financial industry, including its various business units and its focus on technology. She highlights the significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the industry and the need for companies to comply with ESG standards.

Tamsin talks about the importance of culture in the workplace, supporting working parents, and promoting diversity and inclusion. She offers advice for aspiring leaders, emphasising the importance of being brave, trying new things, and being open to diverse perspectives. Tamsin also discusses the future of SIX and her interest in non-executive roles and giving back.

Takeaways

• Curiosity and building relationships are key in sales.
• ESG compliance is important for companies in the finance industry.
• Culture, support for working parents, and diversity and inclusion are crucial in the workplace.
• Leaders should be open to diverse perspectives and communicate effectively.
• The future of SIX involves innovation, growth, and potential non-executive roles.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Tamsin Hobley's Background
03:27 Transition from Retail Banking to Sales Leadership
08:54 The Importance of Learning from Experience in Sales
16:46 The Significance of ESG and Diversity in the Financial Sector
21:55 Building a Supportive Culture and Fostering Leadership
29:41 The Role of Diversity of Thought in Leadership
33:55 Effective Communication and Listening as a Leader
38:23 Future Plans and Giving Back

Tamsin Hobley https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsinhobley/

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In his second appearance on the Work in Fintech podcast William Quigley and Matt Cheung discuss career options, education, big companies vs startups and it what it takes to succeed when you start your own company.

William Quigley, a long-time VC - he was Paypal's first institutional investor - and entrepreneur, from gaming to blockchain (he cofounded Tether and WAX) shares his insights on:

• Foundational skills, such as critical thinking, are valuable in career development.
• A university education can provide a broad set of skills and opportunities.
• Working in a large, established company can offer exposure to exceptional business practices and experienced professionals.
• Assessing the financial health of a company and understanding market perceptions is important for career stability.
• Identifying opportunities and launching new products or services requires assessing market demand and managing resources effectively. Finding a co-founder or small team is important when starting a startup to share the workload and bring complementary skills.
• Assessing who would work well as a co-founder is a skill that needs to be developed.
• Consider the amount of capital needed and the potential for growth when deciding whether to raise funding.
• Surround yourself with exceptional people who challenge and push you to grow.
• Curiosity is a key trait for entrepreneurs and can lead to insights and new business ideas.
• Assess the size and potential growth of an industry to guide career decisions and identify opportunities.

https://x.com/williamequigley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcheung50/

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Rodney Williams, co-founder of SoLo Funds, shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and fintech innovator. He discusses his first startup, LISNR, which used ultrasonic technology for seamless checkout experiences. Williams, an inspiring black entrepreneur, explains the motivation behind later starting SoLo Funds, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace that provides access to capital and helps individuals create bigger yield on their savings. He highlights the challenges of regulatory actions and the importance of being a B Corp. Williams emphasises the need for financial literacy and the role of fintech in empowering underserved communities. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and take risks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:57 From Listener to Solo Funds
08:32 The Problem of Limited Access to Capital
14:25 Challenges of Regulatory Actions
20:35 Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Differentiation
27:34 The Significance of Being a B Corp
31:33 Financial Literacy and Empowering Underserved Communities
36:58 The Future of Solo Funds and Advice for Entrepreneurs

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Summary

In this episode, Matt interviews Philippa Poole and Daniel Geller from Revolut, Europe's largest fintech company. They discuss their backgrounds and how they ended up working in the legal department at Revolut. They also talk about the differences between working in a law firm versus a fintech company, the challenges of scaling a legal team in a rapidly growing company, and the importance of automation and AI in their work. They emphasise the need for curiosity, embracing technology, and taking risks in one's career.

Takeaways

• There are many job roles in fintech beyond coding and development, including legal roles.
• Working in-house at a fintech company allows for a closer relationship with the business and a more strategic approach to legal advice.
• As a fintech company grows, the legal team must focus on scalability and automation to keep up with the demands of the business.
• Embracing technology, such as AI, can save time and improve efficiency in legal processes.
• Being curious, staying up to date with new developments, and taking risks are important for career growth in the fintech industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Revolut and the Legal Department
07:45 Comparison of Working in a Law Firm vs. Fintech
12:37 Scaling Challenges and the Importance of Automation
16:41 The Role of the Legal Department in Keeping Revolut Running
21:56 The Culture at Revolut and Working in a Fast-Growing Company
25:56 Hiring and Skills in the Legal Department
30:50 The Impact of Automation and AI in the Legal Department
36:13 Advice for Young Professionals and Embracing Technology

Philippa Poole - Head of Legal, Commercial
Daniel Geller - Deputy General Counsel
Matt Cheung - Founder Work in Fintech, CEO ipushpull

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Summary

William Quigley, a long-time VC and entrepreneur, shares his journey from auditing failing financial institutions to becoming a venture capitalist and co-founding Tether and WAX. He discusses the challenges of investing in the early days of the internet and blockchain, and the creation of Tether as a stablecoin. Quigley also explains the roadmap for NFTs and the evolution of WAX as a platform for trading NFTs. The conversation covers various topics related to NFTs, blockchain, AI, and career advice. William Quigley discusses the limitations of Ethereum for consumer mass market transactions and the potential of NFTs beyond collectibles. He emphasizes the ability of NFTs to transfer something to someone at no cost and with certainty of authenticity. Quigley also explores the intersection of blockchain and AI, particularly in auditing smart contracts and enhancing trading strategies. He advises young people to gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before venturing into entrepreneurship and to observe untapped market opportunities.

Takeaways

• William Quigley has a background in auditing financial institutions and working at the Walt Disney Company before becoming a venture capitalist.
• He co-founded Tether, the world's first fiat-backed stablecoin, and WAX, a blockchain platform for trading NFTs.
• The early days of investing in the internet and blockchain were challenging, as there was limited interest and understanding in these technologies.
• Tether was created to provide stability in the volatile crypto market and enable easier trading between cryptocurrencies.
• WAX was developed to tokenize and trade non-fungible assets, such as video game virtual items and collectibles.
• The roadmap for NFTs includes expanding the use cases beyond profile pictures and collectibles, with potential applications in various industries. Ethereum is not designed for consumer mass market transactions, and NFTs have the potential to go beyond collectibles.
• NFTs enable the transfer of assets at no cost and with certainty of authenticity, revolutionizing the verification process.
• AI can be used to audit smart contracts and enhance trading strategies in the blockchain space.
• Young people should gain foundational skills in an exceptional company before pursuing entrepreneurship and should observe untapped market opportunities.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:44 Challenges of Investing in the Early Days of the Internet and Blockchain
14:12 The Creation of Tether
27:35 WAX: Tokenizing and Trading Non-Fungible Assets
32:18 The Roadmap for NFTs
39:14 The Intersection of Blockchain and AI: Auditing Smart Contracts
42:34 Enhancing Trading Strategies with AI in the Blockchain Space
46:42 Career Advice: Gaining Foundational Skills and Observing Market Opportunities

https://x.com/williamequigley

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