In this episode, I meet Sal Ghaznavi, an executive with 18 years of cross-sectoral work experience, spanning across the UAE, Ireland, Bermuda, and Pakistan, with experience working within FinTech and tech startups.

Sal has held key finance and commercial leadership positions at Careem (Uber) - the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan’s first and largest unicorn, operating in the ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, and digital payments space.

Sal shares valuable insights into the business environment and opportunities in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE. He highlights the region's high smartphone and internet penetration rates, the approachable regulators, and the government's focus on making the UAE a leader in various industries. Sal also discusses the safety and security of living in the UAE, the cost of living, and the growth potential for businesses.

He advises individuals interested in working in the UAE to network, conduct thorough research, and understand the cultural dynamics of the region.

For FinTech companies looking to expand into the UAE, Sal emphasises the importance of having 'boots on the ground', building relationships, and understanding the regulatory landscape.

You can find out more and connect with Sal via his LinkedIn profile.

Takeaways

• The UAE offers tremendous growth opportunities for businesses, with a welcoming and approachable regulatory environment.

• The region has high smartphone and internet penetration rates, making it conducive for internet-based companies.

• Living in the UAE is safe and secure, with a diverse and multicultural environment.

• For individuals interested in working in the UAE, it is important to network, do thorough research, and understand the cultural dynamics of the region.

• Fintech companies looking to expand into the UAE should have boots on the ground, build relationships, and understand the regulatory landscape.

Chapters

• 00:00 Remote Recording and Audio Quality
• 01:49 Sal's Background and Experience in the Middle East and Europe
• 04:46 Tech Startups and Super Apps in the Middle East
• 09:42 Living in the UAE: Safety, Diversity, and Growth Opportunities
• 14:18 The Cost of Living in Dubai
• 18:25 Finding Job Opportunities in the UAE
• 20:46 Advice for Moving to the UAE
• 24:28 Expanding Fintech into the GCC Market
• 28:48 Approaching the GCC Market as a Supplier or Vendor
• 31:53 Sal Ghaznavi's Move to London and Opportunities in the Fintech Industry
• 32:35 Contacting Sal Ghaznavi on LinkedIn

Keywords

UAE, Careem, Uber, Middle East, Europe, business expansion, fintech, opportunities, safety, security, cost of living, growth potential, networking, relationships, regulatory landscape

In this episode, I show you a series of screenshots I took as I walked through the process of requesting a replacement debit card using Santander UK's chatbot, Sandi.

This might be one of those episodes that you might want to watch, rather than just listen to -- you can watch on Spotify, or you can watch the video on the podcast's YouTube channel.

Summary

Ewan reviews the chatbot capabilities of Santander UK. He compares it to other banks and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of their chatbot systems. Ewan is impressed with Santander's chatbot, called Sandi, as it efficiently handles a simple task of replacing a damaged debit card. He praises Santander for its user-friendly interface, quick response time, and seamless process. Ewan encourages other banks, such as NatWest and Lloyds, to improve their chatbot capabilities to match Santander's level of efficiency.

Sound Bites

• "This is best in class. Absolutely best in class."
• "NatWest, read this and weep."
• "Santander, thank you very much for making such a great capability."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Chatbots and Santander UK
• 02:17 Comparing Chatbot Capabilities: Santander vs. NatWest vs. Lloyds
• 06:09 The Importance of Simplicity in Chatbot Interactions
• 09:03 Santander UK's Best-in-Class Chatbot Experience
• 10:31 Encouraging Banks to Improve Chatbot Capabilities

Takeaways

• Santander UK's chatbot, Sandi, provides a best-in-class user experience for replacing a damaged debit card.
• Santander's chatbot is efficient, user-friendly, and provides quick responses.
• Other banks, such as NatWest and Lloyds, have room for improvement in their chatbot capabilities.
• Ewan MacLeod encourages banks to prioritize user experience and streamline their chatbot processes.

Keywords

chatbots, Santander UK, Sandi, customer service, banking, user experience

Welcome to the second episode in our dedicated Corporate Venture Capital ("CVC") series here on New Era FinTech Podcast.

Today we're meeting Simon Hardie, CEO and founder of Findexable. Simon discusses the importance of innovation in the CVC space and. emphasizes the need for organizations to have a clear understanding of what innovation means to them and to measure its impact.

Hardie also highlights the opportunities in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, where there is still significant room for growth in the fintech sector.

Simon advises organizations to conduct deep research and gain insights into the market and potential investment opportunities. Additionally, he stresses the importance of having the right team, stakeholders, and decision-making processes in place for successful CVC initiatives.

If you'd like to find out more about Simon, he's available on LinkedIn. His company website is http://www.findexable.com.

Chapters

• 00:00 Background and Introduction to Findexable
• 06:12 Challenges and Tensions in Financial Services Innovation
• 09:13 Success Factors for Corporate Venture Capital
• 11:28 Opportunities in the Marketplace and Middle East Africa
• 20:17 Working with Findexable and Best Practices
• 25:43 Conclusion and Contact Information

Takeaways

• Organizations need to have a clear understanding of what innovation means to them and measure its impact.
• Emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, offer significant opportunities for growth in the fintech sector.
• Deep research and insights are crucial for identifying market opportunities and potential investments.
• Having the right team, stakeholders, and decision-making processes in place is essential for successful corporate venture capital initiatives.

Keywords

simon hardie, findexable, innovation, corporate venture capital, CVC, financial services, emerging markets, Middle East, Africa, research, insights, team, decision-making