In this episode, the conversation centres on embedded finance and digital transformation with Christie Kristensen, Partnership Manager at Danske Bank. Christie shares her experience working across fintech and banking, and how Danske is evolving to meet the needs of corporate clients by embedding financial services directly into enterprise systems such as ERPs and treasury platforms. The discussion explores how Danske is moving beyond regulatory open banking APIs to offer premium APIs that suppor...
Jul 25, 2025•30 min
In his episode of the Dave and Dharm Demystify Show, host Dharm is joined by Rob Dunlap, Head of Product Innovation at Zafin, to discuss the evolving landscape of agentic AI and its applications in banking. Rob had previously lead AI initiatives at IBM before joining Zafin making him a great subject matter expert for demystifying agentic banking. The conversation delves into the definition and implications of agentic AI, emphasizing its transformative potential and role in automating complex fin...
Jul 16, 2025•37 min
In this episode of the Dave and Dharm Show, Jim Rowan, Head of AI at Deloitte US, provides a deep dive demystification into the evolving impact of AI across the enterprise landscape. Jim shares insights from his role leading AI innovation and internal transformation at Deloitte, highlighting how organisations can leverage AI not only for operational efficiency but also for long-term strategic reinvention. The conversation explores the emergence of agentic AI, where we are on the adoption curve, ...
Jul 08, 2025•37 min
In this episode, we delve into the complex and ongoing journey of digital transformation in banking with two leading voices in the field: Don Free, formerly a lead analyst at Gartner, and Jost Hoppermann, formerly a lead analyst at Forrester. Now operating as independent experts at Angry Rabbit, Don and Jost bring candid insights into how digital transformation is unfolding across banking tiers and global regions. They explore why transformation cannot be treated as a one-off initiative but must...
Jun 23, 2025•36 min
Join hosts Dave and Dharmesh as they dive into an illuminating conversation with serial fintech entrepreneur David Sosna. David, known for founding groundbreaking fintech companies like Actimize and Personetics, shares his journey from pioneering data-driven solutions for fraud detection to enhancing customer financial management with insightful digital tools. In this episode, David unveils his latest venture, Sympera.ai, a transformative platform harnessing the power of generative AI to revolut...
May 27, 2025•31 min
This week, we are delighted to host Carl Slabicki, Executive Platform Owner for Treasury Services at BNY. Carl dives deep into the evolving world of treasury services, highlighting BNY's immense scale; moving over $3 trillion daily, and the vital role they play globally, supporting banks, corporates, fintechs, and government entities. In this insightful discussion, Carl reveals how treasury services have transitioned from traditional back-office operations to become real-time, 24/7 competitive a...
May 02, 2025•29 min
In this episode, Dharmesh sits down with Greta Ranonytė, Head of FinTech Hub LT, to explore what is driving Lithuania’s rise as a leading FinTech destination. Greta outlines the country’s key advantages, from seamless access to the EU market post-Brexit and progressive, FinTech friendly regulation, to a deep talent pool, especially in compliance and anti-money laundering. They delve into the evolving role of AI in FinTech, recognising its value in streamlining operations, though noting it remain...
Apr 17, 2025•31 min
In this episode, Dharmesh speaks with Agnė Klimavičienė, who leads the FinTech stream at Invest Lithuania—a governmental agency under the Ministry of Economy and Innovation focused on attracting foreign investment. Agnė outlines the strategic measures Lithuania has implemented to nurture its FinTech sector, including supportive regulation, targeted talent development, and financial incentives such as zero capital gains tax for founders and research and development grants. The conversation highli...
Apr 15, 2025•19 min
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Dave and Dharm Demystify podcast. In this week, Dave and Dharm take an in depth look into the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence with expert guest, Dr. Charleyne Biondi from Moody’s, who specialises in blockchain and AI developments. Dr Biondi shares invaluable insights from Moody’s recent 2025 AI Outlook report, highlighting how AI is no longer just about enhancing productivity—it's now a critical strategic measure shaping the future c...
Mar 27, 2025•51 min
Dave and Dharm dive deep into the fascinating world of quantum technology with special guest Steve Takhar, Quside's Chief Revenue Officer. Steve brings a wealth of experience from traditional IT infrastructure, and in this episode, he shares his journey into the quantum realm. He demystifys Quside’s mission—a company that has been pioneering quantum photonic chipsets since 2018. These cutting-edge technologies generate quantum entropy and quantum random numbers (QRNGs), boosting cybersecurity an...
Mar 27, 2025•32 min
Welcome to another deep dive into the world of quantum computing! In this episode, Dave sits down with Yuval Boger, Chief Commercial Officer of QuEra Computing, to explore quantum technology's fundamentals, breakthroughs, and real-world applications. Yuval demystifies the core principles of quantum computers—how qubits exist in multiple states simultaneously, unlocking computational advantages that classical computers simply can’t match. He explains the different approaches to quantum computing,...
Mar 18, 2025•36 min
In this episode we are joined by the brilliant and always insightful Leda Glyptis. Leda is celebrating the launch of her latest book, Beyond Resilience, and we’re diving deep into the ideas behind it. From the staggering failure rates of digital ventures to the patterns of success that go beyond sheer resilience, Leda shares her journey of researching and interviewing industry leaders to uncover what truly makes businesses thrive. We explore the importance of intentionality, the hidden costs of ...
Mar 04, 2025•31 min
In this episode, we demystify one of the biggest embedded finance deals in the UK! We sit down with Andy Ellis, CEO of NatWest Boxed, to explore its groundbreaking partnership with the AA, one of the country's most trusted brands. This strategic collaboration is set to revolutionise how financial services are embedded within everyday journeys, making banking and insurance seamless for millions of AA members. Andy shares insider insights on what makes this partnership unique, the challenges of em...
Feb 28, 2025•29 min
In this episode, Dave and Dharm sit down with Tom Eyre, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Loqbox, a company on a mission to improve financial wellbeing through credit building and education. Since launching in 2017, Loqbox has helped over 1,000,000 individuals build credit histories and financial resilience. Tom takes us behind the scenes, sharing the inspiration behind Loqbox—born from personal experiences with credit challenges—and its evolution from Credit Improver to a financial lifeline for thousand...
Feb 27, 2025•32 min
In this episode, we welcome Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner, Nuwa Capital, who shares insights into his 17-year journey as a venture capitalist focusing on emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East. Khalid discusses the establishment of Nuwa Capital in 2021, its $100 million early-stage fund, and its significant investment in FinTech, which accounts for 30% of their portfolio. Khaled explains the unbanked nature of the region and the opportunities for parallel financial systems and sho...
Feb 17, 2025•33 min
Welcome to the latest episode of the Dave and Dharm Demystified Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of innovation and emerging technologies. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by Steve Suarez, CEO of Horizon X and former Head of Innovation at HSBC, who is helping shape the future of quantum computing in financial services. Steve brings unparalleled insight into the transformative power of quantum, sharing his work on cutting-edge initiatives like The Quantum Innovation Index, which ranks ...
Feb 04, 2025•30 min
In this episode, Hans Tesselaar, Executive Director of Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN) and Saket Sinha, Sr. Partner & Global Vice President - Financial Services IBM, explain the role and impact of BIAN in the financial industry. They introduce the organisation as a not-for-profit standards body to make the financial industry more agile and standardised. They discuss IBM's collaboration with BIAN to convert legacy banking systems into modern architectures using common standards. ...
Jan 20, 2025•28 min
In this episode, we demystify the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and explore why it matters for financial institutions. Joining us are cybersecurity and cloud experts Simon Phillips (CTO, SecureAck) and Alex Tasioulis (Cloudified.io), who shed light on the regulation’s core requirements and practical implications. Key insights from our discussion include: > What DORA really entails for banks and fintechs ahead of the January 2025 deadline > Why references to “reasonable” control...
Jan 03, 2025•28 min
In this episode, we revisit Monument Bank's journey and uncover a significant transformation. Joined by Steve Britain, CEO of Monument Technology, we explore the split between Monument Bank and its new tech-focused sibling, Monument Technology. Steve shares insights into how Monument Bank's cutting-edge, cloud-native platform, a system designed specifically for the cloud, powers the bank and attracts interest from global institutions seeking to modernise their operations. We discuss: > The ba...
Dec 17, 2024•27 min
In this episode, Dave and Dharm sit down with Steve Flinter, Distinguished Engineer at Mastercard, to demystify the company's innovative work and perspectives on quantum computing. Mastercard has been at the forefront of quantum exploration, investigating how this groundbreaking technology can tackle complex challenges more efficiently than classical computing. From optimising machine learning models to enhancing fraud detection and loyalty programs, the company is partnering with leaders like D...
Dec 10, 2024•34 min
In this episode, Dave and Dharm interview Edward Maslaveckas, CEO and one of the founders of the fintech company Bud. Ed discusses his background, the inception of Bud in 2015, and their initial failures and lessons learned while trying to build a financial product distribution platform akin to a 'money supermarket for millennials.' He explains their challenges before open banking regulations, particularly with technology and data aggregation. Fast forward to today, Bud enhances fintechs and ban...
Nov 26, 2024•29 min
In this episode, we welcome back Ed Maslaveckas from Bud to demystify the intriguing topic of 'agentification.' They delve into Bud's development and use of agentic models in the financial services sector, emphasising how these models differ from traditional AI agents. Ed explains that while standard agents can perform specific tasks within their own ecosystem, agentic models can interact with multiple external systems to fulfil broader objectives, such as autonomously optimising a user's financ...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min
In this episode, we focus on one of the most significant challenges in technology for enterprises today: legacy modernisation. Joining us is Irene Sandler, Chief Marketing Officer of Mechanical Orchard. Irene demystifies Mechanical Orchard's approach to addressing the complexities of legacy systems using innovative approaches, including AI and socio-technical design. We also discuss how legacy systems are deeply connected to organisational culture and explore new methods for modernisation.
Nov 15, 2024•29 min
In this episode of Demystify, hosts Dave and Dharmesh explore the future of finance with special guest Ronit Ghose, who leads Citi's Future of Finance think tank. Broadcasting from Dubai's vibrant tech hub, Ronit shares his perspectives on the city’s meteoric rise as a global financial and tech powerhouse and reflects on how it contrasts with traditional hubs like London and New York. Ronit discusses the transformative impact of government support in Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the ris...
Nov 01, 2024•31 min
In this episode, Nadine Mezher, co-founder of Sarwa, opens up about her mission to transform investing in the Middle East, making it within reach for everyone. From humble beginnings in Dubai to a thriving community of more than 180,000 registered users across the region, Nadine shares Sarwa’s journey of growth, resilience, and relentless innovation. We explore the heart of Sarwa’s offerings—robo-advisory with Sarwa Invest, self-directed trading with Sarwa Trade, and high-yield estimates returns...
Nov 01, 2024•24 min
In this episode of Demystify, recorded in the heart of Dubai, Vinit Shah, a senior advisor to the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), takes us behind the scenes of Dubai's ambitious approach to virtual asset regulation. Shah, who has been shaping Dubai’s financial landscape since 2003, shares his journey in establishing VARA in early 2022, with the goal of creating a secure, progressive space for Web3 and blockchain investments. Backed by the UAE’s forward-thinking stance and partnerships...
Nov 01, 2024•21 min
In this episode, the 2 D's delve into the transformative work of the Dubai Future Labs with its Executive Director, Mr Khalifa Al Qama. DFL is a place where cutting-edge AI, autonomous systems, and urban solutions are being crafted to shape tomorrow’s cities. We uncover the story behind breakthrough projects, like a ventilator developed during COVID-19, which exemplifies how the centre turns advanced tech into life-saving applications. Dubai’s approach is bold, collaborating with the private sec...
Nov 01, 2024•23 min
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of customer-centric design with two influential leaders from Lloyds Banking Group. Joining Dave and Dharm are Gemma Daley, Consumer Experience Design Director, and Suresh Balaji, Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they explore Lloyds’ journey towards becoming an experience-led brand, sharing insights on the recent overhaul of their mobile app and brand expression. In this conversation, they reveal the strategic shift towards a platform structure, desi...
Oct 22, 2024•36 min
In this episode, the 2 D's are joined by 2 special guests to discuss the evolution of open banking, specifically the role of data sharing in financial services. Charlotte Crosswell, chair of the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), and Henk Van Hulle, CEO of Open Banking Limited, explain how open banking enables access to data from multiple banks, creating richer profiles for consumers and small businesses (SMEs). They highlight the potential benefits of this data sharing, inclu...
Oct 03, 2024•35 min
In this episode of the "Dave and Dharm Demystify Show," Dave and Dharm reconnect with Sergio Gago from Moody's to explore the fascinating world of quantum computing and its implications for the financial industry. Sergio, the MD of AI and Quantum Computing at Moody's, explains quantum computing's complexities and fundamental differences from classical computing. He delves into the concept of qubits and superposition, offering insights into how quantum computers can solve mathematical problems ex...
Sep 23, 2024•38 min
