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Anna Maj

Founder & CEO at CreatLink

Warsaw Metropolitan Area, Poland

FinTech, Innovation Leader. Senior Advisor for Truffle Capital. Expert at the European Innovation Council. Senator at the World Business Angels Investment Forum (Global Startup & Woman Leaders Committee). Previously FinTech Leader at PwC. Recognized as one of the TOP10 Women in FinTech 2020 and Top 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology 2019.

Building cooperation models between Corporates and FinTech | Tech partners, particularly with regard to the Open Banking, Payments, Conversational AI, and Digital Transformation projects as well as driving innovation in the European banking ecosystem. Translating future-oriented ideas into a viable digital value proposition. Facilitating access to private (VCs, BAs) & public (EU) funding for innovative European SMEs. Having worked for both banks and FinTech startups I connect the two worlds now.

Seasoned FinTech executive (C-level and NED roles). 20 years of experience in the European banking and payments industries, with a focus on CEE (PwC, Citigroup, T-Mobile, PayTel, mBank). Particular expertise in the field of innovative payment solutions, digitally enabled financial products (open banking, conversational AI), acquired in the strategy, innovation, product management roles. Introduced one of the first online payment gateways in the CEMEA region as well as the first digital wallet and the mobile payment platform. Managed the implementation of the first mobile banking app and the first local mobile payments initiative.

FinTech Mentor & Advisor (PwC Collider). Featured in the TOP10 Women in FinTech 2020 (FinTech Magazine, Aug 2020); TOP 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology of 2019 (The Financial Technology Report); Women in Fintech Powerlist 2019 (Innovate Finance March 2020); TOP 100 Women in FinTech 2019 List (Lattice80, March 2019); „Most Influential Women in Payments (Cashless.pl, 2020, 2019). Keynote speaker at FinTech | Digital | Payments conferences and events. Co-Author of The PAYTECH Book and The AI Book published in 2020 by FINTECH Circle & Wiley. Lecturer on FinTech (WBAF Business School, Warsaw University of Technology). Senior Lecturer at the CFTE (Conversational AI in Banking; Open Banking and Platforms in Finance).

Advocate for diversity and fairness in business. Goodwill Ambassador for the European Women Payments Network. Supporting financial inclusion as well as social entrepreneurship | startups. Passionate about Art & Design.

Internationally exposed (London | Brussels | Paris). Multilingual (English, German, French, Russian, Polish).
Seasoned FinTech executive (C-level and NED roles). 20 years of experience in the European banking and payments industries, with a focus on CEE (PwC, Citigroup, T-Mobile, PayTel, mBank). Particular expertise in the field of innovative payment solutions, digitally enabled financial products (open banking, conversational AI), acquired in the strategy, innovation, product management, and sales-related roles. Introduced one of the first online payment gateways in the CEMEA region as well as the first digital wallet and the mobile payment platform. Managed the implementation of the first mobile banking apps and the first local mobile payments initiative.

FinTech Mentor & Advisor (PwC Collider). Featured in the TOP10 Women in FinTech 2020 (FinTech Magazine, Aug 2020); TOP 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology of 2019 (The Financial Technology Report); Women in Fintech Powerlist 2019 (Innovate Finance March 2020); TOP 100 Women in FinTech 2019 List (Lattice80, March 2019); „Most Influential Women in Payments (Cashless.pl, 2020, 2019). Keynote speaker at FinTech | Digital | Payments conferences and events. Co-Author of The PAYTECH Book and The AI Book published in 2020 by FINTECH Circle & Wiley. FinTech Lecturer (University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology). Senior Lecturer (Open Banking and Platforms in Finance Specialisation) at the CFTE - Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Advocate for diversity and fairness in business. Ambassador for the European Women Payments Network. Supporting financial inclusion as well as social entrepreneurship | startups. Passionate about Art & Design.

Based in Warsaw. Internationally exposed (London | Brussels | CEE). Multilingual (English, German, French, Russian, Polish).

Anna Maj Points
Academic 20
Author 129
Influencer 256
Speaker 75
Entrepreneur 20
Total 500

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Company
Minimum Project Size: $10,000+
Average Hourly Rate: $300+
Number of Employees: 1-10
Company Founded Date: Undisclosed

Areas of Expertise

AI 31.02
Blockchain 30.07
COVID19 32.68
Digital Disruption 30.14
Digital Transformation 30.17
Diversity and Inclusion 30.20
Ecosystems 30.06
Entrepreneurship 31.36
FinTech 42.86
Innovation 33.26
IoT 30.20
Leadership 33.30
Management 30.92
Open Innovation
PropTech 30.52
Social 31.11
Startups
Sustainability 31.52

Industry Experience

Financial Services & Banking
Professional Services

Publications

3 Article/Blogs
FinTech & Payments expert Anna Maj imparts Open Banking Course on the Role of New Entrants
CFTE
September 28, 2020
Open Banking has seen a surge in recent times as professionals in the industry become more aware of this new banking approach and more countries catch up with this new way of finance. However, many are yet to understand the complex ecosystem forming behind Open Banking, and more specifically, the role that new entrants play.

CFTE has curated the course Business Models and Implementation of New Entrants with industry expert Anna Maj to unveil the importance and implications of new entrants in Open Banking. Anna brings 20 years of experience in driving and fostering banking and payments innovation in Europe, with a focus on CEE (PWC, Citigroup, T-Mobile, mBank).

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

Top 10 Women in FinTech | Anna Maj
FinTech Magazine
August 18, 2020
In August’s edition of FinTech Magazine, we broke down our Top 10 Women in FinTech. In at number 3 is Anna Maj.

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Tags: FinTech, Leadership

Will Bots replace Call Centers?
LinkedIn
September 25, 2018
The above is an example of a demo “conversation” between the client and the assistant of the cross-border money transfer company TransferWise, a unicorn with more than one million customers worldwide[1]. The conversation is performed by the virtual assistant—a chatbot based on Facebook Messenger. Practically, it goes beyond the conversation; it is an interaction between a human and the TransferWise Bot finished with a measurable outcome, which is a foreign exchange (FX) payment transaction—sending money from one banking account to another, without a banking intermediary and at a lower cost than via a bank. A growing number of processes and functions within the finance, banking and payments industry in particular is being performed by bots (chatbots) or virtual assistants with voice and text interfaces. In 2018, we will be witnessing further evidence of the exciting AI-based (artificial intelligence) solutions that are to be launched in the banking sector.

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Tags: AI, FinTech, Finance

2 Books
The AI Book
Amazon
May 13, 2020
Written by prominent thought leaders in the global fintech space, The AI Book aggregates diverse expertise into a single, informative volume and explains what artifical intelligence really means and how it can be used across financial services today. Key industry developments are explained in detail, and critical insights from cutting-edge practitioners offer first-hand information and lessons learned.

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Tags: AI, FinTech, Leadership

The PAYTECH Book
Amazon
December 26, 2019
The movement of money between individuals, organisations and governments is crucial to the world economy. The payments industry has undergone immense transformation ­– new regulations, technologies and consumer demands have prompted significant changes to the tools, products and use cases in payments, as well as presented lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs and FinTech professionals. As payment technologies become faster and more efficient, companies and investors are increasingly favouring PayTech innovation due to better customer experience, increased revenues and manageable risks. The PAYTECH Book brings together a diverse collection of industry experts to provide entrepreneurs, financial services professionals and investors with the answers they need to capitalise on the highly profitable PayTech market.

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

2 Coursewares
Conversational AI in Banking
CFTE
October 01, 2020
This short course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Conversational AI technologies in the Financial Services industry: the solutions, the impacts and the implementation approach.

In just a matter of hours, you will learn the meaning of Conversational AI and the key differences between chatbots, voicebots and virtual assistants and how they are used in Banking. Be prepared to receive a detailed analysis of implementation strategies for financial institutions and real-life case studies led by recognised industry experts.

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Tags: AI, FinTech

Conversational AI in Banking Course
CFTE
September 24, 2020
Now is the time to appreciate the imminent transformation of digital customer experience

COURSE LAUNCHES ON THE 1ST OF OCTOBER!

This short course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Conversational AI technologies in the Financial Services industry: the solutions, the impacts and the implementation approach.

Learn the meaning of Conversational AI and the key differences between chatbots, voicebots and virtual assistants and how they are used in Banking. Be prepared to receive a detailed analysis of implementation strategies for financial institutions and real-life case studies led by recognised industry experts.

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Tags: AI, FinTech

1 Faculty Member
WBAF Business School
LinkedIn
December 22, 2020
The WBAF Business School strives to contribute to the development of skills and expertise, to assist in the business transformation of private and public entities, and to foster the kind of creative thinking that leads to innovation and eventual success in the ever-changing market environment of the 21st century. The ultimate goal is to ease access to finance, increase financial inclusion, promote gender equality, and create more jobs and social justice worldwide.

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Tags: FinTech, Management, Leadership

1 Founder
Creative Link
LinkedIn
January 19, 2007
• Led the Open Banking (PSD2-related) projects for banks and payments providers, including building cooperation models between incumbents and FinTechs
• Involved in the business due diligence as well as M&A deals in the Payments and FinTech market
• Managed a turnaround project of the new SME model for mBank, with a focus on digital experience (digital onboarding), created a concept of a new FX Express platform

• Designed a product strategy of the mobile financial services/payments for T-Mobile Poland (Innovation Office)
• Acted as an Interim Manager for mBank – designed and executed an omnichannel sales strategy of a digital FX transaction platform, aimed at intensifying sales of the bank’s FX products to the corporate and SME clients, resulted in the 10x growth in the bank’s client base
• Prepared the product concept of the consumer banking services to be introduced to the retail POS network for BillBird (a mass/bill payment processor owned by GTECH LOTTOMATICA) in cooperation with selected Polish consumer banks
• Responsible for designing the financial services strategy for PayUp (a Portuguese electronic payment company) to be introduced to the retail network of Eurocash (a Polish retail distributor) including prepaid cards, loyalty, cash loans, cash back, money transfers; supported and evaluated services for Serbia and Romania.

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Tags: FinTech, Leadership, Entrepreneurship

3 Influencer Awards
CFTE Celebrates Women in Fintech
CFTE
March 06, 2021
We are passionate about playing our part in the global agenda for diversity and inclusion. In this capacity, we give women leaders in FinTech, a platform to be heard. We spent a lot of time looking for exceptional women experts in Fintech who love to teach. CFTE’s team and I would like to celebrate these trailblazers who are transforming the industry in Financial Services, as well as those who are changing the face of Fintech.

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Tags: AI, FinTech, Leadership

The future of fintech is female
Raconteur
December 20, 2020
Fintech may have shaken up the financial landscape, but in terms of diversity, there remains much to be done. Four leading women in the world of fintech share their views

Here, four world-leading female pioneers of financial technology, who are helping to open doors for the next generation of female founders and executives, share their insights. They discuss the challenges they’ve faced, the need for better representation and their hopes for a gender-neutral future in financial services.

Dr Anna Maj, World Business Angel Investment Forum,
Poland
"I know I don’t look like a fintech leader, so I always try to make noise about it".
This female fintech champion likes to say she was a woman in fintech before the term was even invented. Joining Citigroup at the turn of the millennium, Anna Maj went straight into the newly created sector of financial technology, where she began scratching the surface of internet banking, account aggregation and open banking.

While there were several women assigned to non-managerial roles within the bank, she came across very few further up the corporate ladder, especially within her tech-focused sector. “It would often happen that I would be sitting in a meeting with 20 people and realise I was the only woman there,” she says. “At first, I didn’t even recognise there were gender issues because it was a daily routine for me, but as time went by and I was promoted, I found being the only woman had its challenges.”

Maj claims that rather than being limited by the “glass ceiling”, she repeatedly found herself facing off against a “glass cliff”, a metaphor for the way she feels women in tech are tested to a greater degree than men and pushed out if they fail to deliver. “This is a battlefield for many women,” she says.

Navigating such battlefields seems to have bestowed her with a warrior-like mentality, however, spurring her on rather than cutting her down. A high achiever in the extreme, Maj started school a year earlier than the other children in her hometown of Warsaw. She currently works as a senior lecturer at the Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance, a senator at the WBAF Angel Investment Fund and a jury member at the European Innovation Council.

Awarded a PhD and MBA, she speaks eight languages, has published two books, and last year featured in the Women in FinTech Powerlist, and was among the Top 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology.

Part of the transformation generation that grew up as the Eastern Bloc’s post-communist countries began opening to the world, Maj has never faced the dilemma of having to choose between her career and personal life, deciding in her 30s that her professional development and freedom trumped having a family. “It very much depends, as everybody knows, on how you define success, what are your values and what you want out of life,” she says. “Every life is different.”

Maj welcomes the recent wave of positive initiatives supporting female leaders in fintech companies, but says a change in the global mindset must take place before minorities of all kinds can achieve genuine representation and shake off the shackles of imposter syndrome. “Women for women only doesn’t make sense in the long run,” she says. “We need the entire population to support diversity, not only in terms of gender, but also age, background, culture, ethnicity, skills and confidence. It’s by connecting all these things we can create a collaborative ecosystem that’s best for business.”

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

A Few Noteworthy Women in Global FinTech
Global FinTech Series
October 09, 2020
Diversity and inclusion are a necessity for any organisation’s success today. The tables are turning now for women-led companies and women in technology are leading the charge of innovative developments and cutting-edge technologies in fintech.

Here are 10 prominent women who have been role models in Fintech.
9. Anna Maj, FinTech Leader & Advisor, WBAF
Anna Maj is presently the fintech leader and advisor for World Business Angels Investment Forum. Anna has 20 years of experience in banking and payments industries. She introduced one of the first online payment gateways in EMEA region as well as the first digital wallet and mobile payment platform. Her expertise lies in the field of innovative digital payment solutions. In her former Role at PwC, she was responsible for building cooperation models between banks and fintech partners, especially with regards to the Open Banking, Payments as well as Conversational AI projects with a focus on Central Europe. Anna is the Co-Author of The PAYTECH Book and The AI Book and has been a prominent speaker at many international conferences.

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Tags: FinTech, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion

6 Keynotes
Open Banking Week (Global)
Sympla
June 07, 2021
-June, 07 de 2021, 06h - June, 11 de 2021, 18h
-Online event via Youtube

Five days of immersion in Open Banking! Come build connections with market leaders, strengthen your presence in the ecosystem and be part of the conversations that are shaping the global financial system.

We’ll have four paths that will guide us through the content:

- Technology: APIs, integration standards, cloud-based platforms, data, and analytics.

- Security: cybersecurity, governance, identity management, data protection, risk management, compliance, and anti-fraud strategies.

- Solutions & Cases: social impact initiatives promoted by digital banks and fintechs.

- Regulatory: agenda and regulatory aspects of Open Banking, LGPD, and cybersecurity.

The full agenda will be released soon!

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

The Open Banking Worldwide Landscape
UABdigital
May 13, 2021
We are very delighted to announce that Ms. Anna Maj, FinTech Leader and Advisor CFTE - Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship is amongst the distinguished speakers of the inaugural edition of the Arab Digital Banks Summit #ADBANX2021 happening on May 18-19-20th! Ms. Maj will extend a Keynote on Day 2 entitled "The Open Banking Worldwide Landscape".

Registration is free, places are limited, book your seat now.

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Tags: Social, FinTech, Leadership

Transform Finance: Big Tech event
Transform Finance
February 03, 2021
Every year, technology is changing the financial services companies in far-reaching ways. But to the thoughtful executive, they offer new opportunities to strengthen existing infrastructure, do away with outdated systems and embrace the new. But a choice must be made in the current pandemic and economic downturn: do you lead the charge or do you react to others’ success?

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, IoT

Post-COVID: New Opportunities for Fintech
LinkedIn
October 13, 2020
I will be speaking at the #AIMDigital 2020 Conference on 21st October, about Post-COVID: New Opportunities for #Fintech. I'm truly honoured to share my views on recent Fintech developments and trends at the largest virtual gathering of the global #investment community with participants attending from more than 170 countries.

This session blurring the lines between banks and #fintechs, embracing fintech & moving towards #cashless society, and effects of the COVID-19 on Fintech #startups.
Amnah Ajmal Raja Al Mazrouei Mirna Sleiman

Join us at the Annual Investment Meeting first digital edition with the theme “Reimagining Economies: The Move Towards a #Digital, #Sustainable and Resilient Future" and make sure to register for the conference at https://bit.ly/3doZpmY

Startup Pillar Session 7 – Post-COVID: New Opportunities for Fintech on October 21st from 12:40 to 13:40 Dubai time

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Tags: Sustainability, FinTech, COVID19

Anna Maj speaking about Bank-FinTech cooperation at FinTech Nations
LinkedIn
September 18, 2020
FinTech Nations, coming together next week! #OpenAPIs are transforming the world of finance. I will be sharing my experience in #payments and #openbanking, speaking about Bank-FinTech cooperation, New Entrants models & roles, Platforms.
https://lnkd.in/eBQAqeM

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Tags: FinTech, Leadership, Finance

Women in FinTech
LinkedIn
September 10, 2020
I am or was a mentor in different programs (CFA Institute, PwC Startup Collider, Ashoka) for #startups and individuals, including social entrepreneurs. But I have never been a mentee myself. Until now.

I was very much looking forward to taking part in Money20/20 Asia this year and joining the RiseUp community of #womeninfintech. I am deeply anchored in the #FinTech ecosystem in Europe however, wanted to go beyond Europe and learn from my Asian colleagues who are often at the forefront of the #payments, tech, and #banking innovation.

Regretfully, like in the case of many other initiatives and events, COVID-19 has revisited my plans. I was hoping to come to #M2020 in #Singapore at the end of August to meet my old friends as well as get to know the new ones – including the outstanding #RiseUp females, nevertheless,
I am grateful for this unique mentoring experience I get instead. Many thanks to my amazing mentor Kirti Lad!

Thank you Kristy Duncan Linda Saye (she/her/hers) Hannah Redfern Tracey Davies (Byers) Fawn Hudgens Monica Garde

Congratulations to All women in the #RiseUpAsia 2020 cohort I am happy & proud to be part of
https://lnkd.in/eWTmDCJ

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

1 Media Interview
'Knowledge-sharing in a (digital) new normal' with Anna Maj
YouTube
October 09, 2020
Every week we invite business leaders from the event industry to analyze the new emerging trends, the impact of the technological changes we are experiencing, the lessons learned from the companies that have failed and those that have succeeded after this situation.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Digital Disruption, FinTech

6 Panels
Are we open for open finance? | Part 3
LinkedIn
March 03, 2021
Join us next Wednesday, 3 March, for Part 3 of our discussion on Open Finance, as part of our Financial Services Digital Series.

- What is Open Finance? How does it change Banking & Financial Services?
- Are GCC banks and policy makers supportive or skeptical of Open Banking & Finance?
- How does the API economy changing banking and financial services in the next three-five years?
- Does Open Finance make BaaS more valuable and make banks into utility companies?
- Will we see a more diverse financial services ecosystem due to Open Finance?
- How will clients benefit – let us talk about specific use cases.

To hear more on this, join our webinar with experts speakers Ramana Kumar, EVP & Head of Payment & Digital at First Abu Dhabi Bank; Vaanathi. M, Business Head at M2P Solutions; Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder and CEO of Lean Technologies; Stefano Vaccino, CEO and Founder of Yapily; and Anna Maj, Senior Lecturer at CFTE. The panel will once again be moderated by Arjun Vir Singh, Head of Financial Services – MENA,Arthur D. Little; and Ronit Ghose, Global Sector Head for Banks & FinTech Research, Citi.

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

The Future of Money Summit: What’s next in the fintech revolution?
Tortoise Media
February 25, 2021
thursday 25 february 2021
11.00-11.45

Legacy banks have seen their competitive advantages eroded by technology and regulation. New open banking protocols are used by a million+ people in the UK alone. As trends shift towards the fintech challengers, big hitters at Goldman Sachs and Aberdeen Standard are jumping ship to join newcomers such as Monzo. What does this mean for the consumer? Where is all this new technology leading us and what will be the most exciting fintech innovations going forward? Will incumbent banks embrace change – or impede it? And how can other industries – like Proptech – use financial innovations to better serve the consumer while protecting privacy?

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership, PropTech

Open Banking, PSD2 and Beyond - İstanbul Fintech Week - Digital Banking Summit
YouTube
November 11, 2020
Open banking has become a widespread topic in banking and payments. PSD2 has paved the way for banks to open their APIs and share data. The panel will discuss if this will help boost the ecosystem by empowering entrepreneurs and bringing cost efficiencies.

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Tags: Blockchain, FinTech, Ecosystems

European FinTech Hackcelerator
LinkedIn
September 18, 2020
The Asian Fintech chapter continues. This time in connection to the European #FinTech ecosystem. ️The European FinTech Hackcelerator, part of Singapore FinTech Festival, Global FinTech Hackcelerator, is taking off in cooperation with Accelpoint and the eminent Community Partners including BLOCK71 Singapore / Seedstars / Startup Wise Guys / Central and Eastern European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) / Efma / Expara / FinTech Poland / Holland FinTech / PLUGin Foundation /Findec /Tribe

Looking forward to discovering the outstanding European FinTechs that want to make their footprint, moreover have an impact in Asia #ASEAN. FinTech #startups, stand out from the crowd! If you want to be a part of this Asian-European bridge journey, do not hesitate to apply
www.europefh.com

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

Creating Value with Open Banking
Money Next Summit
August 21, 2020
How can banks generate revenue from open banking?
What new business models are likely to emerge as open banking continues to grow?
How important are Fintech partnerships to take full advantage of open banking opportunities?

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

Banking 4.0 Compliance alone is a losing strategy
nocash events
November 25, 2019
In November 2019, the second edition of the Banking 4.0 – International Fintech Conference attracts close to 500 attendes expert level from almost 15 countries from 3 continents.

Banking 4.0 powered by Nocash Events continues to be one of the biggest FinTech event in the CEE, and provides a regional platform for Banking and Finteh community to connect, collaborate, and co-create.

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Tags: FinTech, Leadership

1 Speaking Engagement
How to Leverage the Power of Open Data and Open APIs?
LinkedIn
February 11, 2021
I am pleased to speak again at the Intesa Sanpaolo Novathon this week!

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech

1 Webinar
Fintech Trends for 2021 with Anna Maj
LinkedIn
January 12, 2021
We are starting the new year with a look at trends for Fintech with the brilliant Anna Maj. Send me your questions and sign up at https://lnkd.in/eDwKUFq

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

1 Workshop
Masterclass: Open Banking & Platforms in Finance
YouTube
December 09, 2020

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Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Leadership

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Anna Maj