Episodes

In episode 22, Bryan and Becca talked with Fintech Takes Founder Alex Johnson about Web3’s influence on the banking sector. That conversation is continued in part two, in which Alex speaks to Banking as a Service, the future of brick-and-mortar branches and the evolution of customer service in a digital-first world.

Cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. Digital assets have been endorsed by major banks across the world and are no longer niche investments made only by those with insider knowledge of blockchain. While the technology has seen a rapid rise in popularity, it’s still not ubiquitous – for the uninitiated, digital currencies still seem foreign, and maybe even worrisome.The rise of crypto presents a number of questions about how this new technology fits into the traditional banking sector. Kate Goldman...

The digital landscape is changing. News of the metaverse, NFTs and cryptocurrency floods our newsfeeds as we hear about Web 3’s promise and limitations. So where do banks fit into this equation? Will crypto ever become less volatile? And do financial institutions need to start thinking about their place in virtual reality? Alex Johnson, the founder of the Fintech Takes newsletter, tackles all these questions and more while also speaking to “hands-on-the-wheel” money and Generation Z’s new outl...

For Ron Feldman, it’s a simple equation: The more diverse your workforce, the better off your organization will be. Feldman, the first vice president and chief operating officer at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, talks with David about the Fed’s efforts to hire and retain a more diverse workforce. He also speaks to the positive impact a diversity of voices can have on bank regulatory functions.

Company culture is top of mind right now.As organizations struggle with the “great resignation,” hiring managers are searching for new ways to attract and retain talent. Josh Levine, the owner of Great Mondays and an expert on company culture, talks with David about the importance of providing workers with more than just monetary incentives and embedding mission and values into everyday work.He also speaks to the need for relationship-building during remote and hybrid work. Rituals need to be es...

Melissa Bradley is busy: She’s the cofounder of Ureeka, a managing partner at 1863 Ventures and a cofounder and managing partner at Sidecar Social Finance. She’s also a professor at Georgetown University. Melissa speaks with David about empowering New Majority – BIPOC – entrepreneurs and reflects on changing demographics in business. “From a demographic perspective, when we use the word ‘minority,’ to speak about people of color, it’s just not quantitatively accurate,” says Melissa. Melissa al...

Sonia Reinhardt is a senior human resources advisor with GLS Bank and the alumni manager and human development senior advisor for the Global Alliance for Banking on Values Leadership Academy. Sonia talks with Bryan and Becca about how she got into banking, her experience with microfinance and what the Leadership Academy offers to values-based banking executives. She also discusses what she feels is the main difference between traditional banks and their values-based counterparts.

Mike Bechtel makes his living as a futurist – but in order to make predictions about tomorrow, he grounds himself in the past. “Futurists are just secretly historians,” he says. Bechtel is Deloitte’s chief futurist and talks with David about how companies can prepare for the future while also tempering their expectations based on experience. He gives insights into what he feels will drive the technology of tomorrow – “going beyond the screen,” says Bechtel – and how corporate leaders can devise...

Jan Köpper is the head of the impact transparency and sustainability department at GLS Bank in Germany. Jan talks with Becca and Bryan about his role at GLS as well as how the bank measures its impact and why it’s important for financial institutions to track metrics other than revenue and the bottom line.In addition, Jan talks about how he wound up in values-based banking and what he’s excited about in 2022 and beyond.

Melanie Holdsworth is the Organizational Process Excellence Manager for Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, one of the largest customer-owned banks in Australia. Melanie helped to create Hiver, a digital bank geared towards essential workers. Melanie talks about how Hiver got its start as well as values-based banking and Teachers Mutual Bank Limited’s work in the sustainability space.

Marilyn Waite knows a lot about sustainability and climate – she also knows the global community has much work ahead if it wants to make real positive change in the long-term. Waite leads the Climate Finance Fund, a $75 million philanthropic platform covering the markets of China, Europe and the United States. She’s also worked in renewable and nuclear energy, climate modeling and investment. Waite talks with David about what she learned at COP 26, the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financia...

Kate Hammer’s career path is anything but conventional. Hammer, currently Vancity’s director of government relations, wound up in banking after beginning her career in journalism, working at the New York Times and the Globe and Mail. She’s also been involved in politics, serving as an advisor to Canada’s first female, openly gay premier. Hammer’s varied career path has given her an array of skills that help in her current position, where she advocates for financial policy that helps consumers g...

Charlene Li is a New York Times Bestselling author focused on disruption: What it is, how companies can become more disruptive and what that means for organizations and their culture. Charlene’s book, “The Disruption Mindset,” homes in on the topic and debunks some preconceived notions about what true disruption looks like. Every company wants to be disruptive – but how can they turn their aspirations into action? Charlene talks with David about what makes a disruptive strategy, the importance ...

Jasmin Panjeta started his career in cybersecurity but quickly learned it wasn’t for him. What he did know, however, was that he wanted to work for an organization that valued more than the bottom line. Enter Jasmin’s journey in values-based banking. Today Jasmin is a communications and public relations professional working for Oikocredit, a worldwide cooperative that focuses on microfinance and impact investing.Jasmin talks with guest hosts Becca Hoeft and Bryan Toft about his move from Bosnia ...

We know that the next generation wants fast, easy access to their bank accounts – and that they rarely, if ever, set foot inside a physical bank branch. But aside from convenience, what other concerns does Gen Z have when it comes to their personal finances?We went to local universities to talk with students about their perspectives on digital banking, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and how they envision the bank of the future. Sunrise Banks Chief Brand Officer Becca Hoeft and Chief Revenue Offic...

Darrin Williams’ career is a unique combination of business, law, and politics. Currently serving as the CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc., Williams oversees the strategic direction and operations of each of Southern’s three Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI): Southern Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company; Southern Bancorp Bank, one of America’s largest rural development banks; and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) development finance and lending organization – colle...

Melissa Koide is the CEO of FinRegLab, a nonprofit research center that tests new technologies and data and facilitates dialogue to inform public policy and drive the financial sector toward a responsible and inclusive financial marketplace. FinRegLab is focusing on big questions surrounding data and Artificial Intelligence: How should it be regulated? How can it help consumers? What risks does it pose? Melissa talks with David about what tomorrow’s banker needs to know about AI and emerging tec...

Jeannine Jacokes is the chief executive and policy officer for the Community Development Bankers Association and the CEO of Partners for the Common Good, a national nonprofit loan fund. She also has experience on the Hill, having worked with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and as a staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.Jeannine talks with David about community banking as well as what she’s learned during her time in government and how bankers can cre...

Theo Lau is an author, podcast host, startup advisor and public speaker. She wrote “Beyond Good: How Technology is Leading a Purpose-Driven Business Revolution,” with Bradley Leimer. Theo talks with David about the role companies can play in fighting inequality and working towards the common good.

Jennifer Tescher is an expert on financial health and the founder of the Financial Health Network. Jennifer talks with David about how to define and measure financial health as well as what role banks and fintechs can play in ensuring consumers reach their financial goals.

Jason Henrichs is a veteran in the fintech space. He’s the founder of Fintech Forge and a co-founder of Alloy Labs, along with being a host on Breaking Banks, the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast. Jason talks with David about the importance of adaptability in an ever-changing fintech environment as well as what role banks can play in this new frontier. In Jason’s words, the “face of banking is fundamentally going to look more different in the next five years than it has in the previous 5...

Dr. Tia Kansara is an award-winning entrepreneur, lecturer and author. She’s also the CEO of Replenish Earth, an organization that helps governments, businesses and individuals become more environmentally sustainable. Dr. Kansara talks with David about mindfulness, the ability to adapt in a post-pandemic world and how changing our definition of “success” can pave the way to a more eco-friendly future.

Jo Ann Barefoot is the CEO & Cofounder of Alliance for Innovative Regulation, a podcast host and a former deputy comptroller of the currency. Jo Ann chats with David about the age-old dilemma faced in finance: how to reconcile the speed of tech with the bureaucratic nature of regulation. The biggest point Jo Ann wants bankers to take away? Move fast.

Apple Crider is an entrepreneur, podcast host and Youtuber focused on personal finance. His content aims to demystify the financial world for his viewers, especially young people. Listen as Apple talks with David about entrepreneurship, what the younger generation thinks about brick-and-mortar banks and how to narrow your focus to become more efficient.