The Three Wise Men of Tech, better known as Steven Batiste (The Wizard of Data), Thomas Haida, (The AI Guru) and Erik van der Mars (The Payments Guy), are all together in one Podcast, moderated by Kate Pohl (The Cash, Trade & Treasury Mgt. Maven) What a treat (;-)

If you want to get up to speed with Payment Trends, learn about the top Technologies for Treasury, unlock the mysteries of Data or get the inside scoop on generative AI and of course.... ChatGPT, please join us for our 55th Digital Dump Podcast!

The discussion is fun, fast paced and informative. Learn about what's going on in the market from the experts while having a chuckle at the same time.

Please let us know what questions you have for the Thoughtful Three (the Fearsome Four...) next time they come together!

Steven Batiste and Kate Pohl were delighted to welcome Diego Caceres, CEO and Founder and Jennifer Barb, Head of Business for DatafabriQ to Digital Dump! Diego and Jenny explained that, in their view, one of the most painful areas of data management is in the ESG / sustainability space.

Regulation is increasing and reporting requirements becoming an ever-greater burden for companies. Understanding, for example, the impact of Scope 3 emissions – not just for the buyer of materials or manufacturer of goods – but for the entire supply chain is the goal! Today, only the very biggest enterprises have the appropriate data and know how to use it. So… this means that the safe exchange of data and collaboration is key.

The playing field will need to be leveled so that a meaningful exchange is possible among all participants. The expansion of a collaborative data ecosystem, made safe and accessible, where the providers of data can share but remain in control of their information, is the future. DatafabriQ is supporting this process by creating technology for this to become a reality. If we can truly understand the carbon footprint of entire supply chains, we can make informed decisions for our future!

Tune in for the exciting details and to learn more about Diego and Jenny’s vision!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste had the pleasure of welcoming Eleanor Hill, Editor of Treasury Management International, to Digital Dump! Eleanor told us about her background including studying languages before moving on to Private Wealth Management! She has been writing about Treasury since 2007 and has had a wealth of experience with various prestigious publications in writing as well as editing! Eleanor explained that she sees the following areas as key for treasury today: cash & liquidity management, supply chain management, hedging, implementation of regulation and getting ahead of fraud and cybercrime! What are the important technologies to support this? “APIs (possible API marketplaces), AI/ML, DLT and tokenization,” explains Eleanor. “AI can support what-if analyses to allow better planning and preparedness.”

She feels that concentrating on the talent pipeline i.e., hiring, managing, keeping, and training of staff is more vital than ever and skills such as AI, Data Analytics etc. will be increasingly valued and required. When asked about instant payments, Eleanor felt that this was indeed a key ingredient e.g., for cash forecasting. No discussion would have been complete without mentioning generative AI and ChatGPT. Eleanor feels the human touch remains a very key ingredient! ESG will become increasingly important in treasury - in all its facets - including understanding and implementing regulation.

Where does Eleanor feel the focus is missing within treasury?

Is centralization always the right answer? And are treasuries still too MPS (Male, Pale and Stale)? And how does she actually describe diversity?

Tune in and find out the answers to these and many other questions!

Steven and Kate hosted Craig Jeffery, Managing Partner at Strategic Treasurer. Craig explained that although his formal education was centered on accounting he began his career in insurance, technology, investments, banking and then consultancy, starting his own firm in 2004. When asked about “Mega” trends, Craig cited embedded finance, the need for broadening risk controls and technologies such as cloud i.e., SaaS, artificial intelligence /machine learning (ML) as well as APIs for connectivity. ML will become ever more important to e.g., combat fraud with the ability to detect patterns and discover anomalies. “Seeing ALL my cash everywhere should be standard and base line”, explains Craig. “Full connectivity should not be a cost benefit discussion… if accounts are not needed or relevant, they should be closed”.

Are Instant Payments really necessary? “Maybe they are not a must for today… but things are not going to slow down,” he explains. “It is probably fair to say that in, latest, 10 years it will be a must!” What is at the top of a treasurer’s wish list? Will treasury see a drop in staffing due to technology? How important is ESG and at what pace is this going to affect treasury operations?

Join us to find out the answers to these and many other questions on Digital Dump.

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Irene Kilubi, on Digital Dump. Irene talked about her background and education as well as her career journey. She wears many hats i.e. as a speaker, a moderator, a writer, and a teacher… but feels that the word Entrepreneur best describes what she does!

Irene is a builder of communities, of bridges between generations. She helps to create a runway for learning and cooperation. Irene feels that learning from each other starts with a dialog, but that is not enough! It is the experience of actually working together and interacting that enhances true cooperation and can change "traditional" mindsets! Pairing the wisdom and experience of seniors with the drive and fresh ideas of juniors is an important factor for success in our society! Social responsibility and sustainability are also key. We did discuss technology and what is - or will be - important in the future. Dr. Kilubi elaborated on AI/ML, IoT and Blockchain for trust and record keeping.

Should digitalization always be the goal? What are the pitfalls? What does a longer and healthier life imply for our work/life balance?

What are the key skills that we need to focus on for success?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more!

Steven and Kate had the pleasure of hosting Nicolas Kozakiewicz, Chief Innovation Officer, Worldline, on Digital Dump this week.

Nicolas talked about his background and training as an engineer, saying that he realized early on, that engineering simply does not solve all of life’s problems 😉! He explained the job of the Chief Innovation Officer as watching the horizon to identify opportunities and working to make the most of these, while, at the same time identifying any issues as well!

This fits in perfectly with his motto, “What If”! We discussed the advantages - as well as the challenges - of large established fintechs such as Worldline vs start-ups and how they can complement each other. Nicolas spoke of Blockchain and AI as well as devices i.e., bridges to tech such as a smart phone.

Our guest unpacked Blockchain so that its use, as an “efficient and elegant method of providing trust”, is now very clear! Nicolas made complex technologies easy to understand!

Are Blockchains distributed but centralized? What is the difference between Digital and Digitized? Is cooperation and collaboration a must for start-ups and established Financial Services Organizations?

Tune in and find out the answers to these and so many other questions!

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste had the pleasure of interviewing Johan Gerber, EVP of Security and Cyber Innovation at Mastercard.

Johan began by giving us a view on the enormous issues and costs surrounding Cybercrime, a $10.5 trillion “business” today! Mastercard is doing its part by spending over $1 BLN pa to reduce vulnerability e.g., by looking at 500 fields in less than 10 milliseconds for over 110 bln transactions a year. This, in turn, results in stopping $30BLN in attempted fraud pa!

He stated that the entire financial services Industry – and the internet with its 5 bln users- will always be a target for cybercrime. “Digital First has become Digital by Default,” explained Johan, “we can no longer live without it!” Innovation was literally forced upon us by the pandemic i.e., the crisis was a catalyst. New technologies such as behavioral biometrics are helping to increase both convenience and safety! The effort to reduce fraud and cybercrime must, however, transcend national boundaries as well as local efforts and become global.

Can “intelligent” friction actually be extremely effective? Does Johan believe in cooperation with fintechs? How can we solve the issue of bias in algorithms… and is this important?

Join us as we find out more about how “Life begins at the end of your comfort Zone!”

Kate Pohl and Steven Batiste welcomed Dr. Peter Robejsek, Country Manager Germany, at Mastercard.

Peter told us a little about his business journey, emphasizing the great help and support he has received from some gifted teachers and mentors along the way.

We discussed the card business (mixed results for 2022), the four-party model (Peter feels it is good value for money), and security. Our guest stated that good and appropriate security is becoming a “hygiene” factor i.e., it is expected and must be there! Mastercard strongly believes in cooperation and collaboration with Fintechs for a variety of reasons including good business practice, but also social obligation.

It is perhaps not surprising that Peter believes we should all exhibit more compassion… for ourselves and others! What are some of the next big innovations that Peter Robejsek expects in his business? Will machine learning be key? Is the Metaverse the next frontier?

Tune in and find out the answers to these questions and so much more.