Chief Digital Heroes

Ecobank's Nvalaye Kourouma on Avoiding Copy/Paste in Digital Transformation Problem Solving

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Nvalaye Kourouma, Group Chief Digital Officer at Ecobank, about how technology is a tool for digital transformation, but it's not just copy and paste across different markets in different countries. They also discuss the importance of scaling up and how Ecobank is shaping the ecosystem of banking.
Then, Nvalaye reflects on what it means to be a successful CDO – a capacity to learn, creativity, and flexibility – and offers advice for those seeking a similar role.
 
Topics discussed:
Why digital transformation is not copy and paste from one country to another.
The three pillars of being a CDO: the digital platform, data analytics, and innovation.
How Ecobank is shaping the ecosystem of banking in Africa by partnering with other banking entities.
How keeping things as simple as possible for the customer will ultimately bring them the most value.
How the ability of the user to apply technology to their problem is more important than the technology itself.
The three key skills of being a successful CDO: capacity to learn, creativity, and flexibility.

Euroclear's Jørgen Ouaknine on How Euroclear Aims to Engage, Inspire, and Deliver

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Jørgen Ouaknine, Group Head of Innovation and Digital Assets at Euroclear. They discuss how a role in innovation has expanded in Jørgen's time at Euroclear and how it's shaped their purpose of safety, efficiency, and sustainable economic growth. They also discuss how going digital has allowed FMIs like Euroclear to continue to exist, but that there are still inefficiencies to be solved. 
 
Topics discussed:
How financial market infrastructures connect issuers and investors and serve their communities thanks to digitization.
Why the current market would benefit from moving from a sequential value chain to a circular one.
How Euroclear balances moving forward with matching the pace of change of the market--all with the help of client feedback.
The importance of focusing on your priorities without getting caught up in the technologies that are currently en vogue.
Avoiding "reinventing the wheel" and developing what you have rather than constantly starting from scratch.
How having a strategic vision is key to being a successful leader in innovation. 

Bank of Thailand's Witit Synsatayakul on the People and Processes Needed for Digital Transformation

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Witit Synsatayakul, Deputy Director, Digital Currency Policy and Development at Bank of Thailand. They discuss why digital transformation needs to start with people and processes before systems and tools, and why it should be led by mid-level managers. They also talk about the skills needed for digital transformation success, how tokenization is opening up growth opportunities, and how AI will shape the future.
 
Topics discussed:
Why digital transformation needs to start with the people and processes first, before systems and tools.
How tokenization creates growth and opportunity, especially through atomic settlements and reduced risk.
Why business know-how, technical competency, and project management skills are the key to digital leadership success.
The challenges to being a digital leader, including the dynamic nature of the role and resource constraints.
Why digital transformation should be led by mid-level senior managers instead of leaders at the top.
How AI will shape the financial sector in the future by being "close to daily life." 

Unibank's Sattar Kazimov on How to Build and Evolve Your Digital Initiatives

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Sattar Kazimov, CDO at Unibank. They discuss the digital evolution of Unibank into being named one of the best banks in Azerbaijan, including how they built customer products and backend digital and IT teams. They also talk about the importance of creating products that fit your customers’ needs, why CDOs need to test and adapt to changing times, and how AI will improve operational efficiency and customer service.
 
Topics discussed:
How Sattar created and evolved digital initiatives at Unibank, including rolling out mobile banking and building digital teams.
The importance of knowing your customers and building products that serve them first.
How Unibank has embarked on its digital transformation, including branching out into partnerships to create a neobank that gained one million customers in 24 months.
Why the future will only focus on banking and customer experiences, not banks and products.
How banks can use AI for optimizing processes, improving customer interactions, and enhancing operational efficiency.
The challenges to digital transformation, including testing and adapting to a constantly changing world.
Advice to other CDOs to remember to put people first and tech second. 

Why Do So Many Blockchain Transformation Projects Fail? (Ask Matthew)

Welcome to a special edition of Chief Digital Heroes, where our host Matthew Van Niekerk answers the top questions our listeners have asked us. In today's episode, Matthew addresses "Why do so many Blockchain Transformation projects fail?"
When embarking upon a Blockchain Transformation, companies often hit a Blockchain Complexity Chasm. On one side is their blockchain aspiration, on the other side is potential gain, but there's no bridge to cross it — and common approaches like training internally or buying vertical solutions can often widen that chasm. The solution is a different approach that includes using a Blockchain Transformation Platform to help cross that chasm.
Would you like to have Matthew answer one of your questions in a future episode? Email Maria.Lopez@SettleMint.com with your question and a short summary of why you are looking for an answer! 

KBC's Dirk Hermans on Driving Blockchain Transformation Through Their New Bolero Crowdfunding Platform (Webinar Replay)

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, previously recorded as a webinar, Matthew speaks with Dirk Hermans, Innovation Manager, Blockchain Lead at KBC Bank & Verzekering. They discuss the drivers behind launching a new Bolero crowdfunding platform and how it sets the stage for tokenization growth in the future. They also talk about the ongoing initiatives of digital transformation, how digital leaders should evaluate new technologies, what problems KBC's Kate Coin solves, and the process for bringing innovation to the market.
 
Topics discussed:
 
The drivers behind launching a new Bolero crowdfunding platform, including new regulations, tokenization growth, and real-time payments.
The role of an innovation manager that includes watching trends, understanding the long-term impacts of technology, and business development.
How blockchain is like the internet in its inception, evolution, and impact, and how it’s different.
Advice for digital leaders adopting new technologies, including finding the unknown unknowns.
Today's trends to watch in addition to blockchain, including AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and personalization and identity.
Why digital transformation is like a treadmill, and how KBC has evolved from launching its mobile app 10 years ago.
KBC's process for bringing innovation to the market, including how individuals can pitch ideas.
The problems that KCB's Kate Coin solves around payments and liquidity. 

Bank of Georgia's Maia Gorgiladze on How Digital Products Drive Customer Engagement

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Maia Gorgiladze, Deputy Chief Digital Officer at Bank of Georgia. They discuss the role of a CDO in driving digital change, as well as what technologies the Bank of Georgia is employing for their digital transformation, like cloud, AI, and data analytics. They also talk about how AI can drive personalization and engagement, how gamification and chatbots are improving customer experiences, and the key skills that CDOs need for success.
 
Topics discussed:
 
A typical day for a CDO, including working with the team, meeting KPIs, boosting digital sales, and more.
How the Bank of Georgia is using technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and more.
How AI and ML enhance personalization efforts and drive better customer engagement.
How AI and ML can make internal processes more efficient, like fraud detection and feedback surveys.
The top three skills that will help CDOs find success in their careers.
How gamification and chatbots can improve customer experiences and make banking more fun. 

Absa Group's Rob Downes on the Blockchain Use Cases Transforming Banking

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Rob Downes, Head of Salesforce Platform and Digital Assets, CIB Africa at Absa Group. They discuss the catalyst that led Absa Group to experiment with blockchain, what use cases they're using blockchain for, and how the regulatory environment is becoming more supportive of blockchain. They also talk about top skills for digital leaders and the biggest challenges to digital transformation.
 
Topics discussed:
 
The two catalysts that led Absa Group to start experimenting with blockchain.
How the regulatory landscape in South Africa is becoming more supportive of blockchain experimentation.
Where Absa Group currently stands on its digital transformation and where it still needs to go.
How they're experimenting with generative AI, especially in development work.
The key skills for a digital leader, like being comfortable with disruption and change.
Why the biggest challenge to blockchain adoption is overcoming people's fear of change.
The different blockchain use cases that can transform banking, including stablecoins, tokenization, and investments. 
 

Commerz Global Service Solutions' Arne Graeber on Leading Digital Change with Automation and AI

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Arne Graeber, CEO/Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors at Commerz Global Service Solutions. They discuss the bank's current state of Digital Transformation, including how they've become a paperless office, how they're using AI to improve accuracy, and how ML is contributing to compliance. They also talk about how to navigate change through a clear strategy and how they're using an agile approach to release digital products.
 
Topics discussed:
 
A typical day for the CEO of a bank, and how it centers around empowering the management team and aligning everyone on initiatives.
How Commerz is evolving its Digital Transformation initiatives, starting with moving to a paperless office.
How smart automation is helping improve accuracy and free up employees for higher-value tasks.
How they're using AI and ML to detect customer patterns and drive compliance.
Why banks need a clear strategy around which trends to follow and an agile approach to rolling out new initiatives.
How new digital projects can create a better client experience and more scalability. 

POSB Zimbabwe's Loice Ngulube on Creating Sustainable and Impactful Digital Transformation Initiatives

In this episode of Chief Digital Heroes, Matthew speaks with Loice Ngulube, Chief Information Officer at POSB Zimbabwe. They discuss how the bank is evolving its digital transformation across operations and customer experiences, and how it involves tools, upskilling, and buy-in. They also talk about the new technologies improving banking, like blockchain, APIs, and AI, how POSB Zimbabwe is prioritizing sustainability, and why change management is a key skill to lead digital transformation.
 
Topics discussed:
 
The evolution of Loice's career, from starting as a nurse, to moving into business and computer science, to becoming CIO at the People's Own Savings Bank in Zimbabwe.
How POSB Zimbabwe is exacting their digital transformation, what tools they're using, and what customer touchpoints they're impacting.
How POSB Zimbabwe is fostering online and mobile banking to the extent where it gains 95% of its revenue through digital channels.
What new technologies are improving operations and customer experiences, including blockchain, open APIs, chatbots, AI, and more.
What top skills aspiring CIOs should possess, and why change management leadership is key to gaining buy-in for digital transformation.
The ways in which POSB Zimbabwe is prioritizing sustainability in their own operations, and how they're supporting customers and businesses that prioritize sustainability, too.