Searching for Mana with Lloyd Wahed

Julie Ashmore Dann (CEO, Rapid Cash at NatWest) sits down with Lloyd to talk about how her company is making loans simple for SMEs.After entering the industry as a remittance processor, Julie developed her expertise in small-business lending at such companies as Bibby Financial Services, HSBC and Growth Street. In January 2020, she joined Rapid Cash, which helps SMEs get loans in a matter of days rather than months.In this episode, Lloyd and Julie discuss the ways Rapid Cash has already helped companies weather pandemic-related crises before outlining the benefits of establishing fintechs at major financial institutions. Later they delve into Julie’s leadership experience, outlining the benefits of small, agile teams and sharing Julie’s lessons from a perilous polar expedition!Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:06:34: How Rapid Cash helped small businesses get the money they needed to make PPE during the pandemic16:15: Why customers need increased choice of SME loans during COVID-1925:00: The future of work: why smaller teams will place a greater emphasis on the customer experience34:20: How banking became more entrepreneurial over Julie's career41:23: How Julie remains ridiculously optimistic in trying times45:27: Career paths: rapid rises vs sustained success54:00: The hardest moment Julie faced on her South Pole expedition and how she overcame it

Michael Brown (Senior Market Analyst, Caxton FX) joins Lloyd for a special Thursday episode tackling the latest economic developments in the UK.Since joining Caxton FX in 2016, Michael has shown an impressive knack for predicting developments in the foreign exchange markets. In this episode, he shares why traders are bracing for a no-deal Brexit and tells us which currencies to invest in for Q4 2020. Plus, Michael warns us about of COVID-related economic shocks, a W-shaped recovery for the housing market and the dangers of negative interest rates at the Bank of England.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedInEpisode Highlights:02:43: Why traders now predict a no-deal Brexit.04:19: Don’t go below zero: predicting the Bank of England rate cut08:55: Can the UK control a second wave of COVID-19?11:20: The hot currencies traders should invest in for Q4 202013:44: Michael's biggest economic fear15:40: Taxing big tech giants: should the UK do it?17:25: How did Michael form his passion for economics?20:48: Why Michael didn't go to university24:32: How AI can (and can't) improve foreign exchange30:22: Michael’s big advice for forex traders

Richard Davies (CEO of Allica Bank, Non-Executive Director at Revolut) joins Lloyd to discuss the state of SME lending post-COVID and what it takes to succeed at the UK’s biggest fintechs.And he should know. Throughout his career, Richard has moved seamlessly between major incumbent banks and innovative digital challengers. He served as a Managing Director at Barclays and as COO at HSBC, but he has also thrived as a banking CEO at both OakNorth and Revolut. Recently, Richard took the first step on the next bold phase in his career: launching Allica Bank, a digital challenger that hopes to disrupt the underserved world of SME lending.In this episode, Richard and Lloyd talk about Richard’s path from tree surgeon to executive at Europe’s fastest growing fintech, as well as the importance of achieving both scale and profitability. Plus, they tackle the big question: are salary deposits the best sign of success amongst digital challengers? Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:02:20: Explaining SME lending and the issues incumbents face in this sector10:22: From tree surgery to KPMG: how Richard got into banking21:50: Do you have to drive a Jaguar to succeed in banking?29:22: Richard's experience with Revolut32:05: Why profitability has become catnip for investors37:26: The traits you need to thrive at the UK’s biggest fintechs40:15: Revolut as super app: why getting salary payments is no longer objective number one.52:48: Fixing the UK post-COVID and Brexit: what Richard wants to do with Allica.

Gregory Pastore sits down with Lloyd and tells us how financial consultancies are preparing big banks for upcoming changes to global regulations.After building up impressive experience with a major US bank (JP Morgan) and a Big Four consultancy (EY), Greg has made waves as Baringa’s Director Finance, Risk and Compliance. He tells Lloyd about the company’s game-changing work on climate risk, why major banks need to work collaboratively and why regulators need to adopt commercial mindsets. Plus, he fills us in on why working abroad can help senior level managers advance faster and shares the one soft skill he looks for when hiring.Follow Mana Search on TwitterFollow Mana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:08:05: Why outside teams offer better regulatory recommendations than their in-house counterparts15:40: How Baringa is changing the game on climate change risk exposure20:30: The secret to Greg's success: applying a commercial mindset to regulation29:00: Why big banks need to work together to survive global regulatory change35:00: The regulatory potential of blockchain technology45:05: The one trait Greg looks for in a candidate53:50: The final frontier: what promise does space hold?

Drs Beatriz Carrillo Garcia and Vivianna Rodriguez Carreon talk to Lloyd and Mana Search Co-Founder Mimi Nguyen about the hidden factors in great leadership!Since collaborating at the University of Sydney, Beatriz and Vivianna have used their Theory U framework for measuring and imparting leadership skills in students. Joining us from Australia, the duo explains how to prevent personality clashes in interdisciplinary teams, the benefits of mindfulness at work and how team members can overcome vulnerability to communicate effectively.The conversation also turns to employee engagement and why the best leaders are master psychologists. And it all concludes with a chat about the key takeaways from working through COVID-19!Mana Search on TwitterMana Search on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:02:00: Beatriz and Vivianna discuss their credentials and research06:43: How Theory U instills key leadership skills16:20: Tolerating different ways of working in interdisciplinary teams26:20: The ways in which leaders create productive environments30:55: Why safe spaces are the key to effective collaboration41:30: How much time should be spent in meetings?51:00: Keeping employees motivated and engaged with their work56:45: Why companies can’t take a top-down approach to their values.1:03:55: How to enact change in large organisations01:09:00: Creating optimal working conditions during COVID-19

Design: it’s a fundamental way for companies to understand their end users’ needs. Jyothish Nair understands this better than anyone. A VP and associate partner at McKinsey, Jyo has been helping clients create optimal physical, digital and spatial experiences for over two decades.Sitting down with Lloyd and Mana Search Co-Founder Mimi Nguyen, Jyo tells us about his journey with McKinsey, whether it’s better to have four specialists or four jacks-of-all-trades, and why designers need to turn in work quickly while developing other skills. Plus, he digs into ethnography’s significance in crafting effective user experiences and shares how the Big Four consultancies are still succeeding without working on-site.Check out Jyo’s graphic novel project hereMana Search on TwitterMana Search on LinkedInEpisode Highlights:07:13: How companies can use design to understand customers’ needs15:13: Why Monzo succeeded and Pingit didn’t20:00: Are small teams inherently better for fostering disruption?25:00: Why designers need to strike a balance between iteration and other skills33:20: Repercussions of scale: how designers can take on an adoption mindset41:16: Ethnography and its importance in the design process48:40: How design can help alleviate fears around COVID-1954:45: How the Big Four are adjusting to remote working

On a special edition of Searching for Mana, Lloyd chats with Nicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes. After serving for over a decade in Parliament – a term that included cabinet positions as Education Secretary, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture Media and Sport, and more – Nicky earned peerage in January 2020.In a wide-ranging chat that touches on politics, education and leadership, Lloyd and Nicky talk about achieving optimal performance, the frustrations of being and MP and the ways in which young people are still limited in their career options. Plus, Nicky tells us about the two types of people you meet in politics and divulges the “mana” of such notable leaders as David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.Mana Search on TwitterMana Search on LinkedInNicky on TwitterNicky on LinkedInThe books Nicky mentioned on the show:The Age of Surveillance CapitalismTaught Not Caught  Episode Highlights:05:00: Why politics is a 24/7/365 job.15:00: Nicky describes the superpowers of colleagues such as David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.23:40: The problem with careers – why too much still depends on who you know.36:45: What’s the answer to massive student debt?44:19: Why students need better career counselling prior to university.54:30: What are Nicky’s three main career drivers?01:00:00: The promise of UK FinTech.

This week, Binance UK Director Teana Baker-Taylor joins Lloyd for an enlightening chat about career progression, crypto and so much more! A financial veteran with over 20 years’ experience at companies like HSBC, Global Digital Finance and Coinfloor, Teana offers incredible insight into both blockchain and financial services in general.Touching on everything from the importance of community building to tokenisation’s potential for financial inclusion, Teana and Lloyd talk everything crypto has to offer. Then they dig into Teana’s career to provide crucial advice: how to forge your own career path, how to take feedback effectively, how to find the right mentor and other valuable lessons!Episode Highlights:06:10: Teana walks us through her experience with big banks.10:50: How Binance offers a customer-centric approach to blockchain.16:40: Why crypto companies need to deliver on the promise of tokenisation.24:55: Teana shares her vision of the future of crypto.32:10: How Binance contributes to the growth of the crypto asset community.39:50: Why it’s crucial to bring your authentic self to work.44:10: Teana’s tips for finding the right mentor.

On this episode, Lloyd sits down with Joseph George, Managing Director and Partner at Dufrain. In his work with both Dufrain and Deloitte, Joseph has worked with major financial institutions such as Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, JPMorgan and more. Earlier this year, DataIQ named him one of the UK’s most influential people in data and analytics.In a wide ranging discussion, Lloyd and Joseph talk about the role education plays in career advancement, why mechanical engineering is a great specialty for future managers, and why FinTech companies are so exciting right now. Plus, Joseph shares his best advice for young professionals and tells us why the consultancies of the future will need to prioritise culture.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a review! And don’t forget to follow us on social media:Mana Search on TwitterMana Search on LinkedInJoseph George on LinkedIn Episode Highlights:[08:11] Joseph outlines how his cultural background instilled the importance of education from an early age.[18:38] How mechanical engineering preps professionals for management roles.[26:30] Why Joseph came to study in the UK rather than the US.[33:30] The best advice Joseph ever got in university.[44:10] Why experience is more important than education in the UK.[54:25] How the significance of data caused Joseph to jump from Deloitte to Dufrain.[01:02:15] Why culture is the future for financial consultancies.[01:14:50] How the financial services industry embraced data, and why SMEs are just catching up.[01:25:25] Why FinTech companies are so exciting for Joseph right now.[01:28:30] Joseph’s tips for young professionals.

This week, Lloyd chats with Dr Karen Elliott, a Senior Lecturer in Enterprise/Innovation at Newcastle University. Karen was voted one of Innovate Finance’s #Standout 35 Women in FinTech, and in 2018, she and her colleagues earned a £1.2-million grant to help Atom Bank elevate its FinTech services. In this interview, Lloyd and Karen discuss the future of work, why a strong sense of purpose is the best incentive in the FinTech space, and the unexpected challenges facing emotionally intelligent bots. Plus: how can we stop the next Wirecard before it happens, breaking down the divide between academia and business, and so much more.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a review! And don’t forget to follow Mana Search on Twitter and LinkedIn.To learn more about the study Lloyd discusses at 21:45, click here: https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-winsShow Notes:[02:10] Karen walks us through her experience and credentials.[13:40] Explaining the theory of trust.[23:40] Why working collectively makes leaders better.[31:25] AI’s blackbox issue: if complex machine learning systems can’t be explained, how do we get consumers to trust them?[35:45] Why consumers don’t always want emotionally intelligent bots.[53:32] Karen tells us why we don’t see more collaboration between academia and business.[01:05:16] Which courses can help students get ahead in FinTech?