Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

Automation and digital technology aimed at improving financial services continues to impact the banking ecosystem. From mobile payments to digital lending and budgeting services, fintech and big tech providers are revolutionizing how consumers and businesses handle manage their financial relationships. These changes are happing faster than ever before and will never happen this slowly again. To get a perspective on the past and future winners of fintech applications and their impact on traditional banking, I am joined by my very good friend, Ron Shevlin. Ron is not only one of the foremost authorities on what is happening in the banking industry, he is also a personal mentor and one of the people who was most responsible for my professional transformation a decade ago.

After a record-breaking 2018, fintech investment activity continues strong in 2019, as new start-ups take aim at traditional banks and credit unions that are slow to update back offices, change outdated business models, embrace advanced analytics and keep up with consumer expectations. For a perspective on the changing fintech investment marketplace, we are joined by Dan Rosen, Founder and General Partner of Commerce Ventures, a VC firm focused on fintech, payments and commerce ecosystems.

Buying the right technology solution is only the beginning of the digital transformation journey. Organizations need onboarding support from solution providers to ensure the intended benefits of new technologies are realized. This entails looking beyond the technology, to include the vast human and cultural aspects of digital transformation. In this episode, we discuss how businesses can optimize the outcomes of their digital initiatives with the support of a customer success management process. I’m joined by Janine Sneed, Chief Digital Officer and VP of Customer Success at IBM. Janine shares how she has build a Customer Success Organization at IBM and how she has brought together multiple functions at IBM to help clients succeed. Janine also discusses her role in promoting internal career support for women and minorities at IBM, and how diversity in the workplace can become an organizational priority.

Digital transformation in banking cannot occur without rewiring back-office processes, including streamlining operations and integrating data sets. But the most important transformation that must occur is with the culture and leadership at traditional financial institutions.   A digital culture is customer-centric, with latitude given for employees to make decisions on behalf of the customer. A digital culture also supports creativity and innovation — again, on behalf of the customer.   To get a great perspective on how legacy banks must disrupt themselves, we spoke to Chris Skinner, best-selling author and one of the most sought after and respected financial services influencers. Chris discusses his recent research into the traditional financial institutions that are setting the pace for others to follow.

Organizations in all industries need a new operating model that puts the customer’s needs at the center of all digital transformation strategies. This can be achieved by redesigned customer journeys, new products and services, and the agile delivery of insights and contextual solutions across channels.   To better understand how legacy financial institutions can better position themselves against digital pure play organizations such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Alibaba, I sat down with Sophie Heller, Group Chief Operating Officer for Retail Banking at BNP Paribas. Sophie discusses the critical elements required to launch an integrated operating model organized around end-to-end experiences in an open banking environment.

Digital transformation is a challenge for organizations due to legacy infrastructure, internal silos, lack of a clear vision and resistance to change. Design thinking can help firms overcome many of these challenges, accelerating the transformation timeline. Done well, design thinking is a consumer-centric collaborative effort that can drive change internally and externally.   In this episode, we sat down with Alex Kreger and Monika Cālīte from UXDA to discuss how organizations can use design thinking and applied insights to improve internal processes, develop better products and services, maximize the impact of content and enhance the digital consumer experience.

The power of voice-based interactions has grown exponentially with the addition of always-on systems, combined with advanced analytics (AI), cloud-based computing and optimized multichannel delivery of insights. The voice-first paradigm will move beyond providing answers to questions – using data and insights to proactively provide insights and guidance that will simplify life for consumers.   In a voice-first world, advertising, commerce, payments and interacting with others around us will change dramatically. To get a perspective on the future of voice, we reached out to Brian Roemmele to discuss his vision of a highly personalized AI assistant that will keep data secure, while connecting to the outside world on an as needed basis to simplify a consumer's daily interactions.

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist, Steve Wozniak helped shape the computing industry by co-founding Apple Computer with Steve Jobs in 1976. Since leaving Apple in 1985, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer and technology education.   I had the unique opportunity to sit down with 'The Woz' as part of the Novathon innovation event in Budapest last week. The event, presented by the Italian bank, Instesa Sanpaolo featured Wozniak as well as other industry speakers including myself discussing digital transformation, innovation and competition in banking. In our interview, Steve discusses his personal life, his focus on education, recommendations for entrepreneurs, the state of innovation and his memories of Steve Jobs.

Digital disruption is impacting today's worker more than ever, with sociologists believing that today's worker will need to 'reinvent themselves' several times during a career in the future. While maintaining the status quo provides a temporary comfort zone, personal disruption can dramatically improve chances of finding financial, social, and emotional success. This personal transformation requires a new perspective.   In this episode, we discuss the importance of personal and professional growth with Brian Solis, digital anthropologist, global speaker and author of the new book, 'Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive and Happy Life'. Brian discusses his scientific findings, and provides insights that can help any person dissect where they are today, what could be holding them back, and how to be better positioned for long-term success and satisfaction.

Digital transformation is not as much about technology as it is about the leadership and cultural changes that are required to respond to a new business paradigm. In his latest book, The Algorithmic Leader, Mike Walsh shares insights and actionable strategies for leaders to make better decisions at a time of disruption. Mike is brilliant at challenging leaders in all industries to think and act differently than they have in the past. He understands the intersection of technology and human intelligence, and clearly defines what a winning organization will look like in the future.   As CEO of Tomorrow, Mike travels over 300 days a year researching trends, advising leaders and presenting keynote presentations to large and small groups. I had the pleasure of seeing Mike speak recently at an event, and his ability to synthesize the core principles of personal transformation that are needed for the future were both exciting and a bit unnerving. In this episode, Mike will discuss digital transformation, leadership

Every financial institution is looking for the next ‘big idea’ or ‘next generation’ digital app that will differentiate an organization by making banking easier and deployment of products and services less costly. With most banks and credit unions unable to build this type of digital capability internally, it is vital to be able to reach out to the largest possible number of creative thinkers. In banking, one way to accomplish this is through a pool of fintech firms who are working on behalf of a community of financial institutions to deliver custom solutions that can be deployed at scale.   For a perspective on this relatively new way for fintech firms and financial organizations to partner, we’re joined by Kris Kovacs, president and CEO of Constellation Digital Partners. Kris and his team have built an organization focused on open innovation solutions for traditional financial institutions. In this episode, Kris will discuss his organization’s mission and the benefits of open innovation for fintech firms,

Many people talk about digital transformation in financial services, but few have actually built a digital banking organization from the bottom up. What are the strategies and components of success? What are the challenges and barriers that can derail a digital transformation journey? And, why are so few traditional financial institutions able to effectively compete with new fintech firms and large techfin corporations?   In this episode, Sonia Wedrychowicz, previous head of digital transformation at both JP Morgan Chase and DBS Bank, shares how she helped build one of the most successful digital banks in less than a year. In addition to discussing the importance of a ‘digital culture’, she shares her perspective on agility, how to humanize a digital experience, and leadership lessons she learned on her path to becoming a black belt in kickboxing.

Mobile initiatives are aligning with emerging technologies to become the centerpiece of most enterprise-wide digital transformation efforts at banks and credit unions. The proliferation of mobile devices has moved mobile apps beyond a transactional entry point, with an increased emphasis being placed on creating exceptional customer experiences that boost productivity, loyalty and contextual engagement regardless of the device or operating system.   For a perspective on the changing dynamics of digital engagement and the importance of the mobile channel, Thomas Hogan, President of North America, Temenos, shares how organizations of all sizes can now build world-class mobile apps. He also discusses the importance of agility, mobile design and how a digital culture can enable the deployment of digital solutions at the pace of change.

It is imperative to build and maintain a customer-centric business during periods of digital transformation. To accomplish this, firms must focus on the customer experience, leveraging corporate culture, strategy, technology, and data analytics. Which firms are the best at being able to accomplish this objective? Which firms are failing to live up to customer expectations … and why? In this episode, world renowned bestselling author and customer experience guru Don Peppers shares his insights on what is needed to be a customer-focused leader in a digital world. He also looks back 25 years and discusses how the lessons from his first book, ‘The One to One Future’ still apply today.

Digital disruption is occurring globally, impacting not only the way products and services are consumed, but how they are marketed and delivered using modern technologies. The impact is felt in all industries, but especially in banking, where legacy systems and culture work counter to most transformation efforts. One of the biggest challenges is how these changes are impacting the future of work and the potential displacement of millions of workers due to automation, robots and the restructuring of organizations.   In this episode, Brett King, bestselling author, founder of neobank Moven, and host of the weekly radio show, Breaking Banks, discusses the threat of new competition in banking, some potential solutions, and the potential for global unrest caused by the impact of automation and new technologies.

The future of innovation is not defined by technology. Innovation is defined by doing something new and different that works. Organizations hoping to succeed in their digital transformation journey must avoid simply adding something new, and consider the elimination of old paradigms. In this episode, we interview Rohit Bhargava, Author and Professor of Global Marketing at Georgetown University about the importance of innovation and why so many organizations fail because of ‘innovation envy’, not looking outside their own industry or not applying data effectively.

Disney is a great example of an organization that has changed tremendously through the years, leveraging data and new technology without forgetting their legacy or relinquishing their brand. At a time when financial institutions are caught between legacy cultures and the demands of a digital consumer, Disney has found a way to integrate modern technology with a personalized human touch. They have accomplished this through strong leadership, innovation, an emphasis on hiring the right people, extensive training and some Disney ‘magic’. In this episode, we talk to Doug Lipp, consultant and author of the book, “Disney U” about the importance of building a digital culture from the inside-out, leveraging training and continuous reinforcement to encourage a magical mix of modern technology and human engagement.

The financial services industry has seen a great deal of disruption from digital-based alternatives. Many of these challengers use advanced technology and expanded data sets to offer apps that provide financial solutions at a lower cost, with less friction and greater personalization than traditional bank or credit union offerings. Toronto-based startup Flybits believes that the best way to compete in the future is not just by developing innovative products and services, but by becoming the repository of choice for data in addition to money.   In this episode, Hossein Rahnama, CEO and Co-Founder of Toronto-based Flybits, discusses how the future of financial services will be based on the ability of institutions to use contextualized insights to enrich consumers’ daily lives inside and outside of banking.

In this exclusive interview, Jeffrey Hayzlett, the former CMO of Kodak, discusses the importance of strong leadership, the need for a well-defined culture, and the risk of being passive when your industry is facing massive disruption.   Hayzlett challenges bank and credit union executives to examine their values and behaviors while aligning values with an organization’s overall mission. He also stresses the importance of embracing new technology and the need for leaders to not become passive.

In a digital world, consumers can acquire enough information about a product or service on a smartphone or online to make a purchase decision without ever asking a question of a customer service representative or walking into a physical store (branch).  Whether a consumer wants to buy a protein bar or new automobile, they can now leverage digital channels at each step of the customer decision journey, bypassing the traditional step-by-step sales funnel behavior.   In this exclusive interview, Abigail Posner, Director of Strategy for Google's Brand Unit, discusses the importance of having an in-depth understanding of consumers in the digital space and translating these insights into personalized strategies for creative and content development.