THE FINTECH INTERVIEW
That can be very painful – particularly in an area that is scaling fast . It ’ s also about getting the balance right between operational excellence and resilience topics which can be expensive and time-consuming . The benefit is invisible to customers until the moment that they need it , right ? It ’ s an insurance policy so I think getting that balance right is tricky .
Q . WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED ?
» Early on in my career , I ended up becoming a manager in my first 100 days . My boss at the time was an interesting guy and said to me : “ There are two characteristics of people that you want reporting to you . Someone who wants your job , and probably somebody capable of taking your job .”
So I ’ ve learned that when building a leadership team , it ’ s important to have people who are smart , challenging , creative , and have no obvious power gap . You have more robust conversations . It ’ s critical to have the strongest , most powerful people you can around your table , even if they make you nervous . That ’ s key .
Q . IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH 3 OTHER PEOPLE , WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY ?
» That ’ s tough . In a sticky situation , it ’ s about who are the people you want on your team to help you deal with something , so really about characteristics .
Q . DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS
Energetic , inventive , forwardthinking – is that three words ?!
I would want people who are clever and creative and think on their feet . And people who have an exceptional understanding of science because they are practical and crafty . I would also want a spectacular artist to keep everyone inspired and entertained .
Q . WHAT WAS YOUR DREAM JOB AS A CHILD ? HOW FAR AWAY IS WHAT YOU DO NOW FROM THAT INITIAL CHILDHOOD DREAM ?
» It was very clear to me when I was five years old that I wanted to become an ambulance driver . I grew up in New York City . And of course , traffic is terrible in Manhattan .
Ambulance drivers could turn on the sirens , turn on the lights , and then they got to go speeding through the streets of Manhattan . And everybody moved out of their way . Nobody moved out of the way for anybody else . And I just thought that was just so cool . It was like they had superpowers . So , when I was five years old , my Halloween costume was an ambulance driver !
Q . WHAT WOULD YOUR LAST MEAL BE IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ?
» Something Indian , spicy , and vegetarian . Tarka Dahl ?
24 November 2023