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Articles by Unconventional Ventures
Red pen or black pen? Finding authentic dialogue in the age of AI
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Humanising AI: why the future of banking must put people first
In the race to adopt and advance artificial intelligence (AI), it’s easy to get caught up in the technological capabilities and buzzword bingo and lose sight of what truly matters: the impact on humans and our everyday lives. As financial institutions worldwide rush to implement AI solutions, we must pause to ask ourselves: are we building technology that serves all of humanity, or just a privileged few? And what do we stand to lose if we are not careful?
Out with the old, in with the new
As we kick off 2025, what words should we banish for this year, I wonder? Personally, I am over the word transformation. Bruh, haven’t we transformed enough in the past decade? It feels like an overused word fit for over-promised money pits. For my first FinTech Futures column of the year, I thought it’d be fun to ask some of my colleagues from across the fintech space which words they would like to see banished from the industry in 2025.
Sibos 2024: AI and the human-centric future of financial services
When we think about the future, what do we typically think about? Flying cars that allow us to zip around the city and through traffic? Virtual worlds that enable us to connect and collaborate regardless of where we are? A data-led workplace where autonomous AI agents handle the mundane tasks and make decisions for us? Or an algorithm-led life where every aspect of our journey is optimised? Whichever version of the future we visualise, money is one common thread that runs throughout all of them.
Building a community from data
What is a community and what makes it unique? When we think about community, what characteristics do we typically think about? A group of people who live in the same neighbourhood? Those who are bonded over religious beliefs? Individuals who are in the same profession? Or people who share a common cultural background? But more importantly, how do we serve them (and serve them well) as our society continues to evolve at such a fast pace?
I am speaking now
“Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now.” The recent viral clip of US Vice President Kamala Harris addressing the crowd at a rally in Michigan reminded me of her debate with then Vice President Mike Pence in 2020. After being interrupted multiple times by Pence, Harris simply said: “Mr Vice President, I am speaking.” Many of us are no stranger to being interrupted or talked over, especially in our industry where men’s voices still dominate at the executive level and at networking events.
Invisible threads: The unassuming tech powering our lives
After a last-minute decision to sprint up ‘The Peak’ in Hong Kong last week, I paused to take in the views of the sunset and the glimmering night lights. It always fascinates me how much greenery the tiny city of Hong Kong packs in, and the eclectic mix of cultures and traditions that the city has to offer. On my way down, I thought about the amount of tech that must be working in the background to keep the city functioning.
We are all living on borrowed time
As I am slowly recovering from a whirlwind week in London, my mind was reliving a recent dinner conversation with my dear friend Dharmesh Mistry, where we talked about hopes, dreams, and purpose. With the limited resources that we have and the limited time that we are given, what we choose to do with it and who we choose to spend it with matters. We are all living on borrowed time. But for some, they don’t have the luxury to wait – their time is up.
AI as the new frontier: empowering credit unions for future growth
Deposit growth is vital for financial institutions, and especially for credit unions, which are non-profit financial institutions that accept deposits and extend credit for their communities, in addition to providing other community-focused functions. As of the end of 2023, there were 4,604 federally insured credit unions in the USA with 139.3 million members, according to figures from the National Credit Union Administration.
Cultures have no borders
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The 2020 US Census revealed around 20 million people in the country identified as Asian, and with ancestries spanning 75 ethnic and national groups and more than 100 languages spoken, AANHPI is far from being a monolithic group.
Human connection in the age of AI
I was waiting for a flight the other day and I heard someone saying: “We need to put some GenAI in there!” The image of Tom Cruise shouting “Show me the money” in Jerry Maguire immediately flashed across my mind. We have reached peak AI frenzy. Not a day goes by without some company announcing a sprinkle of AI magic in their product offering. While much of this is likely driven by Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), we can’t deny the potential of where the technology can take us. And it’s captivating.
How do we protect humans and their data in the wake of AI? | Pay it Forward with Theodora Lau
In this edition of the Pay it Forward podcast hosted by payabl. we speak to Theodora Lau, fintech author, thought leader and founder of Unconventional Ventures. This fascinating conversation unpacks the impact of AI on the finance industry and the importance of considering pathways for human workers in the wake of its popularisation.
Forget the accolades and the pleasantries and pay us
Another year. Another March. Another International Women’s Day full of accolades, with organisations showcasing their talented women executives. So much so that it makes you wonder, why only one day? (And for those of you who wonder out loud, 19 November is International Men’s Day.) This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “inspire inclusion”. The official marketing website reads: “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.
When goals become aspirations, where does that leave us?
The Financial Times reported in January that PwC had dropped its commitment to allocate 40% of procurement spending to minority-owned suppliers in its latest diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) report as a result of the shifting legal landscape in the US following a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions last year.
IoT, 5G, and fiber
This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T Business’s positions or strategies. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been garnering much attention lately and is causing business leaders to contemplate the future of AI in business and what its considerations may be. AI chatbots and various generative AI tools have upended the way we work and how we live.
If 2023 was the year of AI hype, will 2024 be the year of AI governance and responsibility?
We ended 2023 with AI dominating our headlines. And as we begin the new year, the AI story continues. The recent CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas was a great example, where practically everything got an AI label, from pillows and mirrors to vacuum cleaners and washing machines. I thought smart toothbrushes from a few years ago were silly enough. Little did I know that would be nothing compared to what we’ve experienced in the past 12 months.
Building a world for the 99%
Rather than catering to the top 1%, what if the world was built with the needs of the other 99% of the global population in mind? Where ordinary citizens and small business owners, regardless of how much assets they own and where they are from, can have access to fair and affordable financial services, along with tools that enable them to go after their dreams beyond borders.
Are we AI ready?
Does Australia exist? That question sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Apparently though, it is debatable, depending on who you ask and how. All is well if you were to type the question in a regular Google search. But, as The Guardian reported last week, if you were to pose the question via Bing, it would respond differently.
Can you seek out the line that we cannot see?
It’s not International Women’s Day. And that’s precisely the point. There are no shades of pink for brands to overlay their logos with. There are no outstanding women leader lists for publications to profile. There are no how-to guides to show you how to hustle and have it all. There are no high-fives and inspirational speeches that end with “you’ve got this”. There are no exceptional women in tech panels to recognise women for their outstanding achievements.
What we don’t dare talk about
There are often a lot of things that are said and discussed on stage at every fintech conference — from embedded finance and generative AI to the future of banking and lending. But what about the things that are not said — perhaps topics that are considered taboo — on stage or off? Recently, at a dinner with a few friends, we ended up on the topic of menopause. You see, I’ll be hitting 50 soon. During my annual check-up, my doctor handed me a pamphlet titled “A Guide to Menopause”.
Sibos 2023: Empathy and AI - banking’s duty of care
What happens when all aspects of our lives are optimised and automated? When our next moves are predicted by faceless algorithms? And when that privilege is accessible only to a select few, what then will become of our society — and humanity? Take a moment and think about our day-to-day lives. What we read from social media sites and news apps is often dictated by what the algorithms think will resonate with us. Have you ever clicked on a cat video, and suddenly you see cat videos everywhere?
It’s beyond time for a new future of aging
I will let you in on a secret. Are you ready? Here it is: we are getting older. That’s it. That’s the secret. “That’s absurd,” you might say. “Of course we’re getting older. I’m counting down to retirement,” you might say. I will be 50 this year! I’m half a century old (that’s what my daughter said about my upcoming birthday). But do you know what one of my colleagues used to tell me? “We all get older the minute we’re born, Theo.” And she is right.
You’ve checked the DEI box. Now what?
Seeing a recent picture of tech executives making volunteer AI safety and transparency pledges at the White House made me pause for a moment. Not just because they are making ‘voluntary commitments’, which we all know are nothing but words and will evaporate into thin air as soon as they collide with the ability to drive profits. But more so because that picture demonstrates the exact challenge that we have in society today: a team of all-male leaders at the decision-making table.
On the evolution of work
In a world where everyone is demanding more of our time and apps are all vying for our attention while tracking our clicks and actions, how do we set boundaries? If technology is supposed to help us become more efficient and have more control over our lives, why do we feel more exhausted and stressed than ever before? Think about how much our work culture has shifted over the past few years.
The trust that binds us
What happens when you can no longer believe what you see nor what you hear? What happens when all the data on our personal and professional lives becomes nothing but input for algorithms to freely consume and exploit? When machines claim ownership of our creations, our thoughts, and beyond? When corporates and tech overlords release the beasts with no regard about the potentially dangerous repercussions on humanity?
The Benefits of Cloud Adoption in Financial Services
This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T Business’s positions or strategies. Despite a slow start, migration to the cloud has gained momentum in recent years. According to Gartner, the public cloud market is projected to grow to just under $600 billion worldwide in 2023, an increase from $490 billion in 20221. As organizations continue to invest in and upgrade their infrastructure, moving to the cloud is no longer optional.
The future of work is a story of data and empathy
According to the World Economic Forum, technology adoption will remain a key driver of business transformation in the next five years. This is to be expected. After all, even within the highly regulated financial services industry that is often deemed slow to react to changes, we have seen acceleration of digital transformation in the past few years.
Internet of Things (IoT) In Retail – AT&T Business
This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T Business’s positions or strategies. The proliferation of digital payments and the Internet of Things (IoT) in retail has opened up a whole new market: Data. The ways data is being created, collected, used, and operationalized across the industry are leading to a revolution in how retailers are meeting their customer needs.
A tale of two worlds
According to the US Census Bureau, in 2021, 37.9 million Americans lived in poverty. That’s about 11.6% of the country’s population, and sadly, it’s about the same level of poverty compared to 50 years ago. “While Covid might be in our rear view, the lines at our local food pantries certainly haven’t subsided.” Those were the sentiments echoed in a recent New York Times interview by Justin Brannan, chair of New York City Council’s Finance Committee.
Unconventional Ventures - Theodora Lau - Finovate Europe 2023
At Finovate Europe 2023 in London, we caught up with Theodora Lau, the founder of Unconventional Ventures. Unconventional Ventures provides boutique consulting services to drive innovation and improve systematic financial wellness. “A large theme of what we do is around financial inclusion, and that extends beyond what we typically think about the banked and unbanked.
ChatGPT and generative AI - what does banking have to do with it?
Not a day goes by that we don’t hear something about generative AI. Ready or not, the genie is out of the bottle and there is no going back. From digital art and journalism to gaming and marketing tech, every industry is being disrupted. Open AI’s ChatGPT, in particular, stole the limelight after it was revealed that CNET has been experimenting with the tech and publishing articles — some reportedly riddled with errors — written by the bot for months.
Reasons to be hopeful for 2023
2022 was a challenging year to say the least. War in Ukraine. Record inflation. Fuel poverty. Massive layoffs. It felt as if life was gleefully throwing curveballs at us. But perhaps, the universe has a plan hiding in plain sight. And if we watch closely, we might even notice the glimmers of hope that are just around the corner.
My dollars matter
“My dollars matter.” Those were the words spoken by a Mississippi resident in a short film produced by the Financial Times recently on how US bank branch closures widen social inequality. Bank branch closures are nothing new and the trend has been accelerating in recent years. As of Q3 2022, there are now 4,157 FDIC-insured commercial banks in the US, compared to over 8,000 in 2000. However, the closures have disproportionately impacted the disadvantaged communities.
The empathy deficit
“I feel numb.” That’s something I hear again and again. When breaking news is always just a tweet or a push notification away. When we are bombarded by an endless news cycle that seems to get more depressing by the day. When emotions run so deep that we don’t know how to react. Turning numb might be the only thing that we can feel. A self-defense mechanism to help us cope.
Technology is Creating the Future of Hospitality
This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent positions or strategies of AT&T Business. Imagine getting off the plane after a long journey. As you approach the hotel, you receive a notification on your mobile phone that an upgraded room has been prepared for you. And as you walk into the hotel, you skip the check-in counter and head up directly to the designated guest room, using the digital key on the hotel mobile app.
Digital Transformation in Finance Improves Banking Experience
This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent positions or strategies of AT&T Business. From the early days of ATM to automatic bill payments and voice banking, technology has added tremendous value as consumers navigate increasingly complex financial lives. The pace of digital adoption has accelerated in recent years and has impacted every banking office—front, middle, and back.
Theodora Lau says ENOUGH with the excuses! Why Fintech Needs Female Founders
Funding for female founders is at a dismal low. Author and fintech founder of Unconventional Ventures, Theodora Lau talks to FF News about the industry’s lackluster funding culture and why the economy will thrive if we paid more attention to women and underrepresented professionals. Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures, takes us through her experience of ageism and opportunity within the market.
Being an entrepreneur: from A to Z Original
People often ask, how did you end up doing what you do? Truth be told, it was not a straightforward path, and I certainly didn’t wake up one day and decide that I would leave the safety and comfort of corporate life and venture into the wild. It’s easy to start a company, but it’s much harder to sustain it. Life can be so full of surprises that sometimes, just sometimes, you wonder out loud: Why am I doing this? Do I have what it takes? But you are not alone.
Fintech Finance Podcasts: The FF Salon Pilot with Theodora Lau
Retirement Decumulation is the new Accumulation. Although most of us have been raised to focus on the Accumulation of money, assets and experiences over the course of our lives, there’s an increasing shift to focus on Decumulation as our population ages. But what do banks think about it? In this episode of the FF Salon Series, Theodora Lau, founder of Unconventional Ventures, takes us through her experience of ageism and opportunity within the market.
Sibos 2022: Food, shelter, water - what does banking have to do with it? Original
The idea of progress is the belief that human society gets better and better over time. But it’s hard to think about progress when we are facing unprecedented crisis after crisis. What can leaders do during such turbulent times? How can we instil hope and trust in an increasingly polarised society? The world is at a critical juncture Food, shelter, and water are barebone necessities for one’s survival.
We were all beginners once
Firsts are always memorable moments. Remember the excitement when your work was first published or when you were quoted by the reporter you admired? Remember that butterfly feeling when your expertise was first recognised and when you saw your name on the speaker list at a conference? The fire. The passion. You were on cloud nine. Of course, you were already an expert before someone approached you. But it’s always nice that someone acknowledges it, isn’t it? That very first chance.
Just do it? - FinTech Futures Original
Have you ever wondered how millionaires are born? By pure luck? By grit, as many in the start-up world would say? Or simply by making smart decisions with your retirement plans, as I have heard from a wealth manager recently? It is easy enough, they say. Just max out your 401(k) and take advantage of the matching contributions that your employer offers. Just like that. That’s how most Americans become millionaires. At least according to the wealth manager.
Digital makes the world go round: a reflection Original
Regardless of what form money takes, throughout history, money has enabled the development of social and economic systems in different civilizations. It allows us to trade goods and services and enables us to make plans and save for the future. As the saying goes, money makes the world go round.
The next frontier in global payments goes beyond borders Original
One of the more interesting innovations within fintech to watch has been the technology that connects consumers to merchants. The use of mobile wallets at point of sale (POS), as well as online and mobile commerce interactions, has skyrocketed as consumer behavior has evolved. The use of super-apps and QR-code-driven payments, especially across Asia and South Asia, has added fuel to this fire in the shift toward digital.
It’s time to put our heart back into our ecosystem - and build what matters
Having access to employment, being able to buy and sell goods and services, creating and leveraging savings over time – along with the ability to move money, store money, access credit, and invest – these are all modern-day financial activities that many of us come to expect and often take for granted.
Microsoft Financial Services Summit
Empowering the bank of the future Register Enabling the capital markets firm of the future Register Building the Intelligent Insurer Register Host: Luke Thomas Managing Director, US Banking and Financial Providers, Microsoft Host: Sháka Rasheed Managing Director, General Manager of Capital Markets, Microsoft Host: Ben Narey Managing Director, Business Applications, Microsoft Event highlights: Indivar Khosla and acclaimed author Michael Lewis discuss the major disruptions affecting the industry.
Under the seven minute influence
Photo (Handel Architects) By Theodora Lau and Bradley Leimer Thirteen years ago, on a small stage in New York City, the inauguration of a new type of event changed the financial services landscape — and many of our lives with it — forever. It was the first time that startups, investors, technologists, analysts, and bankers, were focused on a single stage, albeit seeing the gaze of its lens in a very different light.
Outside is America
Image credit: Jayma Leavengood by Bradley Leimer, Co-Founder of Unconventional Ventures I watched the very moving memorial services for George Floyd today. If you haven’t seen any part of it, I encourage you to give attention to the words of Reverend Al Sharpton. America is burning, and like most of you, I have a lot of thoughts on my mind. I shared some of them this week on our One Vision podcast (iTunes, Spotify, All Players), and I have some more thoughts below.
Heist for bytes
Published on December 6, 2019December 6, 2019 • 2 Likes • 0 Comments Theodora LauFollow Founder at Unconventional Ventures | Podcast host | Startup advisor | Public speaker | Writer Cybersecurity’s impact on financial services 2019 has been a banner year for cybersecurity incidents, with hackers targeting various state and local governments as well as private corporations. According to Varonis, hackers attack every 39 seconds, on average, 2244 times a day.
Moving Hearts and Minds to Action
Published on September 25, 2019September 25, 2019 • 18 Likes • 0 Comments Bradley LeimerFollow Co-Founder, Unconventional Ventures | Startup Advisor, Investor | Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host | Let’s #makebankingbetter 🙋♂️ In this week’s podcast, we talked to Kosta Peric, Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation about their new open source payments platform, Mojaloop, and the different ways they are focused on meeting the financial services...
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