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In this episode, author Daniel Trabucchi joins host Paolo Sironi to explore strategies for legacy companies to embrace platform business models amid dominance by tech-native giants. Drawing from his book The Digital Phoenix Effect, he outlines a pragmatic approach for traditional firms to foster innovation through platform thinking, preserving core strengths like customers, suppliers, data, and expertise. Unlike startup-focused literature, this conversation emphasizes internal transformation in established organizations, blending academic rigor with practical insights from Thinkers50-recognized experts. Ideal for leaders seeking sustainable, networked value creation without radical overhauls. LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-trabucchi-a7891566 https://www.linkedin.com/in/buganza TWITTER @DanielTrabucchi @polimi

In this episode, Paolo Sironi dives into “Beyond Resilience: Patterns of Success in Fintech and Digital Transformation” with author Leda Glyptis. At the heart of the conversation are probing questions: Is success in fintech truly pattern-based? Can the journey of building new banks or digital services, whether from scratch or within established organizations, be predictable enough to replicate? And if patterns exist, are they within our reach to emulate? Drawing from candid interviews with leading fintech entrepreneurs and innovators, Leda uncovers the raw realities of creating groundbreaking ventures. This isn’t a glorified montage of founder grit set to triumphant anthems, nor a collection of polished vendor success stories that skim the surface. Instead, it’s an honest exploration of the messiness: the lessons learned, the inevitable mistakes, the constant course-corrections, and the profound personal and professional growth required. Leading fintech transformations demands more than sheer resilience: it’s about wielding control amid chaos, maintaining unwavering consistency and integrity, and standing firm, whether solo or with a team. Join us in this conversation,  perfect for entrepreneurs, innovators, and anyone navigating digital change. LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/leda-glyptis-phd-272492 TWITTER https://twitter.com/LedaGlyptis

In this episode, Paolo Sironi interviews Aiden McCullen to explore his book UNDISRIPTABLE, a book that brings order to the chaos we are experiencing in personal and corporate lofe to the acceleration of the innovation life cycle. While we cannot see into the future, there are repeatable patterns we can understand learning from homo sapiens to CEOs, from hunters to the jelly fish as a way to master the infinite loop of reinvention. Aiden demystifies the principles of change through a blend of analogies, innovation frameworks and the challenges we face whenever we lead change at a personal or organizational level. LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-innovation-show/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/the_innovation_show/ TWITTER https://x.com/AidanMcCullen https://x.com/TheInnoShow

In this episode, Paolo Sironi interviews April Rudin and Nick Rice to explore their new book Wealth Management with a Difference, an essential guide for advisors and firms navigating an era of unprecedented wealth transfer, where millennials, Gen Z, and women are poised to inherit trillions while technology revolutionizes financial services. From understanding demographic trends, like serving tech-savvy younger clients and empowered women, to mastering retirement planning, wealthtech tools, and digital marketing, April and Nick explore how to build deeper connections between wealth managers and clients and how to drive business efficiency. Whether you’re an advisor seeking to elevate client engagement or a firm leader aiming for sustainable growth, this conversation provides actionable frameworks to thrive amid disruption. LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilrudin/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-rice-028b1948/ INSTAGRAM @aprilrudin @brunswickgroup TWITTER @TheRudinGroup @BrunswickGroup

In this episode, Paolo Sironi interviews Ritavan to explore his book Data Impact: How legacy businesses Save, Leverage, Align, Simplify, Optimize, and Grow to WIN. The SLASOG framework is a methodology designed to empower non-digital native businesses in harnessing their unique strengths for scalable, data-driven growth. Drawing from first-principles and empirically validated strategies, they discuss actionable insights to align teams on value creation, streamline processes, and accelerate innovation. You will gain practical guidance on: avoiding expensive groupthink pitfalls to save costs and enhance decision-making; identifying and capitalizing on core strengths and high-impact opportunities; fostering alignment across people, processes, and goals for unified progress; simplifying operations to reduce complexity costs while boosting leveraged returns: optimizing learning through empirical evidence for measurable impact; and cultivating an abundance mindset to drive demand-focused expansion and overcome scarcity thinking. Paolo’s and Ritavan’s conversation demystifies data-driven transformation and equips leaders with tools for sustainable success. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA https://slasog.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rritavan/ https://mavenmaverick.substack.com/

In this episode, Paolo Sironi interviews Sangeet Paul Choudary, author of Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy. They discuss how AI is set to transform the global economy and company operations by redistributing power among key players. Sangeet’s research delves into four central tensions: workers versus their software tools, tool providers versus the companies that purchase them, consolidating businesses versus the industries they disrupt, and empowered individuals versus established incumbents. Drawing on compelling examples, historical parallels, and innovative perspectives, this conversation uncoves the opportunities and challenges AI presents—and reveals who stands to succeed or struggle in this reshuffled landscape. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Sangeet Choudary – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeetpaul/

In this episode, Paolo Sironi interviews Kevin Govender, author of “The Rise of the Sharing Economy”. Together, they discuss the sharing economy—a concept that Time magazine named one of the “Ten ideas that will change the world” in 2011, and which has since grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Kevin breaks down the evolution of sharing platforms, key consumer trends, and alternative business models. These insights empower us to view access as a powerful cultural and socio-economic force that creates savings in time, money, and space. Filled with real-world business examples, the conversation reveals how the sharing economy is fundamentally transforming the way we live, work, learn, and consume. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Kevin Govender – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevingovender/

In this episode, Paolo Sironi sits down with Rik Coeckelbergs, author of “A New Ethos in Banking”. They discuss how change is impacting banking and the industry’s reputation, exploring what a new ethos in banking should look like, and, more importantly, the needed contributions from the industry to the road ahead. Rik’s book guides decision-makers in a new direction, a positive alternative to the status quo. It’s an urgent call to action, with practical and relevant insights to improve a bank’s societal footprint beyond the required compliance and regulatory efforts into sustainability, transparency, and ethics in banking. This conversation will inspire those that look for successful stakeholder models without ignoring shareholder interests, putting people and society first, and understanding this can only work with a healthy financial model. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Rik Coeckelbergs – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikcoeckelbergs/

In this episode, Paolo Sironi sits down with Patrick McConnell, author of “Digital Money: Operational Risks and the Threats to Operational Resilience”. They discuss the far-reaching impacts of emerging types of digital money upon financial institutions’ operational risk and resilience profiles. Many new operational risks could potentially arise as digital money innovations are integrated with existing systems. In addition to helping to manage existing risks, operational risk management (ORM) groups will have to become experts in technology and cryptography. Patrick’s comprehensive analysis of how the digital financial ecosystem is adapting covers: emerging types of digital money, evolving global and instant payments, cryptocurrencies, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. They also discuss other financial and technology innovations, such as post-quantum computing. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Patrick McConnell – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjmcconnell/

In this episode, Paolo Sironi sits down with Cindy Anderson and Anthony Marshsall, the authors of the “The ROI of Thoughts Leadership” to discuss how business research can help financial institutions to navigate the thought leadership world and make the best informed business decisions. And it’s a good read for all companies willing to invest in thought leadership but looking for the most compelling rational to build their business case. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Cindy Anderson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/clwanderson480/ Anthony Marshall – https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyejmarshall/ IBM Institute for Business Value

There is no lack of hype around artificial intelligence. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what this powerful technology can do. While tech and financial services become more intertwined, cutting through the noise has become more difficult but also more crucial. In this episode, Paolo Sironi sits down with Theodora Lau, the author of the “Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence” to discuss how AI is poised to advancing innovation, to creating efficiencies, and enhancing productivity while capturing opportunities by both incumbent financial institutions as well as fintechs. But AI also comes with risks and potential for biases and disinformation, that can deepen inequalities and erode trust in our society. Responsible innovation must become part of our DNA and not as an afterthought. Thodora’s book will help spark dialogue and collaboration as we journey into the future. GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Linkedin Elisa – https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodoralau/ Instagram – @psb_dc X – @psb_dc

Generative AI is revolutionizing the workplace, but how can managers harness its full potential beyond just automation? In this episode, Paolo Sironi sits down with Elisa Farri and Gabriele Rosani, the authors of the “Harvard Business Review Guide to Generative AI for Managers”. They explore how leaders can use AI as a strategic partner in problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making. They discuss practical applications and real-world case studies about how to leverage AI as a co-thinker to enhance your managerial productivity and business leadership. 

Paolo Sironi meets Jason Mikula, author of “Banking as a Service: Opportunities, Challenges and Risks of New Banking Business Models”. BaaS is a game changer in the financial services sector, radically transforming both how consumers experience financial products and the business models delivering them. In this conversation, Jason cuts through the hype to provide a measured overview of BaaS, helping us to demystify a complex evolving field and understand its key opportunities, challenges and risks. There is a difference between BaaS, embedded finance and open banking. And Jason provides a framework for understanding where BaaS came from, how BaaS changes the economics and business models of banking products and services, its impact on key stakeholders, and its key regulatory implications.  GUEST SOCIAL MEDIA Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/ Twitter – https://x.com/mikulaja

Paolo Sironi meets Ronit Ghose, who runs the Future of Finance team in Citi’s thought leadership unit “Citi Global Insights”, and is the author of “Future Money: Fintech, AI and Web 3”. The world of money is rapidly changing, but what does it all really mean? Paolo discusses some book insights with Ronit, who brings technical topics to vivid life via narrative deep dives into selected founders and their companies. Spanning multiple geographies from London to Lagos, via Ahmedabad, Dubai, Hong Kong, Karachi and more, Future Money pulls together the story of how money is changing in the internet era.

Paolo Sironi meets Nicola Bilotta, coordinator of the EU-Supervisory Digital Finance Academy and author of “The Geoeconomics of Money in the Digital Age”. In a more contentious world economy, where trade and finance are increasingly interlinked with economic security and geopolitical considerations, questions arise about the underpinnings of the US dollar’s global leadership. For decades, the US dollar has reigned supreme, serving as a powerful tool of US foreign policy. However, history shows that currency dominance can shift with global power dynamics. Will China or another power rise to challenge the US-led system? Will the international monetary system experience a process of fragmentation, or will a new global order emerge? Will financial technology ease such a change? In this conversation, Paolo and Nicola delve into the intricate web of how three forces – economic dislocation, evolving geopolitical relations, and technology – could potentially foster transformations in the international monetary system.