"You can’t create a product that truly resonates with the market by sitting in a room and simply dreaming it up. If you look at history, many successful startups began because the founder faced a real problem, realized others faced the same challenge, and set out to solve it—that’s how great companies are born. But often, their second product fails because they assume they can innovate in isolation, without engaging with the market or understanding real-world pain points. For a company like ours, it’s critical to deeply understand these challenges—what keeps the CTO awake at night. Only then can we create meaningful solutions. But we can’t do that in a vacuum." Andrew Steadman, Chief Product Officer at SBS Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"One piece of financial advice I wish more people followed is never pay cash for a new car. They're fantastic financial products, leasing and in the UK PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) where you can get a new car with a much lower payment and you don't have to pay for the depreciation of the asset. I would never advise anyone to buy a new car with cash." What do leaders truly want? In this episode of What Leaders Want, we’re sitting down with James Powell, Chief SaaS Transformation Officer and Head of Specialized Finance Strategy at SBS, to get a glimpse beyond the job title. We’ll dive into the key moments of his career, debunk the biggest myths about specialized finance, and explore whether SaaS is truly the game-changer it claims to be. James also took on real-world challenges and rapid-fire questions, answering on the spot. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"When it comes to Gen AI, we can explore some truly fun and disruptive use cases. Ultimately, the banking experience isn’t isolated from the experiences users have with platforms like Netflix. Once disruption happens in one sector, customers begin to expect the same level of seamless, intelligent service everywhere—including in banking. I’m confident we’re heading in that direction." Looking ahead, Xavier is confident that banking is shifting toward AI-driven personalization, subscription-based services, seamless digital experiences, and embedded finance—and he’s excited about the opportunities this transformation brings to the industry. From a leadership perspective, he highlights the importance of continuous learning and shared success. In such a fast-evolving industry, he credits his team's support as a key factor in his journey to where he is today. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"Listening to clients is key. In our world, we tend to make a lot of assumptions — we think we know what they want. But it’s not about thinking; it’s about asking. It’s like any relationship, even with your partner. Sometimes, you just have to ask directly: Are you happy? Unhappy? Clients will usually tell you. And when they do, you can address it." From Africa to Europe, Raouf brings over 30 years of experience in the software industry — and a fresh perspective on finance as CCO at SBS. When he took on the role, his financial knowledge didn’t go beyond his monthly bank statement. Four years later, he’s not only passionate about the sector, but deeply committed to making financial services a force for good. In this episode, Raouf shares how he keeps clients happy, his bold vision for financial inclusion, and why it matters to him that everyone — especially the unbanked — has equal access to money. Because, for Raouf, finance should help improve lives. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"Si j’ai un enseignement à partager, c’est l’importance de réaliser un projet qui nous tient à cœur, que ce soit dans notre vie professionnelle ou personnelle : c'est une expérience qui marque pour la vie." Cécile a construit son parcours autour de trois domaines principaux : le commerce, le marketing et la finance. Son expérience s’est forgée dans divers écosystèmes, du luxe au textile, en passant par l'high tech jusqu'aux services financiers. Elle a ainsi tracé un fil rouge dans sa carrière, alliant data, technologie et marchés de niche. Devenue manager très tôt, Cécile a choisi de réinventer régulièrement son parcours, changeant de poste et d’univers tous les cinq ans. Ce cheminement l'a menée à son rôle actuel de Directrice Générale chez Inovatic. Elle a également exploré l'entrepreneuriat en créant une startup dans le domaine de la santé, une aventure qui l’a profondément marquée. Aujourd’hui, Cécile partage avec nous les enseignements qu’elle a tirés de son parcours, ainsi que les rôles modèles qui continuent de l'inspirer. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"Women are still raised not to speak about money… You know, when I do my training in front of women, I say « I am a woman of money », and I pause. Then I continue and, a couple of minutes later, I say « ok let me go back to what I said first, how did it make you feel? » and I get a whole lot of feedbacks like « That was weird! »." Tune in to the world of a business leader who is an expert in strategy and investment. Specializing in complex cross-border operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, she advises both companies and financial institutions. In this podcast, Katharina shares her 18 years of experience in the finance sector and discusses the creation of Stellar One. We discover an ambitious woman dedicated to developing her personal skills to grow her business. Successfully negotiating deals, her area of expertise, is something she excels at and has been rigorously trained in. Moreover, Katharina is actively committed to the professional development of women. Through the association March Women (https://marchwomen.com/) and a course she created (https://biaempowerment.com/), she empowers women with negotiation skills that go beyond the workplace. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"88% of major IT projects fail to deliver on time and within budget. Why? Because of data integration and data quality issues. You can imagine the burden falling on the shoulders of AI and Generative AI if we start with data that lacks proper governance and quality standards." With a keen interest in AI governance, Nesrine has always emphasized the importance of starting with data governance and data quality assessment to her clients. Nesrine’s commitment to these principles reflects on her dedication to both building client trust and delivering exceptional value. Meet Nesrine Besbes, a seasoned consultant with 15 years of experience in the finance industry. In this podcast, she shares her unwavering focus on client satisfaction, her expertise in AI governance, and anecdotes about her career path. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Adina a derrière elle plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans le secteur de la finance et est spécialiste de l’allocation d’actifs. Elle a commencé sa carrière comme trader en produits structurés avant de se lancer dans l’aventure entrepreneuriale puisqu'en 2010 elle cofonde AAA, une société d’ingénierie financière digitale qui conçoit des algorithmes d’investissement et des outils digitaux pour les secteurs de l’assurance, de la gestion d’actif et des investisseurs institutionnels... Dans ce podcast nous découvrons à la fois la personne et nous profitons, en même temps, de son experience de cheffe d’entreprise et de femme dans le secteur financier.Pour plus de contenu expert sur les perspectives du secteur et l’innovation, rendez-vous sur notre blog (https://www.soprabanking.com/fr/insights/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Fanny Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Secrétaire Générale chez Fintecture mais aussi membre du Berlin Group (https://www.berlin-group.org/), nous parle de ses domaines d'expertise. Elle revient notamment sur les anecdotes qui ont marqué sa vie de femme dans le secteur de la finance. Elle nous parle aussi du grand écart qu'elle a réalisé en passant d'un grand groupe au monde de la fintech, avant de nous confier comment sa nature passionnée et son authenticité lui ont permis de s'adapter, pour arriver où elle en est aujourd'hui.Pour plus de contenu expert sur les perspectives du secteur et l’innovation, rendez-vous sur notre blog (https://www.soprabanking.com/fr/insights/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Plongez dans l'univers captivant d'Estelle Brack, économiste et fondatrice/présidente de KiraliT - The Best for Africa ! Depuis l'apprentissage de l'arabe littéral jusqu'à la création de sa propre société de conseil, Estelle raconte les anecdotes marquantes de son parcours. Elle partage également avec passion son vécu en tant que membre du réseau européen des femmes dans les paiements. Au cœur des enjeux du réseau : imaginer comment le monde de demain pourrait prendre forme, de l'usage des cryptomonnaies à la représentation de la diversité dans les entreprises.Pour plus de contenu expert sur les perspectives du secteur et l’innovation, rendez-vous sur notre blog (https://www.soprabanking.com/fr/insights/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.