Summary:
In this episode of "Bridges to Excellence," host Desmond Nicholson welcomes Laura Gibson-Lamothe, the Executive Director of the Georgia FinTech Academy. Laura takes us through her incredible journey from a globally diverse upbringing, through a multifaceted career in the FinTech industry, and into her current role. The podcast dives deep into the objectives she aimed to achieve upon stepping into her role in January 2023, including enhancing strategic industry partnerships, increasing student engagement, and boosting the visibility and reputation of the academy.
Laura shares insights about the Academy's programs and partnerships, highlighting FIS as a top sponsor. She outlines her strategic efforts for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the academy, ensuring a broad representation of students entering the FinTech sector.
Listeners will also get a glimpse of international partnerships, such as the Transatlantic FinTech Exchange in Ireland, and the move to integrate innovative educational models like student exchange and apprenticeship programs. Laura discusses the importance of mentorship in her career and the Academy, offering a heartfelt acknowledgment of mentors who shaped her professional journey.
Desmond and Laura wrap up with a discussion about her leadership style, future goals for the Georgia FinTech Academy, and her personal motivators. Tune in to get inspired by Laura's story and to gain practical insights into the evolving landscape of FinTech education.
Be sure to subscribe to the Bridges to Excellence podcast so you don't miss an episode and remember: the more you expect from yourself, the more you excel.
Key Highlights:
For more information, visit the Georgia FinTech Academy on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and their official website at georgiafintechacademy.org.
Be sure to subscribe to the Bridges to Excellence podcast so you don't miss an episode and remember: the more you expect from yourself, the more you excel.
I was born to parents who were
embarking on, international.
2
:Kind of experience.
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:My father played basketball,
professionally overseas.
4
:I was born in Italy.
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:I lived in Spain, Holland, Israel.
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:I actually came back to
the States and went to it.
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:Mhm.
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:Desmond Nicholson: On our show today, we
welcome Laura Gibson Lamothe, Executive
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:Director of the Georgia FinTech Academy.
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:Mhm.
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:Desmond Nicholson: It's now January
:
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:Director of the Georgia FinTech Academy.
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:You established some objectives you felt
needed to be focused on immediately.
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:To what extent have
they been accomplished?
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:In other words, how does
your report card read?
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:Oh, yes.
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:Our report card is
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:Welcome to Bridges to Excellence podcast,
inspired leadership in payments and
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:fintech, bringing you conversations
with payments, most fascinating
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:people on top of their game, leaders,
influencers, experts, and innovators.
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:Each weekly episode turns our
guests wisdom into practical advice.
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:Their personal journey starts now.
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:are meant to inspire and challenge
you to explore your possibilities.
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:Here is your host, Desmond Nicholson.
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:Picture this for a moment, a dynamic
leader standing at the crossroads
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:of technology and finance, guiding
the next generation of innovators.
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:Today, as part of our Women of
Impact series, I'm honored to
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:introduce Laura Gibson-Lamothe.
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:The executive director of
the Georgia FinTech Academy.
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:Her journey in FinTech is
nothing short of remarkable.
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:And her story is one of bold vision
and transformative leadership.
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:When Laura stepped into her
role in January,:
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:just did not take on a title.
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:She embraced a mission.
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:In a short time, she had propelled
the Academy to new heights, expanding
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:strategic partnerships that bridge the gap
between academia and industry, increasing
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:student engagement, and enhancing the
Academy's visibility in ways that have
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:caught the attention of leaders across
Georgia's financial tech community.
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:Her influence has not only lifted the
academy, but has positioned it as a
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:key player in the fintech ecosystem.
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:But Laura's impact goes far
beyond her current role.
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:With over two decades of experience,
she has been at the forefront of digital
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:transformation, program and product
development, and implementing innovative
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:tech solutions that drive growth,
profitability, and customer satisfaction.
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:In the payments, financial services, and
fintech sectors, she is known as a trusted
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:advisor, one who sees opportunities
where others might see challenges.
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:And now, as she shapes the future of
fintech education, Laura's leadership
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:earned her recognition as a finalist
for the prestigious Fintech Person of
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:the Year 2024 award earlier this year,
and most recently, Named a finalist
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:for the 2024 Women in Technology of the
Year Award, a testament to her vision,
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:dedication, and drive for excellence.
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:Laura's visionary leadership
continues to break boundaries, advance
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:diversity, and foster innovation
in a rapidly changing industry.
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:Join us on this episode as Laura
takes us on her journey with some
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:actionable takeaways along the way.
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:Enjoy the episode,
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:mhm.
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:Desmond Nicholson: Laura, welcome to
the Bridges to Excellence podcast.
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:Thank you so much, Desmond, for
having me, and I'm honored to be a
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:part of this Women of Impact series.
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:Desmond Nicholson: It's
great having you here.
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:Someone to talk about the role educational
institutions like the Georgia FinTech
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:Academy is playing, preparing the next
generation of FinTech professionals.
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:I know as a fact, over the years, the
majority of people entering the payments
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:industry got in by happenstance.
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:We kind of fell into it, myself included.
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:So with that said, we celebrate the
work you and the Academy are doing.
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:And for that, we thank you.
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:Mhm.
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:Let's get to the conversation.
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:Start, if you will, by giving us
an introduction overview of Georgia
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:Fintech Academy, how it fits into
the overall Georgia State University
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:system, its mission, and your
role as the executive director.
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:. Yeah.
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:So just a, an overview, a brief
overview of the FinTech Academy.
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:Uh, we've been around since 2019
and our focus on talent development
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:for the industry, for the FinTech
industry specifically, we offer
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:a robust FinTech curriculum.
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:I call it curriculum as a
service on the backend support.
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:26 universities comprised within the
university system of Georgia, these
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:public universities and institutions
are able to offer a variety of
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:different fintech degrees of study
through the curriculum that we offer
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:through those university systems.
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:And so, over the years, we've specialized
in very technical areas of focus from
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:data science to cyber security and
other disciplines, and we continue
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:to mature and build out a very robust
curriculum from six courses to now 42
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:and plus, uh, courses that are offered.
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:Complementing the curriculum, we have
everything else from a programming
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:perspective that's needed to make sure
that students are well rounded and
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:prepared to enter into the industry.
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:Uh, one of the things I'm excited
to highlight is our speaker series,
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:twice a week, each week during
each semester, which is a mouthful.
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:We have industry leaders representing
a variety of backgrounds, in areas
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:speak to our students virtually on
a platform to provide accessibility
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:across the entire university system.
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:We have a co host student podcast,
which is focused on providing
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:students the opportunity to interview.
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:Um, and then we also do career fairs
and student trips where we're visiting
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:different, partners and, industry
sponsors who are eager to interact,
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:network and attract top talent.
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:and so we focus on all these
programming elements, but we're
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:in the prime location to do this.
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:Uh, the state of Georgia, which
I'm constantly waving the flag
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:for from a FinTech perspective is
become a key player in this space.
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:we are a FinTech hub also known as
transactionally, to most of the folks
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:that have, heard that terminology
before it's because of the fact
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:that we, have such a presence here
from a processing perspective.
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:I mean, 80 percent of U.
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:S.
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:payment transactions are processed
through the state of Georgia.
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:That's 120 billion plus
transactions annually.
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:and those companies that are
facilitating payments, are,
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:contributing 70 billion plus in revenue.
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:with also 240 billion
plus fintech spending.
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:Um, that are also here
in the state of Georgia.
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:And so we are bridging the gap, as you
mentioned, between industry and academia.
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:by being that partner, we're not only,
intentionally trying to tap into a very
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:diverse segment of students to provide
them access, exposure, and pathways into
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:the industry, but we're partnering with
a lot of these companies to develop.
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:Talent acquisition strategies and
help gain momentum in how they hire
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:and staff talent going forward.
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:Well done.
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:Now let's get more personal
by sharing your backstory.
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:So, so Laura, what do I need to know about
you and your earliest years to understand
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:the woman who sits in front of me today?
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:And what were those formative experiences
that shapes you most profoundly?
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:Well, I know we don't have all day and
all night Desmond, so I'll be brief.
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:A lot of my background is very
interesting because I was born to
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:parents who were embarking on a
international kind of experience.
130
:My father played baseball.
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:Basketball, professionally overseas.
132
:I was born in Italy.
133
:I lived in Spain, Holland, Israel.
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:I actually came back to the States
and went to a Jewish Orthodox
135
:school for my elementary education.
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:so I had a very diverse, globally
diverse upbringing, uh, exposure.
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:I think that complements to my
ability to adapt and to be comfortable
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:interacting with people with all
different types of backgrounds.
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:Also the athleticism was something
that I inherited from my father.
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:I am incredibly grateful.
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:I am not 6'10 like my father.
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:I used to have a complex, especially
since I've been the same height, 5'8
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:almost 5'9 depending on the audience, I
might add a couple of inches, especially
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:when I was playing collegiately, I
definitely have lied on the roster,
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:But I definitely went through a
period of life where I was following
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:the same footsteps of my parents.
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:I, was pursuing education academically.
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:I also played three sports in college.
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:I call it a, it's a triathlete cause I
played three sports, but I also say I
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:would try anything for full scholarship.
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:And so I played three sports
competitively, division one, basketball,
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:volleyball, and softball in that order.
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:And I navigated my entire life being, or
most of my life being a student athlete.
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:Now retired, I look back and I think
about some of the challenges and
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:things I've had to overcome in my
journey, are very much what makes
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:me successful, in so many different
functions and roles I've had in my
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:professional career from time management.
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:Teamwork and being able to be
innovative and think outside of the box.
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:These are all skills that I've had
to, obtain over the years from my
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:early childhood and going to live
from country to country and, having
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:different situations, even academically,
to then playing collegiately and
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:adapting to different teams and in
different channels and in areas of
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:challenge for me as an athlete, to, post
graduation trying to navigate my career.
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:And you mentioned earlier, many of us,
I've been in the industry 20 years,
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:which kind of dates me at this point.
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:I fell into it, I couldn't find a job and.
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:In the arts or in, education,
which is what I was focused
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:on, in my undergrad experience.
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:And I pretty much just picked up
the first paid internship that I
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:could find, which was at the United
States patent and trademark office,
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:doing a server migration, underneath
the PMO project management office.
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:And I was like, why did
I not know this earlier?
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:I love telling people
what to for a living.
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:I love.
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:Project plans.
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:I love, I live by Excel.
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:I always have had Excel plans for
everything in my life, including grocery
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:shopping, like that's just who I was.
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:And I did not know there was a niche
for me with the skills that I didn't
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:even look at as skills in this industry.
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:and that, gave me the momentum,
and the exposure and the access,
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:um, once I had that internship, it
completely changed my life and the
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:trajectory, I think of my entire career.
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:So how and when did you
actually get into FinTech?
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:Take us through the highlights of
your career path and preceding roles
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:that ultimately brought you onto the
Georgia State University faculty.
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:Yeah, I would just say early 2000s.
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:We don't need to get specific
with the numbers, but I started
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:off my career at Bank of America.
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:Bank of America had a college
pipeline program and actually the
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:transition between that internship
I just mentioned in that Bank of
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:America gig was that I had a mentor.
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:Which is one of the most critical things.
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:It was a friend's mother who actually was
training people to get PMP certification.
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:I apprenticed under her.
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:I had a short stint contract with
security clearance working for
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:the Pentagon on a special project.
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:Which again, gave me not only the
exposure, but some level of experience
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:where I was able to present myself, I
think, in a compelling way and being
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:able to navigate to the government
side of things in the organizational
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:structure there, but applied for
the Bank of America college pipeline
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:program, which was rotational.
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:And in that rotational program, I
got a taste for it all, almost like
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:a broad enterprise view, change
management and enterprise release
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:management to some product lines,
e comm and small business banking.
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:I got a lot of different variety in
that stint of the rotation that they
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:built out as part of that cycle.
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:And I landed in change management,
again, complimenting, uh, The
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:project management, exposure I had
early on, but project management was
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:the gateway for me and my career.
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:It went from there to bank hopping
in Charlotte, North Carolina, where
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:there's so many different banks.
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:We like to say, it's almost like,
you go into work and the coal mine,
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:back in the day, like everyone's
just riding into the coal mine.
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:We're riding into one of the banks.
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:And so I went from, bank of America where,
um, I had the tremendous opportunity and
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:I have some battle wounds from Countrywide
and Merrill Lynch's acquisition.
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:Those were the two things that really
what started out my career working on
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:some very challenging projects with a lot
of scrutiny and visibility, it put me in
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:kind of that pressure cooker to shine.
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:and to be promoted and to be given more
challenging, um, efforts and initiatives.
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:I moved over to Wachovia six months
later, they were acquired by Wells Fargo.
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:So then now I'm the M and A girl,
I'm the merger and acquisitions girl.
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:Cause coming from big America,
countrywide Merrill Lynch.
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:Gaining a reputation for helping clean
up, being on a cleanup crew, going over to
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:Wachovia, being at the Wells Fargo side,
helping with transition type projects
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:and efforts digitally and physically
with some of their branches, and then.
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:Moving to Ally.
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:Ally was three months in house to bake.
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:It had a logo and the team I was
on, was responsible for helping
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:stand up, the core platform on FIS,
developing different solutions from
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:inbound, outbound customer email.
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:I think about some of the things I
implemented during that time, IVR
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:for the first time from scratch.
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:no longer was I delving
into like enhancements.
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:I'm building out new solutions from
scratch, which was what excited me.
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:I then became kind of, again, an M and A
girl, a lot of banks that are trying to,
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:gain traction speed to market has been
an immense focus because once you have a
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:brand and now you're starting to build a
client base, you want to start offering.
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:Everything cross selling and being
able to offer a full suite of services.
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:So then it was, co brand credit card.
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:I helped lead the co
brand credit card with T.
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:D.
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:Bank.
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:The implementation successful.
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:You thought about in
sourcing it, which meant.
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:We need to be PCI compliant.
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:So I led PCI compliance.
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:I was responsible for QSA, I was
responsible for building out an
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:operations, building out a governance
model to maintain that PCI compliant
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:rock that we got for the first
time, some really exciting work.
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:Then we acquired an investment
portfolio, we acquired a mortgage,
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:we acquired other verticals.
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:I started working on the auto dealer
side as well, formerly GMAC and
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:an entity, sub entity underneath
the Ally Financial Umbrella.
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:I had visibility to basically all
lines of business and experience
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:in all lines of business.
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:And so what drove me actually to Atlanta
was an opportunity to work for a service
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:provider to Ally, which was a amazing
opportunity to really partner and then
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:get the endorsement and the approval by
Ally leadership to go over to Feature
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:Space, which specializes in, fraud
risk management, leveraging machine
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:learning and artificial intelligence.
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:a big player here in that, FinTech
ecosystem that I mentioned earlier
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:in Atlanta, and I started working for
them, leading operations, replicating a
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:lot of the mature operations that were
developed in Cambridge, UK over here
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:in Atlanta to service their growing U.
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:S.
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:portfolio.
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:And that was such a amazing journey
for me, but then the pandemic happened.
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:I think you might recall right before
the pandemic, There were a whole lot of
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:mergers and acquisitions during that time.
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:And, pipeline kind of froze,
didn't really make sense for the
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:role that I was coming in yet.
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:and I pivoted into consulting.
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:During the pandemic, I
was completely grounded.
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:All the things I used to like love
and admire about consulting, the
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:traveling and the status that you
would acquire because you're traveling,
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:meeting with clients here and there.
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:It's not as sexy when you're
just like working from your
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:home office during the pandemic.
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:just hours over hours doing,
risk and compliance work,
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:which is not my favorite thing.
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:I want to do the thing that's
like customer impacting and
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:front end type of solutions.
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:And I sat during the pandemic
and re evaluated my whole life.
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:I know I'm not that old, but I definitely
reflected on my journey and like
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:what I want for myself going forward.
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:And I said, Hey, maybe there's something
more out there for me that aligns with
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:my passions, compliments, some of the
experience that I have where I can
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:truly, make an impact, leave a legacy.
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:Those things were the things I
thought about and my predecessor,
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:Tommy Marshall, who was in the role
I'm in currently was moving off.
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:he got bit by the startup bug,
moving off to, to work with a
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:startup and mentioned this role
and I was like, Oh, I don't know.
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:This is not in my vision
board for my career.
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:I want to be CIO, CTO at a bank.
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:That's what I wanted for myself.
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:And I literally had a heart to heart
with myself, many pros and cons written
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:down in a spreadsheet because I told
you already, I love spreadsheets.
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:And I really evaluated the opportunity to
join the FinTech Academy, the opportunity
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:to now in a post pandemic environment,
work on the scalability, help evolve and
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:drive the scalability of the program.
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:And yeah, we've seen tremendous results.
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:And I would say a couple of years in.
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:This is the most fulfilling moment
of my life, the conversations and the
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:individuals that we're touching and
reaching is just so fulfilling for me
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:to be a part of that and everything I
do, striving to deliver more of that,
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:um, deeper across the state of Georgia.
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:And now there's opportunities for
expansion beyond the state of Georgia.
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:And so it's just been an extremely
rewarding experience to think about.
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:My past and how I can help, support
a brighter future for others.
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:Okay.
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:So it's now January, 2023, and
you are the executive director
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:of Georgia Fintech Academy.
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:My understanding is that after you
got into the role, you established
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:some objectives you felt needed
to be focused on immediately.
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:And I've jotted some notes down here.
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:Okay.
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:Uh, they were, strategic industry
partnerships, student engagement, enhanced
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:visibility and reputation, and the
fourth one, internal faculty development.
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:Now taken one at a time, in brief,
can you expand on the scope of these
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:objectives, starting with the strategic
industry partnerships, and to what
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:extent have they been accomplished?
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:Okay.
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:Desmond Nicholson: In other words,
how does your report card read?
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:Oh, yes.
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:Our report card is strong.
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:And this is the competitive
athletic nature in me, Desmond.
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:I came into this role, I immediately
in my first like, what, 30,
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:60 days did a SWOT analysis.
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:I didn't want to come in guns a blazing.
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:I was cautious of the environment.
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:Academia works very much
differently than the industry does.
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:And so there was a period of just
assessing the lay of the land.
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:And.
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:the things that I identified, which
were the ones that you highlighted
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:were what we've really prioritized
focusing on going forward.
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:but strategic partnerships
are immensely important.
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:So it's one thing to, focus on helping
students, identify FinTech, as a
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:path for them and then obviously
support them in their journey.
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:But it's another thing to say,
we have jobs for you, students.
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:We are working.
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:strategically with the industry to ensure
that you're getting the top, best in class
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:education, but then we're also preparing
and equipping you to be competitive in
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:this very competitive, employer landscape.
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:And so, our focus has been on the
industries, partnerships that we have,
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:and it's been so meaningful because
we are mostly considered a non profit,
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:as far as, the FinTech Academy goes.
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:So financially, and then also as part of
influencing the curriculum, and then also
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:ensuring that we get those students the
opportunities for internships and jobs.
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:I've been the whole point of
navigating and strengthening our
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:strategic industry partnerships.
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:The student engagement piece we have
really focused on and we've been
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:proud to boast about our efforts to
cultivate a diverse talent pipeline.
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:When I talk about diversity, I'm
super excited about it because 70
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:percent of our student population
represents that underrepresented,
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:segment, group of backgrounds.
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:And so we are intentionally
striving to pull in diverse talent.
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:And then also we are stretching
ourselves across the entire state
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:of Georgia, which I mentioned these
universities, the 26 have 350, 000
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:students enrolled at them currently.
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:And so the student
engagement is key for us.
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:It's essential for us to be able to
provide awareness that FinTech exists,
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:awareness of the opportunities in FinTech,
awareness around the compensation and
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:the monies, the salaries that students
can make in this, in this program.
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:dynamic, interesting, field.
367
:but all of that has been, uh, shared by
way of the channel, of student engagement.
368
:We have student orgs that were
aligned closely with across each of
369
:these universities, and I call it the
mega church of FinTech, the Georgia
370
:FinTech Academy sits at the top.
371
:We broadcast out all these different
resources, as I highlighted earlier.
372
:but then we have on campus presence
by way of these student organizations.
373
:These are influencers, that are
sharing and evangelizing on behalf
374
:of fintech that, hey, this is
something you should consider.
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:And we attract students in, not
only because They get it, they
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:see it in the news, they read,
they're also starting their own
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:financial literacy journeys as well.
378
:and so all of that comprised is
what really appeals and brings
379
:in students, and that's how we
really focus on student engagement.
380
:The other piece is enhanced
visibility, as you mentioned, and the
381
:reputation around the FinTech Academy.
382
:So now we're starting to get
recognize in the state, out of
383
:the state and even globally.
384
:the awards that you mentioned,
for me are also mirrored by the
385
:awards that we're receiving for
the fintech academy in general.
386
:the, A.C.C.S.B.
387
:which is an accreditation entity.
388
:that provides that accreditation for
curriculum across the entire globe.
389
:Actually, it's not just a U.
390
:S.
391
:thing, it's a global thing.
392
:They're an accreditation entity.
393
:It's very serious from
an academic perspective.
394
:we were flagged, or awarded the
:
395
:Our program, the
structure, how we operate.
396
:And the metrics are report card of
what we've achieved has, given us that
397
:recognition to receive that award.
398
:We also from, the Technology Association
of Georgia were just nominated and then
399
:selected as a finalist for, tech for good.
400
:Focusing on diversity and inclusion
are, metrics around, not only how
401
:we're preparing, and helping cultivate
an inclusive fintech environment
402
:because of our social efforts and our
programming, but then our intentional.
403
:approach to be able to attract, students
that represent diverse backgrounds.
404
:so all of that provides, some visibility
and gives us, some credibility in this
405
:space, I think, as we continue to grow.
406
:And lastly, the faculty development,
we've been around for five years
407
:doing this, and we have a variety of
professors, almost 20 that are aligned to
408
:the program, representing the different
universities of which they're employed,
409
:those, faculty members need, some,
there's some investment required there.
410
:for them, they need access to industry.
411
:I actually, built, a whole database.
412
:We have an intake process for volunteers.
413
:We are constantly matchmaking,
faculty needs with industry.
414
:Support and resources.
415
:These faculty members are extremely
passionate about the students that
416
:they serve, and they're constantly
looking for opportunities, whether
417
:it be a guest speaker to participate
in the delivery, the facilitation
418
:of some of the curriculum to.
419
:experiential learning, which is one
element I'm extremely excited about.
420
:The experiential learning piece is, it
could be a capstone project or a short,
421
:hackathon that's aligned to a class.
422
:we've even had, in the most, extreme,
use case of this is a project that
423
:turned into a patent in which a
student was listed on this patent.
424
:I want more of those
opportunities, paid or unpaid
425
:research, projects or challenges.
426
:We'll take them all.
427
:but giving students relevant real
world, experience in the classroom,
428
:really gets them the opportunity to
apply, the methodology, to a real world.
429
:So those are the four.
430
:I know I wasn't brief, Desmond.
431
:I apologize for that.
432
:That's quite okay.
433
:I think that was a requirement.
434
:You said at the front end, but
yeah, those were the four and four.
435
:Well, well done.
436
:Well done.
437
:Now, if I may be presumptuous, it
appears to me that the heartbeat of your
438
:program is grounded in your strategic
partnerships and collaboration amongst.
439
:Stakeholders within the
Georgia Fintech ecosystem.
440
:So before I get to my next question,
here are some facts I wish to share
441
:with our listeners as reported
by the Technology Association of
442
:Georgia Fintech Ecosystem Report.
443
:Well, first off, Georgia is
recognized as a global Fintech hub,
444
:and as you mentioned before, home
of some 250 plus Fintech companies.
445
:Okay, now the 12 public FinTech
companies in Georgia alone
446
:generates in excess of $50 billion.
447
:Okay.
448
:And please, correct me if, uh, some of
these numbers are slightly off and over.
449
:$2 billion in venture capital was
invested in Georgia early stage fintechs
450
:from 2020 to 2022 Atlanta, his home of
one of the 12 Federal Reserve banks.
451
:21, 000 people are employed by
the top fintech companies in metro
452
:Atlanta and 42, 000 people overall.
453
:with an additional 8, 000
employed in Columbus, Georgia.
454
:Now, in addition, um, a recent Wall
Street Journal article rated Atlanta
455
:as a prime job market in the nation for
grads in search of fintech opportunities.
456
:So, based upon these stats, the
academy appears to be operating in
457
:an opportunity rich environment,
which leads to my next question.
458
:Who are some of your top
tier sponsors and partners?
459
:And how does, Georgia Fintech
Academy provides for these companies?
460
:Yeah, I think about, our
top, tier, I would call it
461
:like platinum sponsor is FIS.
462
:FIS.
463
:Has been a long way the entire
journey since the inception of
464
:the Georgia Fintech Academy.
465
:They recently renewed last year for
another $1, 000, 000 contribution and
466
:gift, which was hugely impactful for
the ongoing development enhancements
467
:that we're making to ensure alignment
with industry demands from an FIS.
468
:Perspective, we've done it all.
469
:All the things that I
highlighted that the Academy.
470
:Is intending to do on
behalf of our students.
471
:we've done in partnership with, sponsors
and partners like FIS income and, U.
472
:S.
473
:Bank, Elevon and visa these brands.
474
:We work diligently with to ensure
that we've calibrated the curriculum.
475
:We're constantly looking for
ways to involve into enhance it.
476
:we also work side by side from a talent
acquisition perspective to ensure we
477
:understand their evolving needs for
talent and how we can continue to,
478
:provide the right level of education,
in skills development to ensure that
479
:our students are, ready for those roles.
480
:and so our partnership has evolved
over the years to think more
481
:innovatively when it comes to.
482
:How you source and bring in talent.
483
:I think one of the things that I'm most
excited about, we did with FIS last
484
:semester, which was, looking at their
Jacksonville headquarters, location,
485
:there were a lot of early talent roles,
available at that specific location.
486
:We took, 55 students from the
most Southern universities.
487
:So thinking about like Columbus
state university, Savannah state,
488
:Albany, a couple from up north.
489
:So Georgia Tech also kind of came
in with that batch, but a quarter of
490
:them were offered and accepted job
positions last spring from that one trip.
491
:That trip was a scouting opportunity.
492
:We proactively did some work
upfront our due diligence to make
493
:sure we bought in top talent.
494
:We had them apply prior to the trip.
495
:The trip was really just kind of the
last check the box type of exercise.
496
:But I think now employers have to
be more strategic and intentional
497
:with that recruiting process and
that recruiting journey, to ensure
498
:that they're bringing in talent.
499
:And then also, being intentional when
we talk about diverse talent as well.
500
:And so, it was a win win situation,
but I think that's an example of how
501
:effective, these, you know, collaborative
relationships can be with a very,
502
:interested and committed industry partner.
503
:Good.
504
:I understand that DEI, Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion is a foundational pillar
505
:deeply rooted in the DNA of the Academy.
506
:Talk to us about the extent of
which this culture is infused in
507
:the overall running of the Academy.
508
:Yeah, I think one of the things that
people assume if you look at the landscape
509
:of Georgia, we're very diverse, but some
of the campuses I, I'm at most frequently
510
:have a large population of black students.
511
:I recently found out there's a term for
it, predominantly black institution, PBI.
512
:So, Georgia State, which is
not an HBCU, it is a PBI.
513
:It's a predominantly black institution.
514
:It's got over 55, 000 students enrolled
in that one specific university.
515
:And our focus for DEI has been to not only
provide access and maybe visibility, To
516
:diverse representation in the industry.
517
:So we're bringing, you know,
leaders to speak with students.
518
:We want the leaders to reflect also who
the students that we serve, and it's
519
:important to provide that visibility.
520
:I know for myself, uh, coming up
in banking, I definitely, was the
521
:only one in the room and I didn't
see anyone that looked like me.
522
:That didn't stop me by any means.
523
:I was like, I don't mind being
the first, but for some of these
524
:students, it's extremely important.
525
:They need to be able to connect.
526
:With who they see and how
they see themselves being in
527
:that industry in the future.
528
:And so from a DEI
perspective, we focus on.
529
:Providing access to a diverse
representation of leadership, diverse
530
:backgrounds, and by backgrounds, I mean,
we've talked about a lot of folks falling
531
:into this industry, such as myself.
532
:There are a lot of different pathways
people have taken in the industry.
533
:So it's great to have
that representation there.
534
:And then also being a
resource for students.
535
:So the other side of things is you think
about how the industry has evolved and
536
:They're now offering at the corporate
level on the corporate side, DEI
537
:training and guidance and insights.
538
:We do the same with our students.
539
:So I think also preparing them
to transition into the industry
540
:means making sure that they're
well rounded individuals.
541
:And so from a DEI perspective,
it's important on both sides to
542
:ensure that we're providing kind
of the cultural elements of that.
543
:foundationally for our students,
544
:Mhm.
545
:let's talk about, artificial intelligence
and machine learning in the ever
546
:evolving landscape of this technology.
547
:How does the Academy stay ahead
of the curve to remain relevant
548
:to meet the needs of the industry?
549
:Yeah, it's so funny.
550
:AI is like a trigger word for me now.
551
:Cause it's every single place I
go, every event I've attended,
552
:there's a, an AI track or.
553
:Some AI panels, AI and machine learning
was at the beginning of how the
554
:curriculum was developed at the academy.
555
:And from a use case perspective,
it was predictive analytics,
556
:looking at fraud trends, like that
type of applicability from an AI
557
:and machine learning perspective.
558
:Our students are not only gaining the
credential from, um, the university
559
:perspective, but they're also.
560
:Complimenting it with some
industry certs certificates.
561
:And so while we have built the entire
package that has to continue to
562
:evolve, there are unique use cases.
563
:There are other channels where we're
looking at like ethical AI, for
564
:example, and some other, adjacent,
but very dependent kind of areas
565
:that need to be focused on when it
comes to AI and machine learning.
566
:the future is, generative AI and I
get asked this question quite often.
567
:it's interesting to see that the
industry hasn't solved it, but it is
568
:very much academia to play a role in
solving kind of what generative AI,
569
:large language models, et cetera, mean
to the fintech industry going forward.
570
:And so.
571
:What we've developed is opportunities
for students to be creative, uh, for
572
:students to apply some of what they've
learned in the classroom, through
573
:these, experiential learning projects.
574
:Just getting them experience and getting
their hands on, certain technology,
575
:sets the tone for their ability
to be a sponge, to be adaptive, to
576
:have critical thinking skills, then
that's what employers truly want.
577
:so while we're not necessarily certifying
the students or, giving them degrees
578
:in generative AI from a AI, and machine
learning perspective, they're the data
579
:science competencies and all of the
skillsets there are already foundational
580
:in what they're learning, but they're also
being challenged to start to explore some
581
:of these evolving emerging technologies so
that when they are on the employer side.
582
:They're ready to grow with the
organization they're going into
583
:good, What career opportunities
awaits graduates of the program?
584
:Yeah, we try to highlight
our top focus areas.
585
:There's a lot out there.
586
:And to be honest, I struggle with
some of the students who have
587
:this very rigid formula approach.
588
:They have a degree.
589
:In a specific area and they
believe they can only apply
590
:to two jobs in the industry.
591
:And I'm like, it's not
necessarily that cut and dry.
592
:to be honest, why even limit yourself?
593
:our focus has been to outline a good core
set of roles, whether it be technical or
594
:non technical buckets that I call them.
595
:You have the engineering, the
cybersecurity, the data analytics.
596
:The data visualization, which is
actually a huge area where we have
597
:a lot of students that are focusing
on the visualization of data.
598
:And then you have the other side,
which could be business administration,
599
:product slash project management.
600
:marketing is even something that has
tremendously grown in the past couple
601
:of years from a fintech perspective.
602
:A lot of students that are coming in,
with marketing backgrounds and interests,
603
:but apply to the fintech industry.
604
:and so some of those areas,
oh, and I, I forgot to add, um,
605
:business development and sales.
606
:that's also an attractive,
niche and area for, students.
607
:Entry level.
608
:And to be honest, I feel like
that's a hot one because, a lot
609
:of these, BDR sales roles, give
students a great foundation of.
610
:Not only a solution, but being able to
articulate the problem and understand
611
:why the technology works that way and why
it's been built and designed that way.
612
:And they're learning how to speak
and interact with customers.
613
:It's just a really, a great way to
kind of catapult, you know, Into your
614
:career, starting off at an entry level.
615
:And so those are kind of the key
roles that we continue to share and
616
:refine and prepare students to look
for, but we're seeing all kinds
617
:of roles that have been launched.
618
:There's, I think, also
a shift where companies.
619
:Who might not have had previously the
capacity to do a rotational process,
620
:like I mentioned with my own professional
journey at the beginning, they're starting
621
:to develop that now, which is amazingly
helpful for a lot of students who don't
622
:really know they haven't figured it out.
623
:They figured they like FinTech, they're
interested in certain areas within
624
:FinTech, but they haven't necessarily
outside of an internship, which lasts
625
:for such a short period of time at
a lot of experience in the industry.
626
:And so those programs, especially
rotation is extremely helpful because
627
:they get a taste of some of those roles
that I just mentioned, and they can
628
:really choose their destination once
they've actually had the exposure.
629
:Good.
630
:Um, I'm curious, what's the stats on
FinTech position placements locally
631
:since the Academy's inception in 2019?
632
:Yeah, so fortunately, we've been able
to track out of the 8, 000 we've had
633
:come through the academy, over 2,
500 have been placed in fintech jobs.
634
:mostly here locally.
635
:Unfortunately, those numbers are very
manual, and I know we've probably
636
:placed more than what we've been able to
track, but it's a very manual process.
637
:But for us, the reward is to see
the placement and to continue
638
:to drive placement numbers.
639
:This past spring semester, I had the
honor of attending a conference where they
640
:were representing students, graduates,
alumni's were representing a variety
641
:of different brands on an expo floor.
642
:And that was extremely exciting for
me to see full circle the student in
643
:the classroom to now the student who's
employed and representing a company.
644
:And then also bringing in
talent themselves and working
645
:from that perspective as well.
646
:Desmond Nicholson: Let's
switch gears for a moment.
647
:Mhm.
648
:Desmond Nicholson: Earlier this year,
you were part of a group from the U.
649
:S.
650
:attending the Transatlantic FinTech
Exchange in Belfast, Ireland.
651
:What was that about?
652
:Were there any takeaways
from the experience you felt
653
:could apply at the Academy?
654
:Yes, that was such a rewarding experience.
655
:I went along with the American
Transaction Processors Coalition.
656
:They are a government
lobbying trade association.
657
:Their efforts have spanned across from
transactionality to, the broader U.
658
:S.
659
:to now global, partnering with.
660
:Ireland and cultivating this
experience where we got to not only
661
:see Belfast, but we also did a Dublin.
662
:So Southern and Northern Ireland,
both in the same trip, they
663
:rolled out the red carpet.
664
:There's a little bit of economic
development, conversation, which workforce
665
:rolls up into, which is what I represent.
666
:And I represent that here in Atlanta as
well with, our close partners, the Metro,
667
:Chamber of Commerce, but there in Ireland.
668
:It also bridge conversations.
669
:We had a couple of panel discussions
as well in both areas, but it bridge
670
:conversations with universities.
671
:They're universities that also have a
fintech focus the numbers that we have
672
:the volume from a curriculum perspective,
but then the numbers of students.
673
:overshadow what they have, in Ireland
in general, And so our conversations
674
:were around student apprenticeships.
675
:Apprenticeship models are very common
in the UK, and we are embarking on a
676
:journey to look at alternative academic
pathways, I call it, here in the U.
677
:S.
678
:Students don't necessarily want
to wait four years and make such
679
:a hefty investment in education
before they can start working.
680
:And so we're creatively
working with partners like
681
:those in Ireland who have run.
682
:Apprenticeship programs for years
in building out what that could look
683
:like for the Fintech Academy to have
a registered apprenticeship program.
684
:The other piece is, study
abroad student exchange.
685
:maybe even a micro credential that could
be shared cross, areas, territories.
686
:And I think the fun pieces we talk about
faculty development, giving faculty an
687
:opportunity to stretch grow and develop
themselves beyond where they are now.
688
:All of those things could happen with
these global, strategic partnerships,
689
:through the relationships we have,
through associations and organizations,
690
:and then our, industry partners,
and then also these universities
691
:that are, located elsewhere that
also are tied together through the
692
:shared common interest of fintech.
693
:And that was 1 of those things that
we explored what that would look
694
:like through that Ireland trip.
695
:So it was very successful.
696
:And now it gave me, let's just say 120
more to dues on my to do list coming
697
:out of it because I'm like, all of it.
698
:Great.
699
:Right?
700
:But like, my priority is to
help getting students hired.
701
:And so that's always been the focus
Priority and the driving force, of
702
:which we're marching towards for the
academy, but there's a lot of other
703
:opportunities to help and amplify
and help grow and develop what we're
704
:doing, by diversifying our offering.
705
:And so I'm really excited to, to
be a part of that Ireland trip.
706
:Yeah.
707
:Um, and have those conversations there
and as we speak, any of these initiatives
708
:being implemented at the academy.
709
:Yeah, I think the 1 that was
implemented is kind of that exchange.
710
:We've stood up routines.
711
:We started building out our
project plan per se, and how we
712
:develop, but it's still early days.
713
:We went.
714
:What was it?
715
:May, this year and the
fall semester is heavy.
716
:The fall semester is an intense
period because it's just the fall
717
:semester is busy, but then on the
industry side it's just full of
718
:conferences, get togethers, galas, etc.
719
:And so we are just immensely
focused on both sides.
720
:On current state, While we're in parallel,
at least making partial investments in,
721
:nurturing and developing that plan to get
to some of those things that I highlighted
722
:that we came away with from our trip.
723
:Now, switching gears again, What are
your thoughts on mentorship and what
724
:role mentoring played in your career?
725
:Does any one person come to mind?
726
:Yeah, a mentorship is key.
727
:I came in thinking I could create some
sort of office hours on my calendar and
728
:meet with every student that had a need.
729
:And I realized really quickly, I can't,
I don't have the capacity to do so.
730
:and so we built this like volunteer
form, which we have one of the areas
731
:that people can volunteer from the
industry, uh, being that of mentorship,
732
:which we're strategically planning
and aligning students with industry
733
:mentors and they're providing.
734
:That access to the mentorship
there, but it plays a huge role.
735
:We have students from all different
backgrounds, some undergraduate,
736
:some graduate level students.
737
:So they have different needs some
students who are, early days,
738
:not sure what they want to do.
739
:And some who have a very detailed
plan and really just need some
740
:coaching on what next steps to take.
741
:And so we've been, intentionally building
out that mentorship or I should say
742
:evolving that mentorship offering.
743
:One thing I'm really excited
about and this is where.
744
:Like worlds collide, right?
745
:Because I'm on the
board for PayTech Women.
746
:I also have been as part of the membership
engagement strategy kind of track.
747
:And then as part of that
Next Gen has been a focus.
748
:And so win, win kind of situation
for me is tying some of the students
749
:that we have through the academy
and funneling them through the
750
:resources pay tech women has to offer.
751
:And so the mentorship piece there
has been really beneficial for me.
752
:And as we embark on our journey
to mature, our mentorship.
753
:Offering more broadly within the FinTech
Academy, leveraging what we have at
754
:Paytech Woman has been very helpful,
but mentorship is extremely beneficial.
755
:I think about how, as we started this
call, I talked about how I fell into this
756
:industry, a friend of mine's, mother was
training people in project management,
757
:PMP certification, and she became my
mentor and to be honest, I don't even
758
:think I would have considered banking.
759
:I knew she knew some
folks at Bank of America.
760
:Next thing I know, she's advising me
on my application and coaching me on
761
:my interview skills and really hands on
providing that level of guidance, which
762
:is what I had hoped to be for everybody.
763
:But I realize it's not realistic,
but I think that mentorship,
764
:is it incredibly helpful?
765
:and it played a huge role in my
ability to land the first job that
766
:really set the tone for the rest
of my 20 year career in banking.
767
:And so we're really strategically looking
to develop a mentorship offering that
768
:continues to evolve with the evolution of
the type of students that we're serving.
769
:And it's been incredibly
meaningful to see those mentorship
770
:relationships, develop very good.
771
:Laura, as you go about your daily task
as the Executive Director of the Fintech
772
:Academy, have you come to terms in
understanding your leadership style?
773
:And if so, how would you describe
your style of leadership and the
774
:guiding principles behind it?
775
:My leadership style is pretty open.
776
:I'd like to say I take the
servant leadership approach.
777
:so there's one thing that I really
enjoy about being a leader, and it's
778
:the strategy, the big picture vision,
but I love being able to work within
779
:a team to articulate the approach to
achieving that vision and making sure
780
:everyone is on board and aligned.
781
:We constantly focus with my board to
recalibrate what we have and ensure that
782
:we're aligned to our core objectives for
the year and strategically identifying
783
:initiatives that help further the
development of those objectives and the
784
:progress made towards those objectives,
but my leadership style has always been
785
:to be hands on, but not all the way in
the weeds to be able to delegate to the
786
:team and empower them to be able to do
what they need to do to be successful.
787
:And then to also just be a support.
788
:That's what I guess I mean by the
servant leadership pieces to provide
789
:that support when it's needed.
790
:and to have emotional intelligence
enough to understand when there
791
:needs to be a different approach
taken or some aid, in regards to some
792
:of the things that we have to do.
793
:Now.
794
:What are you most excited about
Georgia FinTech's Academy future?
795
:Well, this thing could go so far.
796
:right now.
797
:I'm challenged to not introduce
scope creep on a daily basis.
798
:the fact that we're now gaining
reputation and Fintech education.
799
:There's an opportunity to.
800
:Continue to work and evolve our
executive education offering.
801
:We actually did a partnership with
Fiserv and Synchrony last year,
802
:where we were focused on diversity
supplier, supply chain, type initiative
803
:where they were bringing in, diverse
suppliers, providing some training
804
:and then putting them through their
third party supplier risk management.
805
:Program in the hopes of being
selected to be a supplier to Fiserv
806
:and to Synchrony and a part of that
training was fintech like foundations.
807
:We took our core course
and we tailored it.
808
:We basically white labeled it and it
was so exciting to see that happen.
809
:But then I'm like.
810
:There's a market for this.
811
:we literally can go pro,
you know what I mean?
812
:Like now there's an opportunity to
provide and supply a lot of these
813
:companies, the same opportunity to
white label some of our curriculum and,
814
:to integrate it within their learning
management, portals and programs.
815
:And so we were working with a couple
of companies now to evaluate what
816
:that looks like, to pilot in 2025.
817
:So I'm really excited about that.
818
:The other piece is, obviously
right now our brand and our name
819
:is the Georgia Fintech Academy.
820
:So we have a strong focus on
Georgia, but we recently were
821
:tapped on the shoulder from Visa's,
CEO, Ryan McCurney to do a non for
822
:credit fintech class at Notre Dame.
823
:Wow.
824
:First of the kind, where this fall, we,
helped them develop a, I don't like to
825
:use the word curriculum, but we helped
them develop an extracurricular class,
826
:with a capstone project in FinTech.
827
:the hope was to provide students
exposure, the same thing we're doing at
828
:the FinTech Academy, but at Notre Dame.
829
:And that's one of the first use
cases where we're starting to
830
:partner and consult, I think,
externally from the state of Georgia.
831
:And so there's opportunities on both sides
academically to spread beyond the state.
832
:To provide guidance and SME insights.
833
:And then on the other side, from a
continued education, there's upskilling.
834
:As you mentioned, many of us have fallen
into this industry and had no training.
835
:My training was the practical
real world experiences that
836
:developed my knowledge of payments.
837
:and to be honest, it was
like, learn as you go.
838
:it wasn't, I can relate me.
839
:Yeah.
840
:And so it was learn as you go.
841
:And so I think a lot of companies could
benefit, a lot of individuals could
842
:benefit from, taking some of the courses
that we've, worked so hard to refine.
843
:and so those two channels, I think are
the things that I'm most excited about.
844
:'cause that completely changes.
845
:the layout of how we operate
at the FinTech Academy.
846
:It also spreads our, the demographics of
who we serve and there's opportunities
847
:for revenue, which is one thing
that as a nonprofit, I strive for,
848
:because I'm constantly fundraising
849
:the lifeblood of the business.
850
:Yes.
851
:Yes.
852
:What do you attribute your
overall success and wellbeing?
853
:Hmm.
854
:I attribute the fact that.
855
:I don't even know if this fits the
well being part, and that could be
856
:questionable, Desmond, but the success
is attributed to the fact that I am
857
:hungry, passionate, highly driven and
motivated to, the success of this program.
858
:This is so fulfilling
as I mentioned earlier.
859
:And not only do I get excited
about it, the people I talk to
860
:seem to get excited about it.
861
:I don't know, maybe my energy is a
little bit of a turnoff, but I feel
862
:like when I talk to people about it,
they're like, Oh, I can get behind this.
863
:And I see why this is a need.
864
:And I love This and why wasn't this,
available when I was in college?
865
:Like these are the reactions I get
and that's what fuels, myself and all
866
:of the folks that, currently work and
or partner with the FinTech Academy.
867
:And I think that's, attributed,
uh, to the success of the program.
868
:but I think from a wellness perspective,
there's also a balance, right?
869
:Like you talked about it, before, like
all of the things that we're trying
870
:to achieve, it can take a toll if you
don't create some sort of balance.
871
:And I haven't quite figured that out
because I just love this so much.
872
:I live, breathe, eat, dream, everything.
873
:FinTech Academy.
874
:And I do know that lessons learned
from some of my previous roles
875
:that I do need to think about
what that balance looks like.
876
:Good.
877
:We'll be right back for our final segment.
878
:The lightning round bridges to
excellence inspired leadership
879
:in payments and fintech.
880
:Okay, Laura, quick
questions quick responses.
881
:I pose the following questions and you
respond with one word or sentence or two.
882
:Are you ready.
883
:I am.
884
:The lightning round.
885
:What one word.
886
:you would use to describe
your career journey so far?
887
:I would say perseverance.
888
:What is the best career
advice you have ever received?
889
:Never give up.
890
:How would you define
yourself in one or two words?
891
:Highly motivated and driven.
892
:What is one thing the people you work
with would be surprised to learn?
893
:Oh, that's a hard one.
894
:My, my creativity, my artistic side.
895
:What's a cause that is
important to you and why?
896
:Well, obvious 1, the next gen working
with young people is a cause, but I
897
:also am on the board for a program
nonprofit that focuses on Hispanic Latino
898
:communities, providing after school
care and education programs and ESL.
899
:Uh, training as well, and I'd love to
help identify ways to support folks
900
:that are immigrating and folks that have
unique challenges, language barriers.
901
:It's a passion of mine as well.
902
:What one book would you recommend
to our listeners and why?
903
:You know, it's funny, I don't
know why this came straight to
904
:mind, but the 48 laws of power.
905
:Uh, I don't know if you're familiar with
the text, but there's a chapter that
906
:in the middle of my career, I remember.
907
:Reading it, it resonated so much with me
because it said never outshine the master.
908
:I had a manager at the time that
really actually gave me an opportunity
909
:to grow in ways I did not realize.
910
:But that chapter in that particular
book was extremely important for me.
911
:What's your guilty pleasure?
912
:Uh, desserts, all of the desserts.
913
:What drives Laura?
914
:I would say where I am at now, the
Fintech Academy, working with young
915
:people and then also working with
people who I can help and make an impact
916
:and influence, encourage, support.
917
:That's what drives me is
seeing others succeed.
918
:mhm.
919
:Laura, it's been great having you on
the show and congratulations to you
920
:and the faculty members of the Academy
for your outstanding contribution
921
:to the Georgia FinTech community and
of course to the industry at large.
922
:For the FinTech executive listening to
this episode or anyone else who wishes to
923
:support the work of the Academy, how can
they get in touch for more information?
924
:Just informing everyone to
connect with us on LinkedIn.
925
:We're also on Instagram and
YouTube channel as well.
926
:We have a podcast out there.
927
:It's just called Georgia FinTech
Academy, where our students
928
:are actively, interviewing a
variety of industry leaders.
929
:So just connect with us on those channels.
930
:And I look forward to engaging with
some of you as we're always looking
931
:for folks to contribute, to mentor,
to volunteer as part of our program.
932
:The website, georgia fintechacademy.
933
:org and, uh, Laura, again, we thank you.
934
:And that's our conversation
a wrap up for this week.
935
:Our guests, Laura Gibson-Lamothe,
Executive Director of the
936
:Georgia FinTech Academy.
937
:To our listeners, thanks for your
continued support and remember hit the
938
:subscribe button so as never to miss an
episode and never forget the more you
939
:expect from yourself, the more you excel.
940
:You've been listening to Bridges
to Excellence podcast, inspired
941
:leadership and payments and fintech.
942
:Be sure to join us next time for more
conversations with another of your
943
:colleagues in payments and fintech.
944
:Insightful conversations in their
journey to excellence for transcripts
945
:and other materials covered on the show.
946
:Visit us at DesmondNicholson.
947
:com.