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The hottest conversations start here.
In the Hot Seat podcast asks tech and business leaders the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, from the f#ck ups to the fireworks.
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What makes ‘In the Hot Seat’ sizzle?
In the Hot Seat is candid, irreverent and tackles top-of-mind topics from across tech, startups, and the payments landscape. Always straight-talking and always open-minded, this is a podcast that is conversational and uncensored, bold and unexpected, relevant and thought provoking.
Listen to the trailer now
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Episode guide – start listening here!
Denise Johansson puts industry leaders in the Hot Seat, for the sizzling topics on everyone’s minds from how not to f#ck up compliance, how to make ESG actually matter, real talk on being a female founder, and more. Expect the unexpected alongside Denise’s trademark candour and wit.
We have a new episode coming out every month, so let us make it easy for you. Subscribe to our newsletter below and we’ll keep you posted.
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Season 3 - Episode 4: Navigating the AI Wild West: A regulatory and payments-focused deep dive
In this episode, we’re joined by two industry experts who bring unique perspectives to the intersection of AI, regulation, and fintech innovation. Charles Kerrigan, Partner at CMS London, and Matt Williamson, SVP at Endava, share their insights on navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its impact on financial services. Their combined expertise offers a deep dive into the opportunities, challenges, and future trends shaping the fintech industry today.
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Season 3 - Episode 3: Pleo x Enfuce: A Nordic Love Song- Keeping the Love Alive in Fintech Partnerships
Thorbjørn Fink, COO of Pleo, explores the secrets of successful fintech partnerships. He discusses the importance of long-term stability, balancing compromise, and staying mission-focused when deciding between building in-house or partnering. Thorbjørn shares insights on when to let go of a partnership and the role of communication and cultural alignment in fostering trust and collaboration for lasting success in the fintech industry.
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Season 3 - Episode 2: The Metaverse: Money’s Next Frontier
David Birch, a leading expert in digital financial services and author of Money in the Metaverse explores the future of money in the Metaverse. How can this virtual world reshape digital assets, ownership, and identity, and what do fintechs need to do to keep up with the changes? The discussion also touches on the role of digital identity in making the Metaverse secure and accessible for everyone.
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Season 3 - Episode 1: Stranger than fiction
Financial fraud is a full-blown epidemic. Geoff White, Investigative Journalist and Author of Rinsed jumps in the hot seat to explain the current landscape, what the future might look like, and how getting back to the basics of employee engagement might be the best defense companies have against fraudsters.
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Season 2 - Episode 6: From Dinosaurs to Dynamos
Leda Glyptis, recovering banker and author, and Monika Liikamaa, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Enfuce, burn up the hot seat with a no-holds-barred discussion on how parasitic relationships, hedging bets, and corporate FOMO killed off countless fintechs with great potential! And, just wait till they dish on why banks need to start moving away from in-house builds and into partnerships to truly succeed in a customer-driven world!
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Season 2 - Episode 5: Power to the People
Felipe Hillard from the Bank of London jumps in the hot seat and dive deep into how inclusivity helps align payment solutions with customer needs, why choosing value over profit puts you squarely in the eye of the finance revolution, and why honing your purpose in the fintech space can save you from going extinct.
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Season 2 - Episode 4: Reimagining the future of payments with AI
What does an AI future mean for fintech? Matthew Gardiner, from A1 AI, jumps in the hot seat for a burning discussion on what fintechs need to do today to be part of an AI future, how fraudsters provide a great learning opportunity, and why you need to start using AI in your organisation today
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Season 2 - Episode 3: Unlocking the secrets of Nordic Innovation
What makes the Nordics a hotbed for innovation? Join Love Dager and Lana Brandorne of Stockholm Fintech as they deep dive into the secrets behind Nordic tech success and fearless innovators, from strong safety nets to early-age encouragement.
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Season 2 - Episode 2: What if you could have it all? | Breaking myths of female tech leaders
Having it all does mean choosing. Join Sarah Greasley and Denise Johansson as they dive into the myth, break the cycle of mom-shaming, and invite more women into tech. Keep an ear out for tips on how to build the female leaders your organisation needs and what you should never say at work.
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Season 2 - Episode 1: Cracking the glass | Getting real about leadership challenges
Charlotte Hogg, Visa’s European CEO, joins host Denise Johansson in a discussion on women’s leadership, breaking barriers, and seizing opportunities.
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Season 1 - Episode 1: Embedded Awesome | How embedded payments are changing the game.
Embedded finance is the unsung hero of financial transactions. With guest Christoffer Malmer, we will look at who is getting embedded finance right, how to earn customer trust even in “invisible transactions”, and how banks and fintechs can leverage new technologies and avoid potential pitfalls.
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Episode 2: The Real F-Word | Female Founders Uncensored.
For the first time ever, there are just as many female founders of Fortune 500 companies, but women still struggle to get an equal share of funding. In this episode, we have straight-talking chats with two dynamic female founders. Svitlanka Sergiichuk Romaniuk (Neofin) and Alexia do Broglie (Your Juno) share the sometimes harsh realities of being a groundbreaking female leader.
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Episode 3: The Dirty Laundry Comes Clean | How Not to F#ck Up Compliance.
“Compliance IS sexy when it’s done right,” and this sentiment is at the heart of this episode with Erik Howell of Flagship Advisory Partners and Donald Riddick of Featurespace. They emphasised the critical role compliance and transparency play in the financial industry.
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Episode 4: The Force is With Fintech Trends | Trust, and the Rise of Digital Innovation.
Join host Denise Johansson and special guest Christian Rau, Senior Vice President of Crypto and Fintech Enablement Europe at Mastercard, in a captivating exploration of fintech’s role in shaping a purpose-driven digital economy. Discover the key trends transforming the payment industry and the magic that happens when traditional banks and fintech innovators join forces. From connected finance to conscious consumerism, delve into the core of fintech’s impact on our financial future.
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Episode 5: The XXX factor | Unmasking the winning formula for startup resilience.
Join Mambu’s Ricardo Ribelles and Shuttel’s Wesley van Daijken as they explore courage, innovation, and collaboration. Learn how people and process shape great ideas for long-term success. Discover the key to bold leadership in growing companies.
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Episode 6: The Politics of Partnership | Navigating the path to partnership excellence.
Building strong partnerships takes a lot of work, Joe Samuel from VISA talks about being fearless, looking for open doors, and keeping a learning mindset. Listen in for tips on avoiding misfit partnerships, what it takes to league with giants, and how your management team dynamics can influence partner decisions.
Meet the host
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Denise Johansson is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Enfuce, the first fintech in the world to put payment processing in the public cloud. Denise is a dynamic female innovator and leader with almost 20 years of experience in the payment industry.
Denise, whose expertise has been recognised by several initiatives including InspiringFifty, has helped numerous European fintechs and financial institutions enter new markets quickly with safe, secure, and scalable card products. She is committed to encouraging more women into fintech, inspiring them to set bold goals and work towards them.
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