In episode 22, Bryan and Becca talked with Fintech Takes Founder Alex Johnson about Web3’s influence on the banking sector. That conversation is continued in part two, in which Alex speaks to Banking as a Service, the future of brick-and-mortar branches and the evolution of customer service in a digital-first world. Featuring music from Stranger Kings.

Cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. Digital assets have been endorsed by major banks across the world and are no longer niche investments made only by those with insider knowledge of blockchain. While the technology has seen a rapid rise in popularity, it’s still not ubiquitous – for the uninitiated, digital currencies still seem foreign, and maybe even worrisome. The rise of crypto presents a number of questions about how this new technology fits into the traditional banking sector. Kate Goldman, a senior policy associate at Elliptic, talks with David about crypto’s current regulatory state, the possibilities afforded by blockchain technology and how Web3 and conventional finance can work together to create better outcomes for consumers. Featuring music from Mason Zgoda.

The digital landscape is changing. News of the metaverse, NFTs and cryptocurrency floods our newsfeeds as we hear about Web 3’s promise and limitations. So where do banks fit into this equation? Will crypto ever become less volatile? And do financial institutions need to start thinking about their place in virtual reality? Alex Johnson, the founder of the Fintech Takes newsletter, tackles all these questions and more while also speaking to “hands-on-the-wheel” money and Generation Z’s new outlook on managing their finances. Featuring music from The Choir.

For Ron Feldman, it’s a simple equation: The more diverse your workforce, the better off your organization will be. Feldman, the first vice president and chief operating officer at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, talks with David about the Fed’s efforts to hire and retain a more diverse workforce. He also speaks to the positive impact a diversity of voices can have on bank regulatory functions. Featuring music from Ben Kyle.

Company culture is top of mind right now. As organizations struggle with the “great resignation,” hiring managers are searching for new ways to attract and retain talent. Josh Levine, the owner of Great Mondays and an expert on company culture, talks with David about the importance of providing workers with more than just monetary incentives and embedding mission and values into everyday work. He also speaks to the need for relationship-building during remote and hybrid work. Rituals need to be established to connect workers from different departments in order to remain successful, Josh says. Featuring music from Jesse Sprinkle.

Melissa Bradley is busy: She’s the cofounder of Ureeka, a managing partner at 1863 Ventures and a cofounder and managing partner at Sidecar Social Finance. She’s also a professor at Georgetown University. Melissa speaks with David about empowering New Majority – BIPOC – entrepreneurs and reflects on changing demographics in business. “From a demographic perspective, when we use the word ‘minority,’ to speak about people of color, it’s just not quantitively accurate,” says Melissa. Melissa also discusses the banker of the future and the impact technology will continue to have on the financial sector. Featuring music from The Choir.