Episodios

  • Flex & Maza's Robbie Figueroa - From Neobank to Solopreneur OS: Building Maza and Merging with Flex

    Flex & Maza's Robbie Figueroa - From Neobank to Solopreneur OS: Building Maza and Merging with Flex
    Jul 30 2025
    In this episode of the Wharton Fintech podcast, Djavaneh sits down with Robbie Figueroa, co-founder and former COO of Maza, now Chief Business Officer at Flex following Maza and Flex’s merger in late 2024. Robbie shares how growing up in Queens with immigrant parents from Brazil and Ecuador inspired him to tackle financial exclusion. What started as a Spanish-first neobank for underbanked consumers evolved into a platform tailored to solopreneurs operating in the informal economy. From onboarding thousands of users to building ITIN application tools and automating entity formation, Maza met customers where they were, and grew alongside them. We discuss: How Maza identified and served Spanish-speaking solopreneurs Why distribution often beats product innovation in fintech The strategic fit between Maza and Flex and what’s next Robbie also shares hard-won advice for early-stage founders and reflects on what it takes to build products that truly resonate with underserved users. Whether you’re passionate about inclusive fintech, curious about startup pivots, or exploring founder-to-operator transitions, this episode is full of insight.
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    33 m
  • Credit Karma Chief of Staff & VP Growth Ops, Ashwin Murthy - Trust & Personalizing Finance with AI

    Credit Karma Chief of Staff & VP Growth Ops, Ashwin Murthy - Trust & Personalizing Finance with AI
    Jul 25 2025
    In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, host Sabrina Fathi speaks with Ashwin Murthy, Chief of Staff and VP of Growth Operations and Strategy at Credit Karma, about how one of the most recognizable names in consumer fintech continues to evolve. Ashwin shares his journey from investment banking and consulting to leading strategy at Credit Karma. He discusses the company’s expansion from free credit scores to taxes, savings, and more, and how data, trust, and personalization have been critical to that journey. The conversation also dives deep into GenAI’s role in financial decision-making, Credit Karma’s evolving partnership with Intuit, and the future of financial access.
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    41 m
  • International Finance Corporation (The World Bank Group) Former CIO, Ram Mahidhara - Inclusive Capital & Emerging Market Innovation

    International Finance Corporation (The World Bank Group) Former CIO, Ram Mahidhara - Inclusive Capital & Emerging Market Innovation
    Jul 4 2025
    In today’s episode, Kimberly Zhang sits down with Ram Mahidhara, former Chief Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group. Ram reflects on his decades of experience investing across emerging markets, driving inclusive growth through private capital, and championing the role of fintech in global development. Tune in to hear about: • How technology and private investment are reshaping financial inclusion in emerging economies • Lessons from leading cross-border investment strategies at scale • Ram’s perspective on the role of fintech in sustainable development and what’s next for innovation in underserved markets
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    37 m
  • ICONIQ General Partner, Yoonkee Sull - Finding Edge in Fintech and Building Enduring Companies

    ICONIQ General Partner, Yoonkee Sull - Finding Edge in Fintech and Building Enduring Companies
    Jun 27 2025
    In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, hosts Sabrina Fathi and Wesley Aster speak with Yoonkee Sull, General Partner at ICONIQ, about building category-defining fintech companies through every market cycle. Yoonkee reflects on his journey from early ICONIQ associate to GP, lessons from backing leaders like Chime, Groww, Adyen, Wealthsimple, and Ramp, and what it takes to earn trust with founders over the long term. They unpack how startups can differentiate in a crowded space, how embedded finance is reshaping distribution, and why knowing your customer better than anyone else is the ultimate moat. With thoughtful takes on unit economics, financial inclusion, and the real use cases for AI and blockchain, this conversation is a must-listen for founders, operators, and investors navigating the next chapter of fintech.
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    47 m
  • Greylock General Partner, Seth Rosenberg - Building Fintech for the AI Era

    Greylock General Partner, Seth Rosenberg - Building Fintech for the AI Era
    Jun 19 2025
    In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, host Sabrina Fathi chats with Seth Rosenberg, General Partner at Greylock, about what it takes to build and back enduring companies at the intersection of fintech and AI. Seth shares lessons from launching Facebook Messenger, insights on founder-market fit, and how great early-stage companies validate ideas, build defensibility, and navigate market shifts. With deep takes on AI, blockchain, and the future of financial services, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for builders and investors alike.
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    54 m
  • American Express Senior Executive Advisor, Anré Williams - Leading Large-Scale Innovation in Traditional Financial Institutions

    American Express Senior Executive Advisor, Anré Williams - Leading Large-Scale Innovation in Traditional Financial Institutions
    Jun 12 2025
    In today’s episode, Kimberly Zhang sits down with Anré Williams, Senior Executive Advisor at American Express and former CEO of American Express National Bank. Anré reflects on his 35-year journey at American Express—leading global merchant services, digital innovation, and banking operations—while offering an inside look at how to drive transformation in a legacy financial institution. Tune in to hear about: • Key lessons from leading large-scale digital initiatives in highly regulated environments • How to balance innovation with compliance and customer trust in a changing financial landscape • Anré’s perspective on the future of AI, embedded finance, and what it takes to build resilient, forward-looking financial services
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    33 m
  • Merge Co-Founder, Shensi Ding - Building the Infrastructure Layer for B2B Integrations

    Merge Co-Founder, Shensi Ding - Building the Infrastructure Layer for B2B Integrations
    Jun 3 2025
    In today’s episode, Jackson Ellis hosts Shensi Ding, the co-founder of Merge, a unified API platform that simplifies B2B integrations across categories like HR, accounting, and CRM. Shensi shares her journey, the playbook behind scaling a developer-first GTM motion, and how the best founders balance product intensity with storytelling. Tune in to hear about: - How Merge built a category-defining product by focusing on the "plumbing" behind software - Why developer empathy and real documentation became their biggest competitive moat - The challenges and wins of fundraising while scaling in a crowded API ecosystem
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    21 m
  • Catherine Porter, CBO at Prove - The Identity Layer of Fintech

    Catherine Porter, CBO at Prove - The Identity Layer of Fintech
    May 15 2025
    In this episode of the Wharton Fintech Podcast, host Sabrina Fathi speaks with Catherine Porter, Chief Business Officer at Prove, a leading platform in digital identity verification and authentication. Catherine shares her journey from Silicon Valley to spearheading innovation in identity security. They explore how AI is reshaping fraud prevention, the future of portable identity, and how Prove is helping companies build trust in an increasingly digital world.
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    1 h y 2 m