With Fintech Meetup just days away, this episode of Fintech Meetup Mashup focuses on one question:

How do you actually make the most of a major industry conference?

Georgia Fintech Academy alum & Truist IT Business Analyst, Astrid Cuellar Benitez joins Pam Kaur, Head of Platform at Alloy Labs, to share practical, real-world advice on navigating large fintech events. From managing your schedule and avoiding burnout to building meaningful connections, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to show up prepared and make the experience count.

In this episode:

• Why over-scheduling your meetings can work against you
• How to approach networking without being transactional
• When it’s okay to walk away from a conversation
• The importance of personal connection in a relationship-driven industry
• How early-career professionals can stand out and bring value back to their teams

This episode is part of the 2026 Future Fintech Leaders Cohort series, capturing real-time preparation as students and alumni head to Fintech Meetup in Las Vegas.

Connect with Our Guests

Pam Kaur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamkaur001/

Astrid Cuellar Benitez
https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-cuellarbenitez/

Featured Event

Pam Kaur will be co-hosting a community walk during Fintech Meetup.
More details: https://luma.com/99vc3txh?tk=qogpTe

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://georgiafintechacademy.org

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

In this episode of Fintech Meetup Mashup, Georgia Fintech Academy brings together emerging fintech talent and industry leaders for a candid conversation about careers in financial technology.

Georgia Fintech Academy student Benjamin Willhite-Mettler sits down with Michael Bugno, Vice President of Enterprise Experiential Marketing at Fiserv, to talk about how professionals find their way into fintech, what skills matter most early in a career, and how to make the most of large industry events.

As Benjamin prepares to attend Fintech Meetup for the first time, Michael shares insights from his own journey in the industry and offers practical advice for students and professionals navigating major conferences and networking opportunities.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How careers in fintech often begin in unexpected ways
• The importance of communication and relationship building
• Advice for first-time attendees at major fintech conferences
• Why curiosity and continuous learning are essential in fintech

This conversation is part of the 2026 Future Fintech Leaders Cohort, where Georgia Fintech Academy students and alumni attend Fintech Meetup to engage directly with leaders across the fintech ecosystem.

Learn more about the Georgia Fintech Academy
https://georgiafintechacademy.org

Connect with our guests

Michael Bugno
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bugno/

Benjamin Willhite-Mettler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-will-mett/

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

What can a small Baltic nation teach the world about resilience, innovation, and digital transformation?

In this episode of Fintech Talks, Georgia Fintech Academy Executive Director Laura Gibson-Lamothe explores Lithuania’s incredible fintech journey, from rebuilding after Soviet occupation to becoming one of Europe’s fastest-growing innovation centers.

Joining the conversation are Grant Wainscott, international trade and cross-border advisor, and Dovydas Špokauskas, Consul General of Lithuania in New York, who share how Lithuania built one of the world’s most digital-first economies and why it’s an ideal partner for Georgia’s fintech ecosystem.

💡 Key Topics:

- How Lithuania leapfrogged legacy systems to lead in digital finance

- The country’s rise as a fintech, IT, and software powerhouse

- Cultural and economic synergies between Lithuania and Georgia

- Lessons in grit, adaptability, and the power of global collaboration

- Opportunities for cross-border startups, talent exchange, and education partnerships

🌍 Global collaboration starts with conversation. Discover how Lithuania and Georgia are shaping the next chapter of fintech innovation.

🔗 Connect with us: Visit www.GeorgiaFintechAcademy.org for more content and events. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest updates from the Georgia Fintech Academy.

🎧 Fintech Talks — powered by the Georgia Fintech Academy.

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

In this episode of Fintech Talks, we sit down with Larry Anderson, a seasoned recruiter who has worked with Fortune 500s, startups, and everything in between. Larry shares insider advice on what makes a resume stand out, common pitfalls students should avoid, and how to translate experiences—from class projects to part-time jobs—into measurable value.

We also dive into how AI is reshaping recruiting, from chatbots to tailored resumes, and what this means for early-career professionals. Larry’s candid take on cover letters, networking, and maintaining balance during the job search offers both practical tools and encouragement for students navigating today’s competitive market.

🔗 Connect with Larry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryandersonatl/

🌐 Learn more about the Georgia Fintech Academy events like the one mentioned during this episode: https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

Is crypto just hype — or is it finally becoming fintech’s next big frontier?
In this episode of Fintech Talks, Laura Gibson-Lamothe is joined by Greg Johnson, Co-founder & CEO of Rubicon Crypto, and Tyler Acree, Fintech Academy-UGA alum and rising fintech professional. Together, they unpack why crypto and stablecoins are no longer optional knowledge for anyone serious about finance, tech, or innovation.

🔍 Topics we cover:
- Why the Genius Act may be the most important finance law in decades
- How stablecoins are quietly revolutionizing payments
- Why Atlanta is globally recognized as a fintech hub (even if we forget it!)
- Advice for students and early-career pros to stand out in the digital finance era
- Real resources to sharpen your crypto fluency

🎓 Learn more about the Georgia Fintech Academy:
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org

📢 Connect with our guests:
Greg Johnson — https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-c-johnson/
Tyler Acree — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyleracree/

📅 Catch Greg live at Fintech South, August 19–20, 2025.
https://www.fintechsouth.com

Subscribe for more episodes and next-gen fintech insights.

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

Think AI is just another tech trend? Think again. In this episode of Fintech Talks, Laura Gibson-Lamothe sits down with Billy Harbinson of Go Studio (InComm Payments) to break down the AI concepts that are reshaping how we work, learn, and innovate.

We unpack:
✔️ What agentic AI actually means
✔️ How Large Action Models (LAMs) are changing automation
✔️ What today’s students and professionals really need to know
✔️ Why curiosity is your best strategy for learning AI

This isn’t your typical AI discussion — it’s a candid, practical, and forward-looking conversation for anyone trying to stay ahead of the curve.

🔗 Connect with Billy Harbinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyharbinson/
Go Studio: https://www.incomm.com/go-studio

🎓 About the Georgia Fintech Academy: https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org
💌 Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/newsletter

*Special Opportunity: Looking for more AI insights? Billy and the Go Studio team are hosting "AI 10 Years into the Future" from 1 - 3 pm EST on September 10, 2025. The hybrid event will feature a panel of emerging tech experts discussing how AI will impact businesses and industries over the next decade. Register now to attend in person at The Hatchery, Emory University's innovation center, or online via livestream: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-10-years-into-the-future-hybrid-event-tickets-1411149268449

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

In this episode of Fintech Talks, we explore how digital assets are converging with traditional finance through the lens of Annelise Osborne, Chief Business Officer at Kadena and author of From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance.

Co-hosted by Laura Gibson-Lamothe, Executive Director of the Georgia Fintech Academy, and Christian Samuel, a recent Georgia State University graduate and former leader of GSU’s Fintech Student Organization, the episode covers:

• Annelise’s career path
• Key insights from From Hoodies to Suits
• Trends in institutional blockchain adoption
• Advice for students and professionals entering the fintech space

📘 From Hoodies to Suits – https://a.co/d/2F8btOV
🔗 Kadena – https://www.kadena.io
📍 Annelise Osborne – https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelise-osborne-7611176/
🎓 Christian Samuel – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cguap/

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Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/

In this episode, we explore how Georgia’s fintech ecosystem is making global waves—powered by innovation, collaboration, and a deep investment in talent.

Hosted by Laura Gibson-Lamothe, Executive Director of the Georgia Fintech Academy, the conversation features two leaders shaping the region’s fintech landscape: Ania Lackey, Executive Director of Fintech Atlanta (LinkedIn), and Grant Wainscott, Partner at ABF Consulting (LinkedIn).

We discuss:

• Why Atlanta’s culture is a powerful magnet for fintech talent
• How public-private partnerships are creating scalable workforce solutions
• Georgia’s role in processing over 70% of U.S. card transactions—and what that means globally
• What these Georgia’s fintech leaders are bringing to the international stage at Money20/20 Europe

This episode kicks off with fast facts that prove why Georgia is more than a fintech hub—it’s a launchpad. From student pipelines to startup growth, tune in to hear how Georgia is helping shape the future of fintech worldwide.

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Support the show

Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/