We are delighted to announce that 11:FS have come on board as a media partner for FinTECHTalents 2018. We are huge fans of their podcast series and are keen to see what the team comes up with for the Festival edition of Fintech After Dark. Watch this space over the coming months for future announcements.
We are also very happy to welcome Ollie Judge, Head of Media at 11:FS to our Steering Committee. Part of what will separate FinTECHTalents from the crowd will be the unique Festival experience and Ollie’s creative mind-set will be a big asset to what is already a very strong group. We took the opportunity to speak with Ollie on a range of topics, from his view on innovation to his self-confessed terrible taste in music.
Did you think Financial services could be a hot bed of innovation before you joined the industry?
I was slightly sceptical when joining the industry. It seemed to be the tech industry with a bit of a lag. As time has passed and I’ve had the opportunity to meet and understand much of the technology behind the products. There have been some real strides in companies that are really trying to reach communities and problems that have previously been overlooked.
Give us your honest assessment – no need to name names, of the many industry events that you attend?
As part of my job I attend a lot of conferences. I’ve always found the best part of a conference is the conversations outside of the content. The conferences that facilitate that conversation, in my opinion, are the ones to go to. The shows that ignore the community aspect tend to get lost into a bit of a void where everyone sits very awkwardly next to each other and forgets why they are there.
Are they good for business? Can fintech events be both fun and productive?
In a nutshell yes, but you need to use them wisely. I used events to make friends and understand the industry. However if you don’t have your product yet, or you don’t have a clear goal going in, they can be a big distraction. If you want them to be productive, like any task, set an outcome you hope for at the end.
Do you think FinTECHTalents is breaking the mould by bringing talent to the mix in a Festival format?
I think FiNTECHTalents are following in the footsteps of some of my favourite conferences and then building on that. I’m looking forward to seeing what this unique mix will bring to the London conference circuit.
Will you be partaking of the music and craft beer or looking for a quiet corner?
Most definitely the craft beer! You better have some wheats on tap. My music taste is terrible, so I’ll be counting on you to let me know what I should be listening to!
