At the heart of their towns and cities, wonderful local businesses and social enterprises are the vital spark in their communities. Our guests may all be brilliant but they're also real and relatable, with practical insights and tips to share. All are united by one factor: they had a dream to grow, and used finance from the Business Enterprise Fund, a non-profit social enterprise, to make it happen. And our guests give us the inside story about their business journeys and all the lessons lea ...
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At the intersection of finance and technology, Fintech Unleased showcases the world of financial technology and its impact on banking. Hosted by Engage fi, the podcast invites subject-matter experts and thought leaders to hold open discussions, participate in interviews, and provide their perspectives on all matters relating to fintech. Discover how startups, incumbents, and tech pioneers are reshaping the industry, and how financial institutions can leverage these developments to drive inno ...
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The Alternative Investments Club on Clubhouse has access to the world's leading investors, fund managers, finance experts and market wizards. With this podcast we make the Club sessions available to a wider audience as we dive into the exciting world of Alternative Investments - financial assets beyond the traditional equity/income/cash categories, e.g. hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, commodity trading advisors, private debt/alternative credit, CTAs, collectibles, digital asset ...
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The Future of Payments: How AI is Changing Decision Making
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35:27Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. In today’s episode, Virginia is joined by Dr. Art Harper, Engage fi’s Strategic Consultant, Payments, to explore the role of AI in payment decision making. They discuss how AI-driven solutions can streamline processes, enhance personalized offers to strengthen customer/member relat…
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"Kids Played Maths for Two Hours on Christmas Morning": The Mi-box Live Story with Chris Withers
45:21
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45:21"I thought, right, I'm 43 and this is the thing that I need to do. This is my thing," says Chris Withers, inventor of the board game combining sports challenges with maths, Mi-box Live. The former teaching assistant has designed and created an innovative board game and app that transforms mathematics learning into a fun, interactive experience. Dra…
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Combating isolation and changing parenthood with Mamma Social founder Kayleigh Laverick
40:32
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40:32Today's guest Kayleigh Laverick describes how she launched Mamma Social Co and, in just a few years, built it into national brand that is changing the landscape of parenthood. In 2021 Kayleigh found herself feeling increasingly isolated and struggling after the birth of her second child. She is frank about how this culminated in thoughts of suicide…
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Transforming Technology: Strategies for Successful Core Conversions
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20:34Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On this episode, she is joined by Anne Miela, Engage fi’s Vice President of Implementations to explore core modernization as an efficiency strategy. They discuss what makes core conversions unique in today’s landscape, how financial institutions can leverage them to drive efficienc…
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How to Get a Start Up Loan with Amber and Habib
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16:23
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16:23What can Start Up loans be used for? How do you apply for a Start Up loan? And what information do you need to provide to give yourself the best chance of a successful application? In the last few episodes we've heard from some of the entrepreneurs supported by BEF. There are many more to come. But today, BEF Investment Manager Habib Karimi and Ass…
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Making metalwork, advertising on Etsy, and building diverse income streams with blacksmith Ellie Barden
35:31
35:31
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35:31Ellie Barden set up Grace Forge, her blacksmithing and metal fabrication business, six years ago. She creates unique metalwork in mild steel, beautiful copper jewellery, and runs workshops. In this inspiring conversation relevant to independent craftspeople, makers and anyone interested in the art and business of blacksmithing, Ellie: Describes her…
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Trends That Matter: Preparing Financial Institutions for 2025
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47:21Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services at Engage fi to discuss the top trends banks and credit unions should be prioritizing in 2025. As we look ahead to a new year, the industry continues to evolve quickly, bringing both challenges and opportunities. From modernizing operations and embracing artificial intelli…
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How to run brilliant fundraising events and grow a social enterprise with Rob Cairns, Fund A Fest
23:39
23:39
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23:39"Rattle a tin in someone's face and you might get a pound, but if someone's having fun you might end up getting a lot more money for a good cause," says Rob Cairns, founder of Fund A Fest CIC. His business, a social enterprise, helps charities, community groups and social enterprises create fundraising events. Fund A Fest launched in 2019 after the…
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Hyde Accessible Transport: from the pains of invoice finance to a lender that backed growth with Shaun Delaney
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32:52Shaun's business transports around 900 children each day and currently holds around 150 contracts with local authorities and NHS Trusts. It provides vital transport to wheelchair users, disabled people and children, and vulnerable members of the public. It has grown from a first year turnover of £325,000 to reach a million pounds in its third year,…
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A Wizard who turned down a Dragon: Ben Fry, The Potions Cauldron
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27:05
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27:05Ben is Chief Enchantment Officer of The Potions Cauldron Group which incorporates The Hole In Wand mini golf courses in Blackpool, Chester, Seaham and York, The Potions Cauldron – magical "emporiums and experiences" in Edinburgh and York, and a website selling drinks across the world. He and business partner Phil Ponder turned down an amazing offer…
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Lyndsay Watterson: selling handmade walking sticks worldwide from York
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32:14
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32:14Every box Lyndsay sends out to a customer changes someone's life. Few businesses could make such a claim, but this is what people tell her day in and out. Her business, Neo Walk, now employs ten and has customers in 35 countries. American actresses Selma Blair and Christina Applegate have both become big advocates for Lyndsay's handmade walking sti…
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Gen Z in the Workplace: Building the Next Generation of Financial Talent
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36:31Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On today’s episode, she is joined by Duncan Taylor, SVP, Chief Operating Officer at the Washington Bankers Association to explore Gen Z’s role in shaping the future of the banking industry. They discuss what financial institutions are prioritizing when hiring Gen Z, tackle common m…
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Dial Into Digital: Transforming Banking with Integrated Communications
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14:42
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14:42Many FIs struggle with sunsetting communications systems and outdated technology, causing a disconnect across all channels. Integrating communication platforms will enable FIs to streamline processes among employees, customers/members, and partners and create a second-to-none customer experience. Engage FI's Stacey McClure addresses the pain points…
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National Women's Small Business Month: Female Entrepreneurship in Finance
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14:52
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14:52In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Co-founder & CEO, Jenn Addabbo, to celebrate National Women's Small Business Month. They discuss Jenn’s journey to entrepreneurship, female leadership in a male dominated industry, the unique strengths women bring to the table, and how today’s leaders can support and mentor the next generat…
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Episode 1: The Payments Evolution: Trends Shaping the Payments Industry
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32:44In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Jenn Addabbo, Co-founder & CEO of Engage fi to discuss the evolving landscape of the payments industry. They dive into the latest trends, from emerging payment types like real-time payments and digital wallets, to the growing importance of fraud management in a world where security is paramount. Virgin…
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Episode 21: Ten in 10: A Look Back at September
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14:19
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14:19Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy is back with September's Ten in 10 where she addresses the most impactful news stories in the world of finance. In this episode, Virginia discusses significant developments in the regulatory landscape, profitability trends in fintech, lending challenges faced by credit unions, and the u…
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Episode 20: From Regulations to Mergers: Key Issues Impacting Banks Today
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20:58On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Jim Roche, President of the Maine Bankers Association to discuss the most critical and timely topics impacting bankers today. They cover the evolving regulatory landscape, trends in bank mergers and acquisitions, and the future of banking technology. Tell Us Your Thoughts…
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Episode 19: Interest Rate Cuts: What Financial Institutions Should Expect
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35:30In this episode Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services, and Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor, to dive into one of the most pressing topics in financial services – the anticipated interest rate cut. They discuss its impact across the balance sheet, covering everything from deposits and loans to operations and strate…
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Episode 18: The Future of Regulations in Banking: The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
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31:31Randy Hultgren, President & CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association joins Virginia Heyburn to discuss the implications of the recently passed Interchange Fee Prohibition Act in Illinois, its broader national impact, and the importance of maintaining a level playing field and fair regulation for financial institutions. Tell Us Your Thoughts…
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Episode 17: Ten in 10: A Look Back at July
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13:57Virginia Heyburn is back with this month’s Ten in 10, where she explores the top news stories impacting the financial services industry. On this episode, Virginia discusses the impact the presidential ballot has on financial institutions, the growth of real time payment networks, trends in bank earnings, and the state of the economy. The CrowdStrik…
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Episode 16: Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Finance - Part 2
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52:46Engage fi Co-Founder and CEO, Jenn Addabbo is joined by Carrie Birkhofer, President & CEO at Bay Federal Credit Union, Kathy Courtney, COO at Greenstate Credit Union, and Julie Kleffel, EVP & COO at Seacoast Bank. In this episode we shine a light on some of the incredible women who are making waves in the world of finance. We dive into their inspir…
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Episode 15: Ten in 10: A Look Back at June
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13:08In this episode, Virginia is offering her insights into the evolution of Apple's Buy Now Pay Later feature, the results of the FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile for Q1, and the rise in corporate bankruptcy filings. This month brought positive news for credit card issuers and borrowers, hear Virginia's take on this development. Dominating the news cycl…
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Episode 14: Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Finance - Part 1
48:14
48:14
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48:14Renee Christoffer, President & CEO at Veridian Credit Union, Michele Dean, President & CEO at Suffolk Federal Credit Union and Whitney Woyke, EVP, Innovation & Strategy and Banking Services at Emprise Bank join Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights and Advocacy at Engage fi on part 1 of this exciting two part series. All these extraordin…
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Episode 13: Effective Strategic Planning: The Blueprint for Success
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31:03Forming a strategic plan is more than checking a box. It gives your bank or credit union both direction and purpose. Successful strategic planning requires a well-informed approach and actionable initiatives to support your strategic vision. On this episode, Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services, joins Virginia Heyburn to discuss the intri…
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Bonus Episode: Guiding Financial Institutions Forward: A Conversation With Fabio Biasella
22:58
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22:58Andres Pasantes, President & Chief Operations Officer at Engage fi sits down with our new Director of Strategic Services, Fabio Biasella to discuss the growing need for strategic guidance within the financial services industry. Fabio’s extensive experience in retail banking with a focus on strategic and financial analysis will offer invaluable bene…
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Episode 12: Rethinking Traditional Banking Through BaaS
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22:30Banking and fintech are coming together to redefine traditional banking models through Banking as a Service (BaaS). Virginia Heyburn is joined by Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor at Engage fi, on the latest episode of the Fintech Unleashed Podcast to explore the exciting topic of BaaS. They discuss the opportunities, challenges, regulation concerns and…
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Episode 11: Ten in 10: Top Ten Highlights from April
13:57
13:57
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13:57In this episode Virginia Heyburn offers her insights into the recently released first quarter earnings reports for banks and credit unions, the regulatory talk surrounding the Bank Merger Act, and the momentum gained by the FedNow Instant Payment Network. AI is once again dominating headlines and Virginia weighs in. Tell Us Your Thoughts…
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Episode 10: Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Banking
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32:38Financial institutions are harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize the member experience, streamline operations, and manage risks. Chris Harlan, President/CEO at University of Illinois Community Credit Union and Todd Peeples, SVP of Sales & Lending Administration at All In Credit Union join Virginia Heyburn to discuss the exciting topic of Arti…
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Episode 9: Navigating the Path to Digital Transformation
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27:48
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27:48We hear the term digital transformation all the time, but what does it mean? Raj Bandaru, SVP, Chief Information Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union joins Virginia Heyburn to explore how financial institutions can harness the power of technology to streamline operations, enhance the customer experience and stay ahead of the evolving market. Ban…
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Episode 8: Ten in 10: A Look Back at March
11:12
11:12
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11:12The CFPB's ban on excessive credit card late fees could cost issuers billions per year. The Federal Reserve is expected to lower rates three times this year- are we running out of time? Consumers are calling on their financial institutions to protect them more from scams which could mean your bank or credit union needs to invest in enhanced fraud m…
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Episode 7: Ten in 10: Top Ten Highlights of the Month
12:57
12:57
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12:57The Capital One and Discover merger could disrupt the financial services industry. Is the increased demand for loans signaling an improved economic outlook? AI continues to dominate the conversation and this time it could impact who you hire. In the Ten in 10 series, Virginia Heyburn highlights ten topics community banks and credit unions should be…
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Episode 6: Ten in 10: Top Ten Highlights of the Month
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15:08In this month's "Ten in 10" video, Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy, addresses M&A activity in the industry, the CFPB ruling to cap overdraft fees for institutions with greater than $10B in assets, and the growing urgency all industries face today to not only "reinvent" themselves but also alter the way they conduct bu…
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Episode 5: Ten in 10 - What to Watch for in 2024
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11:55Where will financial institutions spend their time and energy in the new year? With continued economic uncertainty in a high-interest-rate environment, coupled with lower savings rates, declining loan originations, and higher delinquencies, the possibilities are many. In Ten in 10: A Look Into 2024, Virginia Heyburn highlights ten topics community …
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Bonus Episode: Ten in 10: A Look Back at November
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9:51Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy at Engage fi has the most newsworthy and trending fintech updates impacting banks and credit unions in November - we simply call it the “Top 10 in Ten”. Tune in to hear what she attributes to the sharp decline in Q3 earnings, learn why the NY Fed is concerned about the financial fragili…
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Episode 4: Managing Brand and Network Partnerships with Purpose
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27:44The rapid rate of evolution in the payments landscape is encouraging financial institutions to pay close attention to agreements related to both network and brand. In, Managing Brand and Network Partnerships with Purpose, Engage fi’s Payments team holds a Q&A session highlighting key topics surrounding brand and network and identifies trends taking…
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Episode 3: The Gen Z Game Plan: Shaping the Financial Workforce
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42:50This week's episode features a candid conversation with Matt McCombs, CEO of Vibrant Credit Union, and Virginia Heyburn, Director of Industry Insights and Research, as they explore how Generation Z is shaping the financial workforce. Matt shares what he looks for in Gen Z candidates, what is paramount to the hiring process, how he recommends offset…
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In this episode, Virginia Heyburn gets candid with Andrea Rusnak, Director of Payments at Engage fi. The conversation centers on the benefit of creating a future-ready payments strategy, how the industry will respond to the FedNow instant payments offering, and what today's consumer is using as a digital payments channel. Ms. Rusnak emphasizes the …
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Bonus Episode: System Evaluation Best Practices: What to Consider When Selecting a Key Vendor
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35:58Technology investments remain one of the top spends for banks and credit unions seeking to be competitive and relevant in their communities. Whether that be core processing or digital banking, this episode will help you identify strategies that your financial institution can implement when selecting a key vendor. Tell Us Your Thoughts…
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Welcome to Fintech Unleashed! In this introduction episode, you'll hear from Jennifer Addabbo, CEO and Co-Founder, and Andres Pasantes, President and COO of Engage fi as they discuss what you can expect to hear in the coming episodes. Tell Us Your ThoughtsBy Engage fi
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Investor Workshop: Why & How to Protect Yourself From Apocalyptic Thinking with Larry Siegel, David S. Rose and Ric Edelman
1:00:24
1:00:24
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1:00:24Save the Children (and Your Investments) From Apocalyptic Thinking: Why the Bad News is Mostly Wrong Doomsday scenarios can cloud our thinking and misguide our investments. Why do so many people fear the future? Is their concern justified, or can we look forward to greater wealth and continued improvement in the way we live? Many people believe tha…
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Tipping Points and the Transition to Net Zero
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53:16
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53:16As global momentum builds towards thinking about the effects of climate change, we are beginning to see early innings of convergence between regulations, global policy, and alignment between businesses and public institutions in trying to find solutions to help mitigate a potential "green swan event." What are these inflection points that are drivi…
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More Money & Meaning: Incorporating ESG into your Personal Portfolios
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50:18
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50:18With Nidhi Chadda, Kristen O’Grady and Megahan Peterson Discover how incorporating sustainability measures can improve your personal portfolio’s investment performance and lead to positive outcomes in the world. Many of us unknowingly support the very companies that aren’t practicing what we believe in and are inconsistent with our own personal cor…
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How Creative Investors Address Alpha Erosion - Masterclass in Skillful Investing
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58:52A Masterclass in Skillful Investing with Prof. François-Serge Lhabitant and Panayiotis Lambropoulos, CFA, CAIA, FRM Key Content: The erosion of alpha in a challenging return environment - how can investors think differently or creatively? Hedge Funds make sense - but you need the right process to select them Seeking alternative sources of return fr…
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VC & Angel Investing: Three female leaders unveil 1000s of opportunities in FemTech, female entrepreneurship, LatAm, and ESG
37:34
37:34
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37:34Hear investment veterans Rachel Brannan, Francesca Whalen and Nidhi Chadda on: - Investing in areas like FemTech and female entrepreneurship are increasingly seen as ESG opportunities. We'll discuss the investment opportunity and potential for outsized returns in these areas, and share success stories. - What specific sectors within the women's hea…
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ART INVESTING with JAMES HEDGES, a Top 100 Collector
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34:25James R. ("Jim") Hedges, IV has been an active art collector and patron for over 25 years. His activities in the art world led Art and Antiques magazine to name Mr. Hedges as one of "The Top 100 Collectors in America.” With a specialized focus on photography by Andy Warhol, Jim has acquired and placed more Warhol photography than any other collecto…
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Innovations in ESG Investing: World's first ETF focusing on carbon AVOIDANCE, a much better impact than carbon reducers
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18:02Meet Gabriela Herculano who created a new ETF (CLMA) that focuses on companies that directly enable CARBON AVOIDANCE in order to reach climate change goals, unlike other ESG or climate change products that might focus on companies reducing their own carbon footprint or lack quantification of potential carbon avoidance. It is therefore the world’s f…
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Women in Finance: Three outperforming female investment managers on what's their edge
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45:53
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45:53Many studies, some more recent and also older ones, demonstrate the solid outperformance of female managed funds versus their male counterparts. The idea of today's show is to break it down and make it real by presenting you three outperforming female managers on the panel. We discuss how they invest and also try to examine what is behind this outp…
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AI in Trading & How to Crowdsource Traders & Market Wizards with Jack Schwager
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48:36
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48:36Market Wizards legend Jack Schwager, FundSeeder CEO Emanuel Balarie and Qantumrock CIO Michael Zeller on AI in Trading and how to crowdsource traders and market wizards. - How the revolutionary platform FundSeeder democratizes asset management - When you source traders "off Wall Street", what do you find? - AI driven investment processes versus dis…
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HEDGE FUNDS: Best & Worst Experiences with elite investors
52:49
52:49
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52:49HEDGE FUNDS: Best & Worst Experiences with elite investors Francois Lhabitant, Dimitri Sologoff, Khing Oei, Robert Zuccaro. Join media veteran Matthias Knab and his guests for a candid & fun discussion on hedge funds and the fascinating world of Alternative Investments: - How to Analyze Hedge Funds - Quantitative Analysis of Funds versus "Guts" - M…
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