One Vision Podcast — Fintech, Banking, and AI with Theodora Lau
byTheodora Lau
BusinessManagementTechnology
One Vision Podcast is a fintech, banking, and AI podcast hosted by Theodora Lau (Founder, Unconventional Ventures; author of Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence). One Vision goes beyond the headlines on AI, agentic commerce, digital banking, financial inclusion, and the future of money — with founders, analysts, venture capitalists, technologists, and operators building the next chapter of financial services. New episodes weekly. Featured guests include leaders from Ant, bunq, J.D. Power, Forrester, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce, SAS, SAP, and Wall Street Journal. Recognized in American Banker's Top 20 Most Influential Women in Fintech.We believe there are many innovation stories that have impact on...
Episodes(40 episodes)
The Human Edge: AI, Trust, and the Future of Connection
Anthony Sar, Co-founder and CEO of Finoverse and the driving force behind Hong Kong Fintech Week, joins Theo on One Vision to share the story behind one of Asia's most iconic innovation gatherings. From a bar conversation about hitting 5,000 attendees (when they had 300) to welcoming 45,000 people from 120+ economies at their 10th anniversary, Anthony reflects on what it takes to build something that genuinely keeps people in the room.At the center of the conversation is Samantha, built in-house by Finoverse. She acts as your personal AI networking agent. She interviews you, learns what you're looking for...
Published: Jul 26, 2026Duration: 33m 50s
The Map and the Landscape: Paolo Sironi on Quantum Sapiens, AI, and the Meaning Machines Can't Carry
In this new episode of One Vision Podcast, Paolo Sironi joins Theodora Lau to unveil his new book, Quantum Sapiens, a philosophical literary thriller on artificial intelligence, quantum gravity, and the origins of human consciousness. A burning question: Why now?We talk about the "I love you" problem and what happens when we attribute meaning to words that machines give us. Paolo invites us to think about the journey ahead of us before we walk through Alice's mirror. What do we need to carry with us? What do we leave behind? An exhilarating c...
Published: Jul 22, 2026Duration: 36m 51s
The Coach Inside Your Banking App — Alisha Chowdhury on Closing the Advice Gap with AI
Many people in this country don't have access to reliable financial guidance — so they're increasingly asking a free chatbot instead. The problem? A general-purpose model trained on Reddit threads inherits Reddit's appetite for risk, and now that skew shows up in the conversations people are having about their money. In this new episode of One Vision Podcast, Alisha Chowdhury, Founder of Kiro Money, joins Theodora Lau to argue that the same technology, pointed with different intentions, can do the opposite: close the advice gap instead of widening it.Alisha traces the origin of Kir...
Published: Jul 6, 2026Duration: 25m 34s
Competing for Recommendations: The AI Midyear Pulse Check
We're halfway through 2026, and the fintech landscape is moving faster than anyone can track. In this new episode of One Vision Podcast, Theo brings back three fan favorites — Jennifer White (J.D. Power), Tiffani Montez (Insider Intelligence / EMARKETER), and Julie Muhn (Finovate) — for a midyear roundtable that covers it all.What did the recent Finovate Spring reveal about where AI is actually landing in financial services? Tiffani shares the latest from the AI Visibility Leadership Board — why banks are no longer competing for attention, they're competing for recommendations, and why the rules of discovery have completely change...
Published: Jun 29, 2026Duration: 32m 30s
From Prototype to Trust: Danny Friday on Building AI-Powered Benefits Infrastructure
In this episode of One Vision Podcast, Danny Friday, CEO and Founder of Sail, joins Theodora Lau to unpack why the "boring" corners of fintech — HSA and FSA accounts — are exactly where the next wave of meaningful innovation is hiding. Danny shares the origin story behind Sail: a claim over a Spanish-language dental receipt that exposed a deeper challenge about regulated industries: most of their software isn't broken by accident, it's broken by indifference to user experience. They dig into why no one had built itemized, embedded HSA/FSA infrastructure before now, what changed technically to make...
Published: Jun 21, 2026Duration: 27m 49s
When the Fraudsters Have AI Too — Inside the New Fraud Reality with Tyler Allen
Since 2023, illicit financial activity has surged by $1.3 trillion, reaching an estimated $4.4 trillion globally. The reason isn't a mystery: bad actors have AI now too.In this episode of One Vision Podcast, Theodora Lau sits down with Tyler Allen, CEO of Unit21, to unpack what's happening on the front lines of AI-powered fraud. Tyler was Unit21's founding software engineer and he is now leading the company through a moment he calls "have your cake and eat it too": AI is finally cheaper than the human labor it could replace, and unlike humans, it doesn't get alert...
Published: Jun 15, 2026Duration: 38m 25s
The Constraint Isn't AI — It's the Data. With Sarah Biller, Fintech Sandbox
After more than a decade of crossing paths at conferences and following each other’s work, Theodora Lau finally gets the opportunity to host Sarah Biller, Co-Founder & Member Board of Directors of Fintech Sandbox, and Bank Director and Investor of Thread Bank, on the One Vision Podcast. In this episode, Sarah talks about building innovation ecosystems beyond traditional hubs, including her work in West Virginia and the influence of leaders like Brad Smith and John Chambers. Sarah describes what she looks for in founders. It’s about digging deep, listening closely, and finding solutions that truly matte...
Published: Jun 8, 2026Duration: 40m 5s
The Death of Deposits — Why Banks Are Losing the Largest Wealth Transfer in History — with Martha Underwood
What happens to a deposit when the account holder dies — and why are banks so unprepared for the one moment they know is coming?In this episode of the One Vision Podcast, Theodora Lau sits down with Martha Underwood, Founder and CEO of Prismm and author of the new release: The Death of Deposits. Drawing on 25+ years across IBM, Silicon Valley, and BBVA Compass, Martha talks about the unspoken assumption in banking — that the user will always be there — and how that assumption is now colliding with the largest generational wealth transfer in history.Toge...
Published: Jun 1, 2026Duration: 36m 35s
Scale Now, Not Later — FundPark's Hay Yip on Working Capital for SMEs
In this episode of One Vision, Theodora Lau sits down with Hay Yip, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff at FundPark in Hong Kong, for a conversation that spans heritage, working capital, and what it really takes for SMEs to scale in an uncertain world.Hay shares his journey from a commercial banking career at HSBC — spanning both London and Hong Kong — to the electric pace of a fintech startup, and why he now goes to bed "with one eye open." Born in Hong Kong and grew up in the UK, his story comes full circ...
Published: May 26, 2026Duration: 40m 42s
What Does Good Look Like? Tyler Spalding on Public Trust, Responsible AI, and the Future of Work
What do the American people actually expect from companies deploying AI — and are corporate leaders listening?In this episode of One Vision Podcast, Theodora Lau sits down with longtime friend Tyler Spalding, Chief Marketing, Communications & Engagement Officer at JUST Capital, to unpack the organization's latest research on how the public, investors, and corporate executives view AI's impact on society, jobs, and the economy.They dig into the perception gap between public sentiment (66%) and corporate optimism (94% of investors and 90% of corporate leaders see AI as a net positive), and what that gap means for bu...
Published: May 18, 2026Duration: 30m 19s
Putting AI Agents Into Real Banking Workflows
What separates an AI agent that demos beautifully from one that actually runs in production at a bank? In this episode of One Vision Podcast, Theodora Lau reconnects with Maté Jendrolovics, CEO and Founder of Intuitech, for a candid conversation about the reality of agentic AI in financial services — where "80% accurate" doesn't mean 80% of the value. Maté shares how Intuitech has expanded in the past year, and his idea of an AI-native bank. A grounded, hype-free conversation about doing AI in financial services the hard way — and why that's the only way it creates real value.<...
Published: May 11, 2026Duration: 21m 25s
Whose Agent Is It? The Merchant Side of Agentic Commerce with Marc Massar
When AI agents start buying and selling on our behalf, who do they really represent? In this new episode of One Vision Podcast, Theodora Lau sits down with Marc Massar — payments veteran and founder of Aura Labs — to unpack the merchant side of agentic commerce that most of the industry is overlooking. They dig into why today's agentic protocols are still walled gardens, what happens when transaction context disappears but liability doesn't, why dynamic pricing gets dangerous at machine speed, and what merchants need to do now before they get trapped in someone else's ecosystem. Marc draws on past less...
Published: May 5, 2026Duration: 52m 17s
AI as the Operating System: Inside bunq's AI-Native Approach to Fintech
While the conversation around AI often centers on automation and efficiency, the real opportunity lies in AI’s ability to act as a decision-making layer. In this episode of One Vision podcast, Theodora Lau hosts Bianca Zwart, Chief Strategy Officer at bunq, to unpack what it truly means to be AI-native. For bunq, AI isn't a feature bolted onto an existing model. It's the operating system. Bianca shares how bunq's obsession with the user experience drives every technology decision. The conversation also explores what's next for agentic AI — and why the future isn't about AI taking over, but about maki...
Published: Apr 27, 2026Duration: 27m 46s
From iPhone to AI-Native Banking: Rethinking Customer Journeys, Platform Strategy, and Human Value in a Tech-Driven World
In the ever-evolving world of digital banking, understanding the shifts and trends is crucial for industry practitioners and innovators. In this episode of One Vision, Theodora Lau hosts Dharmesh Mistry and Dave Wallace to explore the transformative moments in banking and fintech over the past decade, the impact of technology on the financial services industry, and the future of work. They discuss the rise of 5G, smartphones, digital banking, and the need for industry revaluation to adapt to rapid technological convergence.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome02:20 The Game Changers and Misreads<...
Published: Apr 18, 2026Duration: 45m 25s
On Personal Growth: Chasing purpose, curiosity, and love
Brandon Purcell, a former vice president and principal analyst at Forrester, recently embarked on a remarkable journey to write a book that intertwines his experiences with addiction and recovery with the concepts of artificial intelligence. In this new episode of One Vision Podcast, hosted by Theodora Lau, we dive deep into Brandon’s unique perspectives on how these two seemingly disparate topics are closely related. It is raw, vulnerable, and a reflection on how we can find our way back to authentic connection and recovery. 00:00 Welcome and Intro01:55 From Forrester to Respo...
Published: Apr 9, 2026Duration: 25m 9s
Neobanks, Subscriptions, and Trust: Who Can Win in the U.S. Market?
With a record number of companies vying for US bank charters, it’s crucial to understand the driving forces behind this surge. The regulatory environment is more welcoming than ever, allowing fintechs to innovate and meet the needs of consumers who feel underserved by traditional banks. But it's not just about quantity; it’s about quality. In a saturated market, how can these new entrants provide real value that stands out? It's all about solving real problems and creating unique offerings that resonate with consumers. Keep an eye on companies that understand the nuances of the market...
Published: Mar 29, 2026Duration: 28m 34s
How AI is Transforming Financial Literacy and Customer Trust
In this episode, Theodora Lau interviews Jennifer White, Senior Director, Global Banking & Payments Intelligence at J.D. Power, about consumer behavior, financial resilience, AI in finance, and future trends. They explore how consumers are navigating financial challenges and the affordability crisis, against the backdrop of “an era of resilience” — with two-thirds of Americans being financially unhealthy. They also discuss AI's role in financial literacy, MrBeast’s move into fintech, why Chime is leading new account acquisition, and implications for existing players.Looking to understand the current and future landscape of consumer finance? Hint: Fundamentals in customer experien...
Published: Mar 22, 2026Duration: 47m 33s
AI Beyond the Hype — A Conversation on Tech, Trust, and Transformation with Christopher Mims
In this new episode One Vision podcast, Theodora Lau welcomes back Christopher Mims, Technology Columnist for the Wall Street Journal, to discuss his 2026 book “How to AI,” a practical guide aimed at the 90% who aren’t early adopters. They discuss the book’s “24 Laws of AI”, the evolving role of AI in the workplace, and how to prepare for the new future (without the hype). Who will win the AI race? And what might Christopher be writing about next year? Stay till the end of the conversation for the hint … and it is not what you’d expect! <br...
Published: Mar 15, 2026Duration: 36m 14s
The Future of AI Agents and Agentic Commerce
Are we moving too fast in the world of agentic commerce — a new paradigm in online shopping where AI agents act on behalf of consumers, facilitating transactions and product discovery? Unlike traditional e-commerce, where consumers interact directly with platforms, agentic commerce leverages advanced technologies to streamline the purchasing process.In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse, we dive deep into the rapidly shifting landscape of agentic commerce and the alphabet soup. With the technology landscape changing at an unprecedented pace, we explore the challenges and opportunities that arise in the new world.Joinin...
Published: Mar 9, 2026Duration: 44m 31s
Navigating the FinTech Landscape: A Journey of Independence
In this episode of One Vision, Theodora Lau hosts Angi Milano, Founder and CEO of Maven Advisory, about her diverse career journey in financial services. They discuss the challenges and rewards of embracing independence, the importance of saying 'no', as well as the complexities and the art of selling in regulated industries. Angi shares insights on current trends in fintech, emphasizing the need for relationship building and community engagement as the industry evolves.Hot take: “… power of no and knowing when your limits really are hit and you have to turn somebody down is a...
Published: Mar 2, 2026Duration: 32m 5s