The Digital Leaders Spotlight at Fintech Talents North America this year featured the impressive Sonal Lakhani , Global Head of Programmes and Strategic Initiatives for Barclays Innovation. Her remit is big, very big. We took the opportunity to talk through the different elements of her role and how that had to adapt over recent years.  

Using open innovation methodology, she sources new businesses models and start-ups and brings them into the Barclays ecosystem. That includes deciding where they can best be supported by the bank, with the goal of co-creating and building  new products and services to the benefit of the universe of Barclays customers. 

We discussed the impact of the pandemic and the unique challenges that has presented for providers. Sonal noted how sitting side-by-side with fintechs give her unique insight to the innovation and new ideas being explored. She saw firsthand how the ecosystem responded to digital by default. Sonal also touched on the broad range of programmes designed to continue to bring new ideas into the pipeline 

Our conversation brought to life the benefits of collaboration and casting a wide net when it comes to finding the next big idea. Of course, we couldn’t ignore one of the event’s hottest topic – embedded finance. It really a perspective on disruption as a way of being rather than as an end-goal. 

Watch the digital leaders spotlight below.

The conversation continues at the Fintech Talents Festival 2022, 14th & 15th November at The Brewery, London.