Ken, the serial entrepreneur who has been building innovative technology for financial services for over 17 years, holds the distinction of being the first person to send $1 around the world by mobile.This pivotal moment, in 2006,really solidified his love and passion for the payments industry. As thebusiness trip to Costa Rica, for demonstrating P2P international money transfer via mobile phones, turned into an enthralling experience. A hiccup (as others would say) brought down the entire country's cellular network. "Nobody could make a call, but because of the way that we architected the system, the recipient still received their money", cheers Ken. A ping alert message to confirm the transfer meant more to the entire team. "Everyone’s jaw dropped, and we were practically floating on air from the accolades. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget!", smiles Ken. Other noteworthy accomplishments in Ken’s Fintech career includes creating the first global mobile bank account and the first mobile remittances service in the US. "I simply can’t imagine another industry for me. I love fintech so much. It’s hard. It’s regulated. There are huge incumbents. The industry is plagued by inertia from decades ago, which makes it ripe for innovation. It’s a fantastic place to play", says Ken enthusiastically.

There is a hint of passion, excitement, and expertise in how he talks about finance. "There will always be bank branches because for some moments in everyone’s financial lives, there is no substitute for having another person face-to-face. But, we’ll continue to see new innovations to digitize, modernize and improve service delivery. We’ll see voice-based banking, of course. And mobile will continue to gain more and more market share. But, with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, we’re going to see entirely unimaginable solutions coming to market. From data insights to user experiences to personalization and beyond. Computation has the power to completely transform finance", continues Ken.

Ken is a big believer in the power of quotes that capture universal truths and inspire people. One of the quotes that hangs in his office reads- 'A ship in the harbor is safe – but that is not what ships are built for'- by John A Shedd. The quotation has always stayed close to him and truly sums up the entire life of every entrepreneur. "We choose to take risks, to brave the stormy seas, to go places that others only dream of going. This is why we are entrepreneurs!", asserts Ken. Indeed, it precisely defines a fintech leader as well. With millennials now being the major force in global demographics, everyone will need to adapt to their growing demands for better services. "The disruption in financial services has been in the attitude of the industry. It’s gotten all shook up. No longer can financial firms depend on a life-long customer. Now, they have to continue to earn that business every single day, all the time", says Ken. "The fintech leader of the future needs a unique combination of old-school acumen on the traditions of banking and money management, mixed with an avant-garde attitude to continually innovate and challenge the status quo".