Mary Ellen Egan is a journalist with more than 25 years of experience in business and investigative journalism. She has been a staff writer and editor at Forbes, The American Lawyer, First Amendment Watch and American Banker. She has freelanced for Bloomberg, Bloomberg Law, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Thomson Reuters. She is currently an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
Jon Moore is Arizent’s Executive Vice President of Events and Live Media, leading the company’s portfolio of world-class events. The portfolio consists of 20+ events across top brands including American Banker, Bond Buyer, National Mortgage News, Accounting Today, Financial Planning and Employee Benefits News. He is also part of the company’s Executive leadership team.
Previously, Jon served as EVP of Events for Bonnier corp. He has also held leadership roles at Summit Business Media, Family Media and Source Media. He has had the opportunity to run events of all sizes across a wide spectrum of content and has operated events in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Jon holds a BA from SUNY Plattsburgh and lives with his wife and two daughters in Long Island NY.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of global economies, yet they face unique challenges—limited access to capital, cumbersome digital experiences and cybersecurity risks. This session will showcase how industry leaders are innovating to broaden SMEs’ access to credit, while also exploring how together, cutting-edge payment solutions and strategic partnerships fuel growth, resilience, and economic prosperity for SMEs and those who serve them. When small business wins, we all win.
Among the things you’ll learn:
- The critical role small and mid-sized businesses play in driving global economic growth, the challenges they face, and how today’s digital landscape creates immense opportunity for financial institutions and other partners to win in this space.
- How digital tools combined with innovative partnerships can help SMEs overcome barriers to growth, streamline operations, and boost resilience.
- Practical insights into how those in the payments landscape can work together to empower SMEs, unlock growth, and thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
Effective bank and fintech partnerships can drive innovation, enhance customer experiences and create new revenue streams. But what makes these collaborations successful in practice also targets shared commitment to transparent operating models that stress risk mitigation. This panel will delve into how fintechs and banks can build and maintain solid working partnerships that deliver advantages for both sides. Panelists with extensive experience in forging relationships between dissimilar organizations will share real world examples and best practices that maximize potential success with clients. The session will cover how to get started, how to foster success, and what challenges to anticipate and avoid.
Among the things you’ll learn:
- How banks and fintechs can partner on specific products and verticals.
- Best practices and advice on what to look for in a partnership.
- How to maintain and grow a partnership, pitfalls to avoid.
This panel will share insights on the evolving needs of small businesses, and how leveraging modern spend management tools and software can simplify and enhance their operations.
Among the things you’ll learn:
- How spend management tools can help simplify operations and protect cash flow for small businesses.
- The importance of designing seamless and easy-to-use tools to meet business clients where they are.
- The role banks can play in delivering these tools to business clients at scale.
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the synergy between startups and established corporations is more crucial than ever. This panel will explore the dynamic collaboration coming from Mastercard’s award winning startup engagement program, Start Path, alongside startup Atomic and VC partner Core Innovation Capital to highlight how strategic partnerships can drive innovation, enhance customer experiences and foster sustainable growth.
Sabrina Tharani, Senior Vice President of Global Fintech Programs at Mastercard, Jordan Wright, Co-Founder and CEO at Atomic Financial will share insights on the benefits of combining the agility and creativity of startups with the resources and market reach of established companies.
As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) navigate an increasingly complex marketplace, leveraging the power of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) offers transformative opportunities. This session will explore how banks can utilize their Banking Operating System (BOS) to empower SMBs across all verticals, creating seamless banking experiences that drive growth and efficiency. Hear the latest innovative applications of GenAI, share success stories, and outline strategies for banks to enhance their SMB offerings, ultimately reimagining commerce in a digital-first world.
Among the things you’ll learn:
- Understanding GenAI’s role: Learn how Generative AI can revolutionize commerce for SMBs by providing personalized solutions and insights.
- Empowering SMBs: Discover how banks can leverage their BOS to deliver tailored services that meet the unique needs of small businesses.
- Creating seamless experiences: Explore strategies for integrating GenAI to streamline banking processes and enhance customer satisfaction.
As fintech partnerships and BaaS models reshape the financial services industry, understanding the regulatory implications of these innovations is crucial for ensuring compliance and fostering sustainable growth. This session will provide an in-depth look at the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding fintech partnerships and BaaS, discussing the challenges and opportunities they present.
Among the things you’ll learn:
- Best practices for managing regulatory risks.
- How to navigate compliance complexities.
- Best practices for building robust partnerships that align with regulatory expectations.