TheOutlier Podcast

TheOutlier Podcast

A podcast aimed at honoring The Outliers.

  1. 17h ago

    Modernizing Banking Tech & AI Realities in Finance | Jennifer Smith

    In this episode of The Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Jennifer Smith, former CIO of Zions Bancorporation and a recognized veteran in financial services, to explore her career journey, modernizing legacy systems, AI integration in regulated banking, and female executive leadership. Jennifer shares her path from studying economics to spending nearly two decades at Zions Bancorporation, including a decade as Chief Information Officer (CIO). The discussion breaks down how economic principles apply to enterprise technology leadership, the realities of enterprise software overhauls, and the strategic evaluation of emerging financial technologies like generative AI and agentic automation. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: Economics in Tech Leadership: Applying principles of resource allocation, system behaviors, and risk management to bank technology stacks. Modernizing Legacy Banking Systems: Making the strategic case to corporate boards for costly software overhauls, overcoming "duct tape and band-aids," and managing operational continuity. AI & Machine Learning Realities in Banking: Differentiating between real-world AI applications (code generation, pattern detection, document automation) and current hype (fully autonomous, customer-facing AI in regulated environments). Bias & Model Explainability in Lending: Navigating the limitations of "black box" AI, regulatory compliance (ECOA), fair lending frameworks, and model risk management. Strategic IT Decision-Making: How financial institutions filter out technology hype cycles (from mobile wallets to Web3/Metaverse) to prioritize true customer value and business impact. Women in Executive Leadership: Insights on serving as the first and longest-tenured female CIO at Zions Bancorporation, fostering culture during organizational change, and supporting the next generation of female leaders in fintech and banking. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Anurag Mukherjee welcomes Jennifer Smith 00:57 – From Economics & Audit to the CIO Role 02:14 – Navigating Career Growth & Identifying System Patterns 03:09 – Taking a Strategic Sabbatical & Advanced Studies at Oxford/HEC Paris 04:23 – How Economic Principles Shape Technology Leadership 05:36 – Modernizing Legacy Infrastructure & Communicating Risk to Boards 09:27 – Women in Tech Leadership: Serving as the First Female CIO at Zions 12:00 – Maintaining Team Culture, Remote Work Dynamics & Leading Through Change 14:21 – AI in Banking: Differentiating Practical Automation from Hype 17:59 – Addressing Model Bias, Fair Lending & Explainability in AI 21:00 – Technology Hype Cycles & Developing the Discipline to Say "No" Guest Bio:Jennifer Smith is a financial services executive with over 30 years of experience in banking, operations, and technology. She spent nearly two decades at Zions Bancorporation, serving for ten years as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Previously holding senior roles at Wells Fargo, her background spans audit, risk evaluation, operating models, and enterprise IT transformation. Recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker, she is currently pursuing advanced studies in complex change leadership at Oxford University and HEC Paris while serving on community and corporate boards. Host Bio:Anurag Mukherjee is the host of The Outlier Podcast, featuring candid interviews with leaders, executives, and innovators shaping the future of finance, technology, and enterprise business strategy. Connect & Subscribe: Podcast Website: [Insert Link] Subscribe on YouTube: [Insert Channel Link] Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts: [Insert Podcast Links] Follow The Outlier Podcast on LinkedIn: [Insert Link] #Fintech #Banking #CIO #TechnologyLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseTech #WomenInTech #TheOutlierPodcast #ZionsBank #FinancialServices #BankingTechnology #ExecutiveLeadership

  2. 5d ago

    How CUs Master AI, Data & 1-Click Tech | Kevan Williamson, CTO, Georgia's Own Credit Union

    Welcome back to another episode of The Outlier Podcast! Hosted by Anurag Mukherjee, this episode dives deep into the intersection of technology, credit unions, data science, and modern leadership with Kevan Williamson, Chief Technology Officer at Georgia’s Own Credit Union. In this episode, Kevan shares his 25+ year journey in technology—spanning over 15 years in the credit union ecosystem—and reflects on how lifelong learning, including earning a Master’s in Enterprise Architecture from Penn State, shapes his approach as a CTO. Together, Anurag and Kevan demystify the noise around AI in banking, exploring where genuine machine learning creates real value versus where human trust must remain uncompromised. Kevan unveils Georgia’s Own technology vision built around engagement and simplicity: creating seamless, hyper-personalized financial experiences that compete for member attention in a fast-paced digital world. They also unpack the "Pancakes, Pancakes!" analogy of tech automation, the friction of building true "one-click" solutions, and crucial leadership lessons on handling accountability, listening to your team, and being kind to your future self. --- 📌 KEY TALKING POINTS: 00:00 - Introduction & Kevan Williamson’s Background 01:25 - Falling in Love with Credit Union Technology & Community Impact 03:26 - Childhood Curiosity to CTO: Kevan’s Career Progression 06:43 - Georgia’s Own Tech Vision: Engagement & Simplicity 09:47 - AI vs. Machine Learning: Hype vs. Practical Reality in Banking 14:10 - The "Pancakes" Analogy: Friction in 1-Click Automation 18:12 - Using Data for Hyper-Personalized Member Journeys 21:02 - Leadership, Mentorship & The Hardest Advice Kevan Ever Received 24:23 - Kevan’s Core Leadership Philosophy: Focus on Your Future Self --- 💡 ABOUT THE GUEST: Kevan Williamson is the Chief Technology Officer at Georgia’s Own Credit Union. With a career spanning over 25 years in IT and more than 15 years dedicated to the credit union movement, Kevan leads digital transformation, data strategy, and technology operations to serve members across Georgia with community-focused, simplistic financial experiences. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: • Georgia's Own Credit Union: https://www.georgiasown.org/ • The Outlier Podcast on LinkedIn: [Insert Link] • Subscribe to The Outlier Podcast for more conversations with top financial, tech, and banking leaders! #CreditUnions #Fintech #AIinBanking #MachineLearning #EnterpriseArchitecture #BankingTechnology #Leadership #GeorgiaTech #TheOutlierPodcast #CTOInsights

  3. Aug 12

    How Community Banks Win the Future of Payments | DJ Seeterlin, CISO, Chesapeake Bank

    Welcome to another episode of The Outlier Podcast! Host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with DJ Seeterlin, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Chesapeake Bank, to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of payments, community banking, and financial technology. DJ shares his journey from IT and computer engineering to becoming an "accidental banker" leading national payment processing, merchant acquiring, and innovation strategy. Together, Anurag and DJ break down why banks must stop selling capabilities like ACH and wire rails and start delivering actual customer solutions.Key Topics Covered in This Episode:• From IT to FinTech Leader: How real-world collaboration and advisory roles on the ABA Payments Committee and Fed Payments Advisory Council served as DJ’s "MBA in Payments."• The Banking Disconnect: Why customers don't want mortgage paperwork or checking accounts—they want to buy homes and move money seamlessly.• The Problem with Friction & Checks: Why paper checks remain costly and fraud-ridden, while modern businesses demand instant electronic solutions.• Global Payment Lessons: Comparing US banking complexity (9,000+ FIs) with centralized instant systems like India's UPI and Brazil's PIX.• The On-Chain Future: Why stable coins, tokenized deposits, and public/private blockchain ledgers represent the next evolution beyond "legacy" instant rails like FedNow and RTP.• Rebolt & Consortium Innovation: How Chesapeake Bank and Alloy Labs are enabling community banks to offer embedded payment capabilities—like direct payments to PayPal and Venmo recipients—without complex multi-system integrations.About DJ Seeterlin:DJ Seeterlin serves as the Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Chesapeake Bank, a Virginia-based community bank operating national payment systems, specialty merchant acquiring, and accounts receivable financing. He is a prominent voice in payments innovation, working closely with industry boards and consortiums like Alloy Labs to drive collaborative technology solutions across the banking ecosystem.--------------------------------------------------TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction to DJ Seeterlin & Chesapeake Bank00:40 - DJ's Journey: From IT Specialist to "Accidental Banker"02:20 - Real-World Learning vs. Traditional MBAs04:41 - The Biggest Disconnect: Selling Capabilities vs. Delivering Solutions07:36 - Rethinking Banking Chores: Why Payments Need Less Friction10:31 - Instant Payment Lessons from UPI (India) and PIX (Brazil)13:11 - The Future of Payments: Stable coins, Tokenization, & On-Chain Finance15:37 - Challenges for Community & Regional Banks16:33 - Innovating via Alloy Labs & Introducing Rebolt for Business Payments20:30 - Closing Remarks--------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Outlier Podcast for more deep dives with top leaders across fintech, community banking, and digital transformation!#Fintech #Payments #CommunityBanking #FedNow #Stablecoins #OnChainFinance #TheOutlierPodcast #FinancialInnovation #Rebolt #AlloyLabs

  4. Jul 31

    Tech Leadership & AI in Credit Unions — Eric Cardona, VP of Tech, Provident CU

    In this episode of The Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Eric Cardona, Vice President of Technology at Provident Credit Union (Bay Area, CA). With over two decades of experience in banking technology, Eric shares key insights into how financial institutions are evolving to meet modern digital expectations, leveraging artificial intelligence, and safeguarding systems against sophisticated cyber threats.Episode Key Takeaways:Defining Excellent Digital Banking: How Provident Credit Union delivers an effortless, consistent, and personalized mobile banking experience across channels.Proactive Banking with AI: Shifting from reactive notifications to predictive financial management using artificial intelligence.Core Banking Reliability vs. Innovation: Balancing core system stability (system of record) while accelerating digital development and partnering with fintechs.Fintech Partnerships & ROI: How credit unions evaluate build vs. buy decisions, prioritizing fraud detection, prevention, and process automation.Cybersecurity in the AI Era: Addressing top threats including ransomware, AI-driven cyber attacks, and securing internal AI prompt usage to protect PII.Career Path to Tech Leadership: Eric's journey from a night operator and computer science software developer to VP of Technology, along with advice for emerging leaders in fintech.About the Guest:Eric Cardona is the Vice President of Technology at Provident Credit Union, a leading Bay Area financial institution. He brings 25+ years of hands-on technical expertise—spanning software development, systems operation, and executive leadership—to shape member-centric digital banking solutions.About The Outlier Podcast:The Outlier Podcast features in-depth conversations with executive leaders, innovators, and visionaries across financial technology, credit unions, and banking infrastructure.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Welcome00:28 - Eric Cardona's Career Journey (Night Operator to VP)01:25 - What Defines an Excellent Digital Experience Today?03:22 - The Shift to Proactive AI in Digital Banking04:02 - A Day in the Life of a Credit Union VP of Tech04:54 - Balancing Core Banking Stability with Innovation06:21 - Evaluating Fintech Partnerships & Build vs. Buy08:18 - Cybersecurity Priorities: Ransomware & AI-Driven Threats10:18 - Aligning Technical Teams with Member-Centric Goals11:16 - Career Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders#Fintech #CreditUnions #DigitalBanking #Cybersecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #BankingTech #Leadership #TheOutlierPodcast #ProvidentCreditUnion #FinancialServices

  5. Jul 28

    The Secret to #1 Customer Experience in Banking | Ali Ayca, Head of Retail, First Bank

    Are physical bank branches dead, or are they evolving into the ultimate hub for customer connection? In this episode of The Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Ali Ayca, Head of Retail Banking at First Bank, to dissect the true power of human connection in modern retail banking, the real role of AI, and what it takes to build an outlier career in finance.Ali Ayca shares his inspiring journey—from arriving in the United States as an exchange student to starting his career at Circuit City, climbing the leadership ranks at Bank of America and First Horizon, and ultimately leading retail banking operations at First Bank. In this episode, we cover:• The American Dream & Career Mobility: How Ali transitioned from commission sales at Circuit City to executive banking leadership.• The Heart of Retail Banking: Why retail banking remains the "melting pot" of the financial industry and how to cultivate winning team cultures.• The "Branch is Dead" Myth: Why physical locations remain indispensable for building long-term customer trust, loyalty, and community presence.• AI & Augmentation in Banking: How artificial intelligence is shaping the future workforce, driving back-office efficiencies, and empowering human bankers rather than replacing them.• Differentiating in a Commodity Business: How First Bank secured the #1 ranking in the J.D. Power Retail Banking Customer Experience Survey for the South Central region by betting on its people.• Leadership & Rapid-Fire Insights: Top book recommendations for aspiring leaders, favorite travel spots, and key lessons on career adaptability.---------------------------------------------------CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS---------------------------------------------------00:00 - Introduction & Welcome to Ali Ayca01:33 - The Journey: From Exchange Student to Circuit City Sales04:00 - Making the Jump to Bank of America & Strategic Career Choices05:15 - Moving to Nashville & Transitioning to First Horizon07:20 - Stepping into the Role of Head of Retail at First Bank08:23 - The Immigrant Mindset & Building an Outlier Career09:12 - Why Retail Banking is in Ali’s DNA11:34 - How First Bank Differentiates Itself in a Commodity Industry13:22 - Are Bank Branches Dead? The Role of Physical Locations18:00 - The Impact of AI on the Banking Workforce & Customer Experience20:20 - Rapid-Fire Round: Travel, Top Leadership Books & Dream Podcast Guests23:39 - One Word to Describe First Bank & Closing RemarksABOUT OUR GUEST---------------------------------------------------Ali Ayca is the Head of Retail Banking at First Bank, a leading regional community bank headquartered in Tennessee. With nearly two decades of banking experience across Bank of America, Capital Bank, First Horizon, and First Bank, Ali specializes in retail banking strategy, executive leadership, sales management, and customer experience excellence.ABOUT THE OUTLIER PODCAST---------------------------------------------------The Outlier Podcast, hosted by Anurag Mukherjee, features candid, high-value conversations with industry leaders, founders, and executives across fintech, banking, and business leadership. Recognized by Money 20/20 as a top fintech podcast, we bring you actionable insights from individuals who are breaking conventional molds and building extraordinary careers.---------------------------------------------------KEY MENTIONS & RESOURCES---------------------------------------------------• Books Mentioned: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins | "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek• Recognition: J.D. Power #1 in Retail Banking Customer Experience (South Central Region)---------------------------------------------------CONNECT WITH US & LEAVE A COMMENT🔔 Subscribe to The Outlier Podcast for more executive interviews and industry insights.#RetailBanking #FirstBank #TheOutlierPodcast #BankingLeadership #Fintech #CustomerExperience #ArtificialIntelligence

  6. Jul 23

    Modern Credit Union Growth Strategies with Chris Keller, CMO of Empower Credit Union

    Welcome to another episode of The Outlier Podcast, hosted by Anurag Mukherjee! In this episode, we sit down with Chris Keller, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Empower Credit Union, to dive deep into modern growth strategies, human-centered marketing in financial services, and how credit unions can compete at scale. With a non-linear background starting in biomedical engineering, startup incubation, and agency growth before leading marketing at M&T Bank and now Empower Credit Union, Chris brings a fresh, battle-tested perspective on financial marketing. From Engineering & Startups to Credit Unions: How a background in biomedical engineering, startup accelerators, and agency growth shaped Chris’s human-centered approach to finance. Why Credit Unions Matter: The shift from traditional banking to member-centric financial institutions powered by the mantra of "people helping people." Building World-Class Marketing Organizations: Moving away from standard credit union playbook marketing toward cutting-edge growth, two-way conversational marketing, and scale. Community Flywheels vs. One-Way Giving: How financial institutions can leverage local community investments (United Way, Food Banks, financial literacy) to drive long-term member growth. Content First, AI Second: Why Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI search visibility depend heavily on high-quality content and strong data governance. Acquisition vs. Engagement: Scaling direct growth levers vs. mapping frictionless member journeys for products like indirect auto loans. Fixing the Broken "Why" in Banking: Why rates and commodity products aren't enough, and how emotional storytelling drives long-term member trust. "We don't want to be a best-in-class credit union marketing organization. We want to be a best-in-class marketing organization, full stop." — Chris Keller "If your content is wrong, it doesn't matter what technology you use. You have to create rich, valuable content that answers the right questions for the right people at the right time." — Chris Keller 00:00 – Introduction: Anurag Mukherjee introduces Chris Keller, CMO of Empower Credit Union 00:33 – Chris’s Non-Linear Career: Engineering, startup accelerators, and agency life 02:30 – Transitioning from M&T Bank to the Credit Union Movement 05:03 – Human-Centered Design & Putting Members First 07:14 – Leveraging Community Investment as a Growth Flywheel 08:41 – Modernizing Financial Marketing: Two-Way Conversations at Scale 11:40 – Underestimated Levers: Merging Digital Acquisition with Community Trust 14:44 – AI Search, GEO, and the Critical Importance of Content Quality 20:21 – Balancing New Member Acquisition vs. Member Engagement 23:16 – What’s Broken in Banking Marketing? (Focusing on the "Why" Over Rates) 27:38 – Chris Keller’s Outlier Moment: Trusting People, Mindset Shifts, and The Alchemist Empower Credit Union: https://www.empowerfcu.com/ The Outlier Podcast: Hosted by Anurag Mukherjee, bringing you bold conversations with leaders reshaping technology, growth, and financial services. #CreditUnions #MarketingStrategy #FinancialServices #CMO #EmpowerCreditUnion #GrowthMarketing #DigitalTransformation #HumanCenteredDesign #Fintech #TheOutlierPodcast 🔑 Key Topics Covered in This Episode:🎙️ Key Quotes & Advice:⏰ Timestamps:🌐 Connect & Resources:

  7. Jul 18

    Data Science vs. AI Hype: Future of MarTech & AI Governance | Kirun Amiri, CIO Entravision

    Welcome to another episode of The Outlier Podcast, hosted by Anurag Mukherjee. In this episode, we sit down with Kirun Amiri, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Entravision, to explore the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence governance, and business-first technology leadership. Kirun discusses her extensive 23-year career trajectory, tracing her evolution from a 17-year tenure at Kinecta Federal Credit Union to managing global infrastructure at Ares Management, and finally to leading digital transformation within the media and advertising sector at Entravision. Throughout these transitions, she details how the core philosophy of "people helping people" serves as the foundational architecture for executing global technology strategies. Dive deep into the realities of modern enterprise technology as Kirun cuts through the generative AI hype, shifting the conversation back to the rigorous fundamentals of data science, system rationalization, and compliance. The Transition from Finance to Media: Moving from credit union consumer needs and global asset management to the dynamic landscape of marketing technology (MarTech) and global content production. Data Science vs. AI Hype: Why modern organizations must prioritize clean data architecture over generic AI applications, and how to utilize data science to achieve measurable operational efficiency. AI Governance and Compliance: Key takeaways from Kirun’s MIT training regarding enterprise AI implications, focusing on achieving clean compliance audits, transparent automated processing, and mitigating security risks. Rebranding the IT Department: Shifting the enterprise perception of IT from a rigid technology stack or cost center into a strategic business enabler and revenue-driving engine. Delivering Definitive Bottom-Line Impact: Implementing practical AI use cases, such as intelligent system rationalization, to directly optimize operational spend and boost EBITDA. Managing AI Workforce Transformation: Recognizing disparate tech proficiency levels across corporate tiers, designing specialized beginner-to-expert training programs, and addressing workforce security concerns. Authentic Leadership Frameworks: Overcoming imposter syndrome in executive boardrooms, fostering corporate transparency, and mentoring the next generation of technology leaders. Kirun Amiri is the Chief Information Officer at Entravision, a leading global media, marketing, and technology services company. Holding specialized credentials from MIT in AI business strategy, Kirun has spent over two decades pioneering digital infrastructure across credit unions, multi-billion dollar asset management firms, and global advertising networks. #MarTech #DataScience #AIGovernance #CIO #Entravision #TheOutlierPodcast #WomenInTech #ITLeadership #BusinessTransformation #GenerativeAI #TechROI Key Topics Analyzed in This Episode:About the Guest:

  8. Jul 9

    The Truth About Legacy Data Silos & AI in Credit Unions | Adam K, CSO Dort Financial

    The retail banking infrastructure landscape is undergoing a massive shift. In this episode of The Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Adam K, Chief Strategy Officer at Dort Financial Credit Union, to unpack the winning strategy for mid-sized credit unions over the next three to five years. With more than 30 years of deep marketing and senior corporate strategy experience, Adam pulls back the curtain on how Dort Financial manages its rapid geographical expansion, integrates recent commercial bank acquisitions, and aggressively overhauls its digital services. Discover why traditional vendor relationships are holding credit unions back from matching the low-friction user experience of digital-native competitors like Chime, how to balance rising transactional fraud risks without breaking member onboarding flows, and the exact blueprint required to construct an internal data engineering and predictive analytics team from the ground up. The FinTech Experience Gap: Why modern consumers prioritize frictionless, instant fund movement over traditional branch relationships—and why credit unions must hold core mobile vendors strictly accountable. The Evolution of Physical Branches: Why physical footprints are pivoting completely away from low-value transaction processing and converting into high-value financial consultation hubs. Breaking Legacy Data Silos: Overcoming the universal industry bottleneck of transactional data trapped inside fragmented, disconnected core systems to build a single source of truth. Managing M&A Growth vs. Risk: Inside Dort Financial's acquisition strategy in highly competitive, fraud-prone markets like Florida without introducing customer friction. Operationalizing Predictive Data: Moving past simple rearview reporting into proactive "Next Best Action" modeling using internal data engineers, analysts, and AutoML structures. Key Executive Quote:"Every financial institution does basically the same thing, offers the same types of accounts... We truly have to keep our eyes open, our ears to the ground, and find those opportunities where we can provide a better experience and differentiate on that experience." — Adam K, CSO at Dort Financial 00:00 — Welcome to The Outlier Podcast & Guest Introduction01:09 — Adam K’s 30-Year Journey: From Public Relations to Credit Union Movement02:30 — Managing Rapid M&A Growth: Dort Financial’s Florida Bank Acquisition03:34 — The Biggest Strategic Shifts in Financial Services: The FinTech Threat05:07 — The Winning 3-to-5-Year Playbook for Modern Credit Unions06:20 — Building Authentic Brand Value & Emotional Connection Beyond Accounts07:43 — Where Traditional Credit Unions Underestimate Digital Competition09:30 — Balancing Member Experience vs. Advanced Fraud Mitigation13:47 — Building a Data & Business Intelligence Team from Scratch16:31 — The Reality of Legacy Data Silos, Predictive Models & GenAI18:37 — 2 Direct Strategic Recommendations for Mid-Sized Credit Unions Subscribe to The Outlier Podcast for weekly conversations with fintech leaders and credit union innovators reshaping the future of financial services. Follow Host Anurag Mukherjee on LinkedIn for daily updates on banking data systems, analytics transformation, and industry insights. #CreditUnion #Fintech #BankingStrategy #DataAnalytics #DigitalTransformation #TheOutlierPodcast #M&A #PredictiveModeling #BusinessIntelligence Key Discussion Points & TakeawaysEpisode TimestampsConnect with the Show

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A podcast aimed at honoring The Outliers.

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  • Creator
    TheOutlier Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © TheOutlier Podcast
  • Show Website
    TheOutlier Podcast