Selected - The Sesamers Podcast

By: Dan Taylor Ben Costantini
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  • Summary

  • Selected is the podcast from Sesamers.com, the community of Tech events lovers. We talk about events, art, the tech industry, science, entrepreneurship, music, venture capital, and everything in between.
    2023 Sesamers
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Leadership Economics
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Episodes
  • Pippa Boothman

    Pippa Boothman
    Oct 1 2024
    Combining Sports and Digital Experiences

    Playfinity, under the leadership of CEO Pippa Boothman, has taken a unique approach to keeping kids active. The company focuses on blending sports with digital experiences to encourage children to engage in physical activity. This idea was born out of the founders' personal experiences, observing their kids transition from hours of physical play to screen time. Playfinity's solution? Active gaming. By using gamification techniques, they have managed to create an engaging platform that motivates kids to stay active.

    Digitized Sporting Equipment

    Playfinity's product offering includes digitized sporting equipment that connects to a free app full of games. This allows kids to challenge themselves, play with others around the world, and even create leaderboards and avatars. The aim is not to create elite athletes, but to encourage kids to play more and play more often. Pippa explains, "There's a ton of sports tech for the 2 percent of kids that take the elite track. There's nothing for the 98 percent of kids who just want to have fun and who are at the biggest risk of dropping out."

    The Power of Gamification

    Playfinity's approach leverages the power of gamification to motivate kids to stay active. Pippa notes that the language kids understand today is technology and gamification. By using these tools, Playfinity is helping combat the global challenge of youth inactivity, which has significant physical and mental health implications. The company has successfully gamified physical activity, making it more appealing to the younger generation.

    Overcoming Challenges

    As a small company operating in the massive sectors of gaming, technology, and sports, Playfinity has faced its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles has been raising funds in a challenging economic climate. However, despite these difficulties, the company has managed to achieve significant milestones, including launching four products and gaining users in over 21 countries.

    The Future of Playfinity

    Looking ahead, Playfinity is excited about the potential of digitization in sports. Despite being early in this journey, the company is optimistic about the role technology will play in promoting physical activity among kids. As Pippa puts it, "In five years, there's going to be so much digitization in sports...soon it's going to be a much bigger category for the consumer." With this vision, Playfinity is set to revolutionize how kids engage in physical activity.

    Find Pippa on:

    LinkedIn: Pippa Boothman

    Find Ben on:

    LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

    Twitter/X: @bencostantini

    Be sure to follow Sesamers on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more cool stories from the people we catch during the best Tech events!
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    22 mins
  • Véronique Steiner

    Véronique Steiner
    Aug 12 2024
    A Journey of Innovation in FinTech: Véronique Steiner's VisionVéronique Steiner’s career in fintech showcases the sector’s dynamic growth and her entrepreneurial drive. Since joining J.P. Morgan six years ago to establish the FinTech and e-commerce segment, Véronique has played a crucial role in overseeing J.P. Morgan's fintech, media, telecom, and payments services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her leadership extends from supporting traditional banks to nurturing emerging fintechs. "We like to say we’re the bank behind the banks and the FinTech behind the FinTech," she notes, underscoring her pivotal role in driving innovation and building a successful business from scratch.Building a FinTech Powerhouse from the Ground UpJ.P. Morgan recruited Véronique to harness Europe’s robust fintech ecosystem. “We were covering large U.S. tech companies, but Europe had a strong fintech link,” Véronique explains. Establishing a successful segment required assembling a skilled team and implementing strong governance to manage the high-risk fintech environment. Today, her team of 25 experts navigates various aspects of fintech and e-commerce, from regulatory compliance to managing inbound subsidiaries for global players. This strategic approach is vital for navigating the complex payments and fintech landscape.J.P. Morgan’s Strategic Edge in FinTech InnovationJ.P. Morgan’s competitive advantage is rooted in its commitment to innovation and substantial technology investments. Véronique highlights, “We’re one of the only banks that invests billions annually in innovation. This allows us to stay at the forefront and support our clients with cutting-edge solutions.” This forward-thinking strategy is evident in J.P. Morgan’s European expansion, where it has solidified its presence. “Europe is our second biggest market,” Véronique notes, emphasizing recent investments in France and beyond. “We’re growing rapidly, continuing to invest and innovate.”FinTech Trends and the Rise of Banking as a Service (BaaS)The fintech sector is diverse, spanning cross-border payment solutions to insurtech innovations. Véronique Steiner explains, “FinTech covers everything from payments to financial technology services. Our role is to support clients across various fintech sectors, including cross-border payments and acquiring.” A notable trend is the increasing interest among traditional companies in transitioning to fintech roles themselves. “We’re seeing more corporates wanting to become payment service providers to maintain control over their data and consumer interactions,” she notes. Additionally, the rise of Banking as a Service (BaaS) presents transformative opportunities. Véronique elaborates, "It’s about allowing businesses to leverage our licenses and infrastructure,” enabling them to offer financial services while sidestepping regulatory complexities.Commitment to Diversity and Philanthropy in FinTechVéronique Steiner’s dedication to advancing diversity in fintech is evident through her involvement in the Rise Up and Amplify program at Money 2020, which supports individuals from diverse backgrounds in the payments industry. J.P. Morgan’s philanthropic initiatives in France, aimed at supporting women founders and educational programs, reflect a broader commitment to social responsibility. “We’re investing not just in business but also in the development of the French population,” Véronique affirms. Looking ahead, she emphasizes J.P. Morgan’s continued support for startups and innovators, encouraging engagement through conferences or LinkedIn for potential partnerships.Véronique Steiner’s dedication to advancing diversity in fintech is evident through her involvement in the Rise Up and Amplify program at Money 2020, which supports individuals from diverse backgrounds in the payments industry. J.P. Morgan’s philanthropic initiatives in France, aimed at supporting women founders and educational programs, reflect a broader commitment to social responsibility. “We’re investing not just in business but also in the development of the French population,” Véronique affirms. Looking ahead, she emphasizes J.P. Morgan’s continued support for startups and innovators, encouraging engagement through conferences or LinkedIn for potential partnerships. Find Véronique on:LinkedIn: Véronique SteinerTwitter/X: @jpmorgan Find Ben on:LinkedIn: Ben CostantiniTwitter/X: @bencostantini Be sure to follow Sesamers on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more cool stories from the people we catch during the best Tech events!
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    24 mins
  • Julie Ranty

    Julie Ranty
    Jul 29 2024
    The Power of Ambition in Scaling VivaTech

    Julie Ranty emphasizes the importance of ambition in scaling Viva Technology from its inception. "We were reaching for the stars right from the beginning," she said, reflecting on the initial goal to make VivaTech a global event. This ambition attracted top-tier speakers, companies, and innovations, helping to establish VivaTech as the largest European Tech event. Starting with 40,000 attendees in 2016, Viva Technology now hosts over 150,000 participants.

    Embracing AI and Internationalization

    One of the crucial strategies for VivaTech's success was making it an international event. Julie highlighted, "Tech is a very global ecosystem," which necessitated attracting international investors and participants. She also discussed how AI is becoming a driving force in the French Tech ecosystem, thanks to initiatives like Station F and policies from French President Emmanuel Macron. This global and AI-focused approach significantly contributed to VivaTech's rapid growth.

    Transition from Event Management to Founding Pollen

    After seven years of leading VivaTech, Julie decided to start her own venture. "I wanted to start my own company and go on the other side of the fence," she explains. This transition was driven by her passion for education and helping people understand and adapt to the rapidly changing world. Pollen, her new company, focuses on providing live, cohort-based training to ensure impactful learning experiences.

    Importance of Continuous Learning and Soft Skills

    Julie underscores the importance of continuous learning, especially in the fast-evolving tech industry. "Skills have a very short lifespan now," she notes, emphasizing that ongoing education is crucial. Pollen offers courses in both hard skills, like AI and sales methodologies, and essential soft skills. "Empathy, critical thinking, and creativity are crucial to differentiate yourself from machines," she says, highlighting the increasing relevance of these skills.

    Building a B2B-Focused Education Platform

    Pollen's unique approach targets companies, offering them the opportunity to distribute learning credits to their employees as a perk. This B2B model differentiates Pollen from other education platforms. As Julie explains, "we co-create trainings with our partners to match their business goals." By focusing on the needs of both startups and large corporations, Pollen ensures that its training programs are relevant, actionable, and highly impactful.

    Julie's journey from managing a leading Tech event to founding an innovative education platform showcases her visionary leadership and commitment to continuous learning. As she continues to develop Pollen, it's clear that her contributions to the tech and education sectors will remain significant.

    Find Julie on:

    • LinkedIn: Julie Ranty
    • Twitter/X: @JulieRanty

    Find Ben on:

    • LinkedIn: Ben Costantini
    • Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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    Be sure to follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more cool stories from the people we catch during the best Tech events!
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins

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