Waters Wavelength

Shameek Kundu, former chief data officer at Standard Chartered, and now head of financial services and chief strategy officer at Truera, a startup dedicated to building trust in AI, joined the Waters Wavelength Podcast to talk about AI explainability and how regulators approach the use of AI. 5:00 Shameek joins the podcast and talks about the speed and focus that moving to a startup has given him. 10:00 While today there is broad adoption of AI within the capital markets firms, the depth may not be there. 11:30 The question cannot always be, ‘Why not use AI?’ It could also be, ‘Why do I use AI?’ 14:30 Shameek says infrastructure for building and deploying ML models is still an art more than science. 15:30 The barriers that exist for AI in capital markets is the lack of trustworthiness and reliability of those models over time. 21:30 Not many firms have a mature data and infrastructure blueprint to allow for AI innovation. 23:00 Shameek adds that in some ways, the data translator role is a stop-gap measur

This week, Wei-Shen and Tony give listeners an overview of our three heavy-hitters of the week. https://www.waterstechnology.com/data-management/7842386/putting-the-green-in-green-data-rise-of-impact-investing-drives-esg-ma https://www.waterstechnology.com/emerging-technologies/7841241/technical-difficulties-openfin-says-its-committed-to-fdc3-while-others-have-their-doubts https://www.waterstechnology.com/data-management/7841696/one-step-closer-how-exchanges-are-seeking-tighter-relationships-with-clients They start with Max Bowie’s ESG consolidation story first. Then they hit on Reb Natale’s piece on interoperability (Tony’s favorite topic) and OpenFin’s commitment to FDC3. Then Shen gives a summary of the exchange data licenses story she and Joanna Wright wrote.

This week, Shen and Tony delve a little into Facebook and Apple’s privacy feud, in which Apple is, in an iOS update, prompting users to give apps permission to track their activity. Facebook could be hurt by this move as it directly threatens revenue from targeted ads. How does that argument fit into overall privacy concerns as people start to go into hybrid remote-working models? Shen and Tony discuss how surveillance technology and compliance tools can dig into people’s privacy. But if people want to work with a bit more freedom or have the option to, what is that privacy trade-off? Then, Tony brings up his favorite topic, app interoperability, and how it could create privacy concerns we’ve not thought about before.

This week’s episode is all about Tony! First off, he’s now fully vaccinated! Wei-Shen calls him out for bragging that he doesn’t (usually) get reactions to vaccines. Tony also had his first in-person interview at the very-loved White Horse Tavern in Downtown Manhattan. We discuss his issues with anxiety and how he has dealt with it so far. Then, they discuss how things will start to change when people start to go back to offices. There will be new anxieties that people have to deal with. How do firms manage that without alienating their workforce? How do they encourage their people to overcome their anxieties instead of shrinking away from things that make them uncomfortable? The key, we think, is also in showing empathy, even when we don’t fully understand the why or how.

This week, Keiren Harris, strategy-based market data consultant and the founder of DataCompliance, joins Wei-Shen on the podcast to discuss how exchanges in Asia are approaching their data business. Keiren also writes about market data issues on MarketData.Guru. Also, next week from May 17 through to May 20, we have the WatersTechnology Innovation Exchange Data Insights Spotlight. Check out the agenda here. https://events.waterstechnology.com/innovation-exchange-data/agenda 5:00 Keiren joins the podcast, and they start with how things are literally heating up in Hong Kong. 7:00 He explains how exchanges are transitioning from providing raw data service to one where they’re adding value to their products, and the challenges in doing so. 10:00 Asian exchanges are a bit farther in the development of their data service. 13:00 The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has refocused over the years to develop its index business. 17:00 Keiren says the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is the classic transition exchange in

This week, Annie Wu, senior conference producer at Infopro Digital (WatersTechnology’s owner), joins Wei-Shen on the Waters Wavelength Podcast. They talk about the switch from physical to virtual events, AI matching engines for networking, and the future of capital markets events. Annie also gives a preview of our upcoming events—WatersTechnology Innovation: Data Insights Spotlight and WatersTechnology Innovation Exchange: Business Strategy & Leadership Spotlight. https://events.waterstechnology.com/innovation-exchange-data https://events.waterstechnology.com/innovation-exchange-leadership

This week, Robert Wigley, chairman at UK Finance, joins Wei-Shen on the Waters Wavelength podcast to talk about his new book ‘Born Digital’ and how firms can attract Gen-Z talent. 7:00 Bob joins the podcast and gives an overview of his book ‘Born Digital.’ 10:00 He explains how purpose has changed. Gen-Z particularly looks to join companies that serve some societal purpose too. 13:00 How can companies in the capital markets drive sustainability and inclusivity in their hiring policies and actually put words into action. 17:00 Achieve, or explain! 18:00 Bob explains the concept of ‘phigital workspaces’ and how biophilic workplaces are becoming more popular. 21:00 The challenge in this more blurred workplace environment is how companies can reinforce teamwork and facilitate innovation. 23:00 Demonstrating technology sophistication is a key criteria for Gen-Z. 28:00 Every company has its own culture, but they should recognize that it can impact how they attract new talent. 31:00 It all comes down to recogni

Eugene Stern, head of market risk product, and Brad Foster, head of enterprise data content at Bloomberg respectively, join the Waters Wavelength Podcast to talk about a range of topics relating to the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book and how firms are looking for product offerings that are more modular and flexible. 4:00 Eugene and Brad join the podcast. 6:00 Eugene talks about why firms are still struggling with FRTB implementations. 10:00 Brad details the data challenge and how it presents an opportunity for banks to review their data management strategies. 13:30 To have that consistency and alignment in data management strategies, what do firms need to address today? 16:00 FRTB brings about a change in the balance between regulatory capital calculations and risk measures for internal risk management. For example, the internal model approach has gotten very challenging to implement due to very specific requirements. Instead, banks are tending towards the standardized approach from a reg cap perspe

On this episode of the Wavelength Podcast, Wei-Shen and Tony discuss their backup data habits.

On this episode of the Wavelength Podcast, Wei-Shen and Tony discuss tech disruption in the bar industry.

George Mussalli, chief investment officer of equity investments at the firm, and Mike Chen, the firm’s director of portfolio management and sustainable investing, joined the Waters Wavelength Podcast to talk about a range of topics relating to ESG. Innovation Exchange: Mike Chen will be a speaker at this year’s Innovation Exchange, a virtual conference that will be held from March 22-25. To listen to Chen’s panel discussion and others, you can register here: https://events.waterstechnology.com/innovation-exchange-tech/register-now?form_track=podcast 2:00 To start, George and Mike give background on PanAgora and the firm’s ultimate investment strategy. 6:00 Mike explains what ESG means to PanAgora. 9:00 George lays out the ultimate investment objective for a chief investment officer when incorporating ESG into a portfolio. 15:00 Let’s get hypothetical: A company is extremely climate efficient and has extremely high employee satisfaction, but they have terrible board diversity and make monetary contribution

On this episode of the Wavelength Podcast, Wei-Shen and Tony talk about the importance of communication when it comes to M&A activity within a company.

This week, Wei-Shen and Tony speak with WatersTechnology’s new GameStop editor Rebecca Natale to get the skinny on the Reddit vs. Wall Street saga. WARNING: As noted at the start of the podcast, there are a fair number of curse words that are uncensored used throughout this episode. Please do not listen if you are offended by that kind of language, and for the love of God, wear headphones if you are in a public place listening to this, or are around children.

Wei-Shen and Tony are trying a different format this year with the podcast, and they start by discussing mental health and ways to help and support coworkers and friends.

For the last podcast of 2020 here at WatersTechnology, Wei-Shen speaks with Likhit Wagle, general manager of global banking at IBM, about how financial firms are approaching cloud and containerization technologies. 5:00 Likhit joins the podcast and opens by explaining how banks should approach their cloud strategies. 13:00 He then discusses IBM Cloud for Financial Services and how banks are currently migrating to the public cloud. 16:00 Next, they look at the challenges associated with a cloud architecture versus on-prem. 23:00 Then he examines optimal ways for firms to keep on top of their cloud expenditure. 30:00 From there, Wagle delves into the challenges and costs associated with sunsetting an application. 34:00 He follows that with a look at how IBM Cloud for Financial Services structures contracts around flexibility. 38:30 While a believer in containerization, he analyzes what firms should be aware of when using these services? 46:00 Wagle wraps up the conversation by talking about his hopes for 20

This week, John Lin, founder and now chairman of Grasshopper, a Singaporean prop-trading firm, joins Wei-Shen on the podcast. They talk about his experience as a trader, why he left, and the projects he’s working on now. 4:00 John joins the podcast and talks about travel challenges during the pandemic. 8:00 John talks about his experiences in the open outcry trading pits, building a company from the ground up, and what led him to step back from his day-to-day responsibilities. 15:30 When it comes to technology, John says change is a constant, and it’s a reason why banks have struggled to keep pace with new innovations. 24:00 John next explains why he’s a believer in blockchain’s long-term adoption. 33:30 Since stepping back as CEO of Grasshopper, John’s joined something called Mastermind, which is a collection of innovative thinkers from an assortment of different fields. He discusses some of the more interesting projects that he’s been involved with through Masterminds. 44:30 To wrap things up, he

This week, two bank technology executives join the podcast to discuss what’s driving innovation in the capital markets during a pandemic, and the challenges that lie ahead. Before that, Wei-Shen incorrectly calls this Episode 222. In her defense, she's under two-week quarantine. Let's get to the show! Joerg Landsch: Head of Innovation, Americas, Deutsche Bank Apoorv Saxena: Global Head of AI Technology, JP Morgan Chase 4:00 How did the pandemic change “innovation” projects in 2020? 10:00 How did AI development change this year? 16:30 How has cloud, API, and open-source adoption help banks navigate the challenges of 2020? (Some DLT and quantum computing talk in here, too.) 23:30 What were some of the key lessons learned during the pandemic? 28:30 Why is interoperability and breaking down data siloes becoming even more important? 33:30 What are the greatest challenges when it comes to keeping a team engaged when everyone is working remotely?

Wei-Shen and Tony take a look at some headlines involving ESG. Come for the headlines, stay for the snark.

This week, Wei-Shen and Tony discuss some headlines from across the industry. 2:30 Texas woos financial services firms located in New Jersey. (Dallas Morning News) https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2020/11/09/nasdaq-and-other-trading-exchanges-to-meet-with-texas-gov-abbott-about-potential-move/#:~:text=The%20Dallas%20Morning%20News%20reported,the%20state's%20business%2Dfriendly%20environment. 11:00 Goldman moving staff to lower-cost cities around the US/World. (Business Insider) https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-staff-low-cost-hubs-dallas-salt-lake-bangalore-2020-11 24:30 The best programming languages & platforms for data science in finance. (efinancialcareers) https://news.efinancialcareers.com/us-en/3004783/graham-giller-data-science-finance

David Hardoon, senior advisor for data and artificial intelligence at UnionBank of the Philippines, joins to discuss all things artificial intelligence and machine learning. 4:00 David talks about his previous role at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. What can you do vs. what should you do? 8:30 He explains how the accessibility of data and ML tools can lead to the convergence of ML algos. 15:00 How do firms get an edge? Hope is not a strategy. 18:00 Simulation is key in exploiting operational alpha. 27:30 How does adversarial AI play a part in this? 33:00 What should traders do to ensure authenticity? 40:00 David explains what operationalizing data and AI at UnionBank means.