What are the best ways to advance your career in Financial Technology while maintaining work-life balance?

- Identify your superpower (analysis, story telling, fundraising, etc) and double down on it. - Focus on a specific area (digital marketing, risk management, val prop development, operations management etc) and become a subject matter expert. - Continue to learn and develop your network in your area of interest.

Think about market externalities (economic cycle, technology trends) and internal challenges (strategic goals, technical debt, key process bottlenecks). What skills and capabilities can you develop or enhance to take advantage of opportunities and mitigate threats?

Understand the end goal of the projects. Brainstorm with other players in the projects to gain deeper understanding of the process. Develop a process flow and build the systems. Break down the projects into pits and focus on the specific pit. learn to delegate part of the responsibilities that can be handled by other team members. Learn and relearn the newer fintech technologies.

Use the SMART framework to define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. For example, your goal could be to attain a certification in a specific FinTech area within the next six months, as it aligns with your long-term career aspirations. Ensure your goals are realistic and achievable within your available resources and timeframe.

Over my almost two decades in Financial Services, I've picked up a pretty counterintuitive skill: you have to look back as much as you look forward. A lot of knowledge is buried in the past, and the role of FS professionals involves connecting the dots from "FinTech's past" to what's coming. Shaking up our own ideas is crucial. I find useful listening to the critics, and exploring fields outside the traditional FinTech sphere, through books, podcasts, interviews, and talking to people that have been around longer than me. This approach helps broadening my perspective and continuously refining my ability to innovate and remain adaptable to the industry's changes.

Two of the fastest ways to stay on top of Fintech trends: 1. Attend leading Fintech conferences - Money20/20 or Singapore Fintech Festival. Organizers of those shows invest a lot of effort into building a strong agenda full of meaningful insights and great speakers. Pick a few themes and listen to talks by leaders and practitioners. This can help you understand the landscape and where the industry is moving. 2. Subscribe to Fintech influencers @Marcel van Oost, @Linas Beliunas, or TechCrunch Fintech newsletter. Take notes and research case studies: look at their solutions, download apps, read reviews, connect to people that work in these companies. Get inspiration from the industry leaders and try to apply some principles to your work

I remember working as a Product Manager on a Finance POD in my last company. Before that, I had no idea about how refund infrastructure works and there I was, solving refunds & and returns Tech for an organisation with over 50k Customers every day. I started with understanding how the whole process work manually and then I built my own refund system which got approved by the operation team after multiple iterations but that eventually solved and automated the whole process. I think taking that challenge was worth it considering it made me learn how money flows while doing a simple refund and return in franchise model-based companies.

Never settle! In the world of fintech, new technologies are created every single day; hence, you have to be constantly ready to seize new opportunities coming your way. Whether it's participating in industry-related events or meeting up with fellow professionals, dedicate your time to growth and put it on your calendar.

With your laptop, mobile phone and smartwatch, you can work everywhere, but that also means you have to work everywhere. Here's the thing: for a good work-life balance, you need clear boundaries. Set specific times for work and relaxation. Tell your colleagues and bosses about these times. Remember, work problems are never-ending, but it's okay. Giving your mind a break is key to balancing work and life. Stick to these boundaries, and you'll find that balance. It's about knowing when to work and when to step back and breathe.

Assess your current commitments and obligations, both personal and professional. Identify your top priorities based on their importance and urgency. Allocate dedicated time to work on tasks and activities that directly contribute to your career advancement. Set boundaries to protect your personal time and avoid burnout. Establish effective time management techniques, such as utilizing calendars, to-do lists, and productivity tools to stay organized and focused.

Network extensively and intentionally - invite people for 1:1 chats or join industry meetups or HH. Take time to understand what people and their companies do, what challenges they solve and what they’re driven by. These conversations can be more enlightening than any reading - and sometimes can bring you not just insights, but also great opportunities.

the key to balancing career advancement with personal well-being is to be proactive, self-aware, and flexible in your approach. Each individual's situation is unique, so it's important to find a balance that works best for you.