Bridging Research and Tech: SEB's Anastasia Varava on Banking, Regulation, and the Future of AI

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes sits down with Anastasia Varava, Research Lead at SEB, to explore how technology and banking intersect. Anastasia shares her journey from academia to applied research, the pioneering role of SEBx in driving innovation within a highly regulated industry, and the challenges of implementing new technologies in banking. The conversation dives into the importance of bridging technical and non-technical teams, the future of AI in financial services, and strategies for attracting top tech talent to mission-driven organizations.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Innovation in Banking

(00:56) Anastasia's Journey into Research and Innovation

(03:22) The Role of SEBX in Financial Innovation

(05:46) From Research to Real-World Impact

(10:50) Challenges in Banking Innovation

(13:49) Collaboration Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams

(15:26) Hiring for Applied Research Teams

(20:24) The Future of Banking Technologies

(25:00) Responsible AI Adoption in Banking

(30:53) Overhyped and Underappreciated AI Areas

(36:16) Leadership in Innovation

(42:01) Attracting Talent in Tech and Research