Five Questions with Valerio Magliulo

Valerio Magliulo | @valeriomagliulo

Talk Title:

Open APIs in banking and what it means for consumers.

Why did you agree to speak at WXG?

We are building a new kind of bank at Monzo and technology is at the core of what we do. The financial sector is undergoing a drastic technological revolution and WXG is the perfect forum to open a debate about it. I am very excited to discuss the Monzo journey and showcase it alongside some incredible industry leaders.

What do you think attendees will get out of your talk?

Some people are frustrated with how banking currently works and are probably excited to hear what the future holds. Other attendees might not even realise they should feel frustrated, as they might not grasp the scope of possibilities that technology has created to deliver a better service. Everyone will have a better understanding of which direction the industry is heading and maybe some of them will be prompted to join the revolution!

How did you get into your field?

I feel that joining Monzo has been the completion of a circle of experiences that started with my education. I studied a Bachelor and a Masters in Finance, then joined an investment bank. I grew very intrigued in technology and what start-ups across different industries were building with tech. I moved to Uber in Operations to understand how an established tech company works and then joined an early stage start-up in the Operations team to gain exposure to the early struggles of a young venture. At Monzo, I am responsible for making our Operations scalable and efficient. I build internal tools that allow us to support our exponential customer growth in a sustainable way.

Who is your inspiration in the industry?

I admire TransferWise and their hard line against bank charges on exchange rates. They have an obvious customer obsession, delightful product experience and admirable mission to bring transparency to the industry.

What advice would you give to someone new to the industry?

The financial sector is one of the most regulated industries of all time. Resilience is a key skill for anyone approaching this industry as they will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles: from regulatory hurdles to giant corporations ready to lobby against change. It is also one of the most exciting places to be creative, and fresh minds can bring a welcomed change to an industry that hasn’t kept up with technology and customer needs.

Valerio will be talking at WXG on the 23rd March, 2017