ISITC TALKTIME: How Data and AI are Transforming Finance

ISITC TALKTIME: How Data and AI are Transforming Finance

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Cathy Wright

TalkTime Podcast: How Data and AI are Transforming Finance

Part 1

Step into the fast-moving world of financial technology with Dr. Anthony Gandy and Dr. Tatja Karkkainen—a celebrated fintech entrepreneur and academic, recognized on the Women in FinTech Power List. This two part podcast entitled ‘How Data and AI are Transforming Finance’, follows on from their research paper ‘Bridging FinTech and RegTech: Digital Assets and AI Solutions for UK SME Equity Financing’, which was published in 2025, is a masterclass in bridging the gap between academic research and real-world innovation, revealing how new ideas are reshaping the financial landscape.

What makes this discussion unmissable?

• Innovation vs. Regulation: Discover why regulatory technology (regtech) is racing to keep up with the latest financial products, and how this lag creates both challenges and opportunities.
• SME Financing Revolution: Explore how crowdfunding and tokenization are rewriting the rules for small and medium-sized businesses, making funding more accessible than ever.
• Crypto & DeFi Unpacked: Get a clear-eyed look at the promise—and complexity—of crypto, decentralized finance, and real-time asset settlement, and what these mean for business growth.
• AI for Compliance: Learn why robust controls and artificial intelligence are now essential for compliance and operational efficiency in finance.
• Financial Inclusion: Hear actionable ideas for expanding business loan access and driving financial inclusion in developed markets.

This podcast isn’t just informative—it’s a roadmap for anyone eager to understand how technology, regulation, and entrepreneurial spirit are converging to shape the future of finance. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, this is your essential listen.

Part 1

Viewing time: 27 mins

How Data and AI are Transforming Finance – Part 2

Ready to discover what’s next in fintech, payments, and digital assets? Join industry leaders Tony and Tatja as they break down the hottest trends and boldest ideas shaping tomorrow’s financial world.

What’s Inside This Episode?

• Stablecoins & Payment Disruption:
  See how new digital currencies and fintechs are shaking up old-school payment systems and slashing fees.
• Global Money Moves:
  Get the inside scoop on why US and UK payment systems are worlds apart—and what it means for global professionals.
• Innovation Meets Regulation:
  Learn how entrepreneurs are launching ICOs, navigating regulatory sandboxes, and turning compliance into a competitive edge.
• Winning Teams & Smart Investors:
  Find out why diverse teams and financial know-how are the secret sauce for success in crypto and fintech.
• Tech on the Horizon:
  Peek into the future with AI and quantum computing—discover how these breakthroughs could transform finance as we know it.

Don’t miss out—tune in now and get ahead of the curve!

Viewing time: 27 mins

Tatja (Tati) Karkkainen, PhD, is a researcher and innovator specialising in financial technology, digital assets, and alternative investments. She leads Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) activities at Kiitot, focusing on digital asset valuation, tokenisation and regulatory technology (RegTech). Her focus is in SME services.

Dr Karkkainen is the author of The FinTech Evolution: Technology Push, Market Pull Dynamics, and Inertia and a member of the CAIA Association. Her work bridges academia and industry, combining econometric analysis, blockchain applications, and policy insight to explore how emerging technologies transform financial systems.

She has collaborated internationally on fintech education and research initiatives and contributes regularly to discussions on digital-asset markets and the future of financial infrastructure. You can read her latest article entitled ‘Utility Tokens in Portfolio Allocation: The Digital Counterparts to Commodities here

Dr Anthony (Tony) Gandy  is Director of Academic Research at ISITC Europe. He led a nine month academic research study on the global impact of North America moving to T+1, which was commissioned by the SWIFT Institute, the resulting academic paper (Industry preparedness for Accelerated Settlement) and industry report (Accelerated Settlement – Global Trend, Local Challenges) are now available on the ISITC Europe and Swift websites.

His expertise is in banking, fintech, regulation, electronics, and corporate strategy and has worked in and around the financial services sector for over thirty years, including financial journalism (The Banker), investment banking (Daiwa Securities), bank regulation (Bank of England), banking education (LIBF). Playing a leading role in developing several master’s degrees for mid-career bankers looking to progress to senior management.

Over the past 30 years he has maintained an active engagement and output in academia, collaborating with academics from Southampton, Kent, and Ulster universities, as well as on his own. Producing hundreds of articles, reports and academic papers on corporate strategy, bank technology and strategies in the electronics, computing, and banking sectors.