Fintech for Inclusivity, Growth, and the Future
A Message from Debora Jackson, Dean, WPI Business School
Dear Delegates,
As Dean of The WPI Business School, I am delighted to welcome you to our groundbreaking conference, Fintech for Inclusivity, Growth, and the Future. This event is of paramount importance as it sheds light on the significant disruptions caused by FinTech in the financial services industry, surpassing anything we have witnessed before. The urgency of this disruption creates tremendous opportunity while demanding immediate and proactive responses from both higher education institutions and the business community...
Organizers
Sponsors
Oct 19 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Mass High Tech Council MassVision 2050 | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Christopher Anderson
President of Massachusetts High Technology Council
Chris Anderson joined the Council in 1984 and since 2001 has served as president, responsible to the Board of Directors for the successful development and implementation of public policy programs and initiatives in Massachusetts and in Washington, D.C. that help make Massachusetts the world’s most attractive place to create, operate, and expand technology businesses.
Chris is directly involved in resolving conflicts and advocating positions on a broad range of state and federal public policy, legislative and regulatory issues. Possessing a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and a J.D. from Suffolk University, School of Law, Chris is a member of the Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations.
Panelist: Grace Wang
17th President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Grace Wang, PhD, began as WPI’s 17th president on April 3, 2023. She is also a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WPI.
Elected by the WPI Board of Trustees after an extensive national search, Wang comes to WPI from The Ohio State University (OSU) where she served as executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge, and as a professor in Materials Science and Engineering. At OSU, Wang’s efforts helped expand the university’s research and innovation ecosystem, achieving $1.38 billion in annual R&D expenditures during her tenure. With a strong focus on supporting faculty, staff, and student researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, Wang led the team to support curiosity-driven research; attract external funding to establish multiple large-scale, impact-driven, interdisciplinary research centers; launch campus-wide entrepreneurial activities; and enable experiential learning opportunities. Wang played a leading role in building a few large-scale, strategic university-industry partnerships, setting the vision, and paving the pathways for the development of OSU’s innovation district.
Wang began her career at IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies where she focused on research and development of thin-film magnetic recording media and carbon overcoat for data storage. She holds seven U.S. patents.
In 2022, Wang was appointed by the White House to serve on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. She is a council member of the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the New York Academy of Sciences. She also serves on the Board of Massachusetts High Technology Council (MHTC).
Wang earned a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.
Panelist: Sumedh Mehta
Chief Information Officer, Putnam Investments
Mr. Mehta is Chief Information Officer for Putnam Investments. He is responsible for the overall strategic direction and execution of Putnam’s global technology solutions. In addition, he is a member of Putnam’s Operating Committee and Diversity Advisory Council. Mr. Mehta has over 20 years of experience in managing information technology systems in the investment industry, where he has led transformational change in the areas of software development, information technology, and business operations. He joined Putnam in 2015 and has been in the investment industry since 1988.
Prior to joining Putnam, Mr. Mehta was Senior Vice President of Equity, High Income, and Pyramis Technology at
Fidelity Investments from 2011 to 2015; Director of Operational Effectiveness at Marsh & McLennan from 2009 to
2010; Worldwide Partner and Head of Global Operations at Mercer from 2005 to 2009; Head of the Financial
Services Business Unit at Patni from 2002 to 2005; and Chief Executive Officer at The Reference from 1996 to
2002.
Mr. Mehta earned an M.B.A. from Babson College, an M.S. from Columbia University, and a B.Sc. (Hons) from
Southampton University.
Panelist: Chris Zannetos
Founder and CEO, Covered Security
Chris Zannetos is a serial tech entrepreneur and passionate believer in STEM education as a powerful tool to drive economic advancement and battle generational poverty. The companies that Chris founded have created hundreds of jobs and generated over $300 million in revenue. He is currently co-founder and CEO of Covered Security, which empowers and motivates people to avoid the cost, time, and hassle of identity theft and scams - and helps financial institutions expand digital engagement and reduce fraud.
Chris is also the founder and chairman of STEMatch, www.stematchma.org, a 501c3 non-profit that drives business-education collaboration to make the opportunities of STEM education and jobs accessible to underserved communities. STEMatch and its corporate partners have held Career Days for nearly 1,000 Boston and Lowell Public School students - and provide skills training, mentoring, and internships through its COMPETE program to tech students at Franklin Cummings Tech, and MassBay and North Shore Community Colleges. Chris earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT.
Panelist: Elizabeth Mahoney
Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Massachusetts High Technology Council
Elizabeth Mahoney is the High Tech Council’s Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, responsible for the development and execution of the Council’s public policy agenda dedicated to advancing the solutions necessary to sustain Massachusetts’ leadership as a state with a strong and multi-faceted innovation economy and a highly skilled—and mobile—workforce.
Prior to joining the Council, Elizabeth worked in the Office of Governor Charlie Baker, as a Deputy Chief of Staff and the Policy Director, and then as Senior Advisor to the Governor. For eight years, Elizabeth managed the development and implementation of the Governor’s policy agenda, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including business groups and advocacy organizations. She helped to draft and pass major legislative initiatives and played a leadership role in the administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard College.
Panelist: John Chartier
Partner, McKinsey & Company
John Chartier is a Partner with McKinsey & Company’s Boston Office. He joined McKinsey in 2011 and focuses on serving companies across the life science value chain, including extensive work in top team effectiveness, leadership transformations, talent to value, merger management, and organization design. John is a leader in the firm’s Life Sciences and People & Organization Practices where he works extensively with C-Suites on large-scale leadership programs and transformations. At McKinsey, John is one of the global partner leaders of the firm’s Talent Attraction function. John earned his B.S. from Babson and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Oct 19 | 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Fireside Chat with Mike Fanning: The Future of Fintech in the Insurance Industry | Unity Hall 500
Host: Debora Jackson
Dean, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson is Professor of Practice and Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a premiere STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based institution recognized for project-based education that integrates the theory and practice of management. In response to changing industry needs, Dr. Jackson seeks to promote research, collaboration, and partnerships that understand broader societal needs and recast the vision for business education in ways that prepare leaders to disrupt, reorient, and innovate for societal impact.
Guest: Mike Fanning
Former Head of MassMutual U.S. / Co-Chair for Mass Fintech Hub / Board Member of MassChallenge
Mike Fanning, former Head of MassMutual U.S., to its Board of Directors. Throughout his 37-year career, Fanning held pivotal roles shaping technology strategies, driving digital transformation, and championing innovation in wealth management.
Mike recently concluded a distinguished 17-year career at MassMutual. As head of the company’s domestic insurance business, he led an unprecedented period of growth and change for the company. Known as a trailblazer in the insurance industry, Fanning expanded MassMutual’s suite of protection and wealth management solutions and was a leading force in enhancing the company’s technology platform to meet advisor and customer needs.
Mike is also the Co-Chair for Mass Fintech Hub, Board Member of MassChallenge, and a Board Member of Advisor 360.
Oct 19 | 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm | Panel: TradeFi: At the Intersection of Supply Chain, Trade Finance, and Web3 | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Mike Wise
Head of Partnerships at Boston Blockchain Association
As Head of Partnerships, Mike is an ambassador for the Boston Blockchain Association in the global blockchain and Web3 communities with a focus on strategic connections that catalyze the development of the emerging blockchain innovation ecosystem.
Recognizing the transformative potential of blockchain for B2B and B2C enterprises, Mike was inspired to take the MIT Sloan Blockchain Technologies course. After attending Boston Blockchain Week 2019, Mike volunteered to assist the BBA with events and social media, later accepting a position as Director and then Board Chair from the Summer 2020 until Fall of 2021.
Previously, Mike spent about 10 years with ADP, 10 years in e-commerce, 5 years in Social Tech (Web2.0), and now almost 5 years in Web3.
Panelist: Sara Saberi
Assistant Professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Panelist: Abdullah Yildizbasi
Associate Professor of Green & Sustainable Supply Chain | Blockchain & Big Data Researcher | Circular Economy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Panelist: Craig Krigsman
President and CEO – Cloud | SaaS | Digital | Mobile | Enterprise Platforms | Delivering Outcomes at Actual Outcomes
Panelist: Sam Nathans
Systems Architect of Applied Blockchain Technologies
As Vice-Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of the Strategic Development Committee, Sam works to inspire development and facilitate execution of medium-to-long term goals and initiatives with a focus on resources and community tools.
One of the first attending members of the Boston Blockchain Association, Sam volunteered in the creation of the organization's virtual events infrastructure in early 2020 and later that year was invited to join the association's governance body.
Sam is a Systems Architect with over a decade of experience in applied research and use-case design of decentralized technologies in both industry and civics.
In his passion for the intersection of technology, philosophy, economics, and legal systems, Sam is motivated in the development of educational resources and in the cross-collaboration between academic research and industry communities.
Oct 20 | 9:30 am - 10:30 am | Panel: Building a Better Future: Harnessing Blockchain for Social Good | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Shane Gao
Professor Fintech at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Panelist: Daniel Treku
Assistant Teaching Professor of Management Informa, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Daniel N. Treku teaches blockchain-related courses for business applications, business intelligence, and data science at the Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts. His ongoing research lies at the intersection of network technologies (such as blockchain technology), digital platforms, data analytics, fintech (AI-, cryptocurrency- and NFT-related), and Green IS. Mainly, his research utilizes conceptual and empirical approaches toward broader financial inclusivity and social good aims. The innovative approaches and tools utilized influence his teaching and project advisement for greater pedagogical impact, fostering responsible and ethical students and professionals who are well-suited for the ever-changing business landscape. He has multiple book chapters, IS conference proceedings, and publications in journals such as the International Journal of Information Management and Finance Research Letters.
Panelist: Kate Lipper-Garabedian
State Representative at Massachusetts House of Representatives, Mass Gov
Since March 2020, Kate Lipper-Garabedian has serve as the State Representative for the 32nd Middlesex District, composed of the City of Melrose and parts of the Town of Wakefield and City of Malden. A former seventh grade public school teacher, she previously served as the Chief Legal Counsel to the Massachusetts Secretary of Education. In her first two legislative sessions, she has filed several bills related to blockchain technology and co-chairs the House Blockchain Technology Caucus.
Panelist: Sam Nathans
Systems Architect of Applied Blockchain Technologies
As Vice-Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of the Strategic Development Committee, Sam works to inspire development and facilitate execution of medium-to-long term goals and initiatives with a focus on resources and community tools.
One of the first attending members of the Boston Blockchain Association, Sam volunteered in the creation of the organization's virtual events infrastructure in early 2020 and later that year was invited to join the association's governance body.
Sam is a Systems Architect with over a decade of experience in applied research and use-case design of decentralized technologies in both industry and civics.
In his passion for the intersection of technology, philosophy, economics, and legal systems, Sam is motivated in the development of educational resources and in the cross-collaboration between academic research and industry communities.
Panelist: Joseph Mancini
EVP | Chief Operating Officer at BankProv
Oct 20 | 9:30 am - 10:30 am | Panel: Fintech and EdTech: Revolutionizing Finance and Education in the Digital Age | Unity Hall 400
Moderator: Brent French
Assistant Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Brent currently serves as the Assistant Dean of The WPI Business School and is responsible for accreditation, finance, and operations for 45 faculty and staff, 200+ undergraduate majors, and 200+ graduate students across six programs including an MBA and PhD program.
He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from WPI, and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. He was selected as a Senior Fellow in the Next Jump Leadership Think Tank from 2020 to 2022 and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education Management Development Program in 2023.
Panelist: Chuck Collins
Director, University Research & Engagement - Fidelity Center for Applied Technology at Fidelity
Chuck Collins spearheads FCAT’s university research collaborations and engagement, leveraging his background as a startup and business educator, coach, and investor. Chuck has dedicated his career to innovation work as both an educator and creator of emerging technology products. Prior to joining Fidelity in 2021, he coached founders and startups at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School and Babson College, where he designed entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship programs like the HBS Rock Accelerator.
With an MBA from Babson College and degrees in Social Change and Economics from Sam Houston State University and Nutrition Science and Business Administration from Texas A&M University, Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives to creative and collaborative research engagements.
Panelist: Eric Blue
Founder & CEO at Nevly
Panelist: Ernesto C. Martinez-Villalpando
Head of Corporate Development and Innovation at Mass Challenge
Panelist: Siobhan (Scanlon) Dullea
Executive Director of Innovate@BU at Boston University
Siobhan Dullea is a nationally respected business innovator and executive leader with over three decades of experience in the private sector. As the President and CEO of MassChallenge a global startup accelerator, she drove substantial growth and change, building transformative partnerships with private funders, and successfully navigating the organization through the pandemic-era shift to virtual work. She is a founding team member of the Mass FinTech Hub – a public-private partnership comprising a network of fintech leaders, financial experts, academics, public sector leaders and venture capitalists who empower fintech startups to achieve success.
Panelist: Berlendah Dure
Head of Sales & User Experience at Renavest
Panelist: Asha Mehta
Managing Partner & CIO at Global Delta Capital
Asha Mehta, CFA, is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Global Delta Capital and the author of the book, Power of Capital: An Adventure Capitalist’s Journey to a Sustainable Future. Her thematic focus includes Emerging & Frontier Markets and Sustainable Investing.
She was previously an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Lead Portfolio Manager and Director of Responsible Investing at Acadian Asset Management. Early in her career, she conducted microfinance lending in India. She has traveled to over 80 countries and lived in six.
Asha is a market maker and investment pioneer. She managed the world’s first Frontier markets fund as well as the first institutional actively managed Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Free fund. She launched one of the earliest onshore China strategies in the United States. Separately, Asha led the first quantitative investor to become a signatory to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investing, which now oversees more than $100 trillion in investment assets.
Asha was named one of the Top 10 Women in Asset Management by Money Management Executive and profiled as a “Brilliant Quant” by Forbes magazine. Asha is an active advocate of financial literacy and financial empowerment. She is a supporter of several related organizations, including Compass Working Capital and 100 Women in Finance.
Asha holds an MBA with Honors from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a B.S., Biological Sciences, and A.B., Anthropology, from Stanford University. She lives between Boston and Florida with her husband and three children.
Oct 20 | 10:30 am - 11:30 am | Panel: ESG Finance: Defining Sustainable Growth in Diverse Industries | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Rob Sarnie
Professor of Practice of Fintech, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rob Sarnie is a Professor of Practice in FinTech. He joined WPI from Fidelity Investments, where he spent 23 years in the finance industry, holding multiple executive leadership positions including VP of Strategy and Planning, VP Human Resource Systems, and VP Finance, Procurement, and Accounting Systems. Rob also held positions in the public and private sectors for companies in the manufacturing and nonprofit industries.
Rob is also extremely focused on collaborating and advancing the fintech ecosystem by being the Director of the WPI Fintech Project Center, Co-PI of the WPI “FAB Lab for Social Good”, and by being one of the leaders of the “Talent, Academics, & Diversity” workstream within Mass Fintech Hub.
Panelist: Cliff Weiner
Managing Director at Preston Hollow Capital
Cliff Weiner is a Managing Director at Preston Hollow Community Capital, LLC. In this role, he oversees the fixed income investment strategy. He brings 30 years of diverse experience in portfolio investment, origination, acquisitions leadership and fixed income trading.
Prior to joining Preston Hollow Community Capital in January 2014, Mr. Weiner spent 17 years with a Dallas-based diversified financial services firm in multiple capacities. In his most recent position, he served as CEO and president of the firm’s municipal finance group where he managed trading of the company’s municipal bond portfolio and origination of private placements and loans for a held-for-sale portfolio. Mr. Weiner previously served as managing director of corporate development for the firm, where he shared responsibility for various high-profile deals. These included the acquisition of investment bank Houlihan Lokey and the $60 billion sale of a master servicing platform to Key Bank. His initial position was managing director of the company’s CMBS business unit. In this role he specialized in CMBS and ABS investment and trading in addition to real estate lending. Mr. Weiner began his career with Kidder Peabody/PaineWebber as a senior vice president of institutional fixed income sales.
He received his Bachelor of Science in physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute before going on to earn his MBA in finance from Duke University.
https://phccap.com/team/cliff-weiner/
Panelist: Dean Stratouly
President/CEO at The Congress Group
Panelist: Clyde Blaise Niba
Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs / Founder at Net12
Clyde-Blaise Niba is an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs within the Natural Resources and Energy group. His professional background includes investment banking, supply chain management, and operations across North America and Europe with a commitment to leadership and entrepreneurial excellence. Clyde earned an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and holds a B.A. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
Panelist: Betsy Mule
Senior Associate at F-Prime Capital
Oct 20 | 1:30pm - 2:30pm | Panel: Emerging Horizons: Unveiling the Future of Fintech | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Mohammed Dastigir
Head of FinTech & HealthTech Partnerships, Ecosystem Development at MassMutual
Mohammed leads MassMutual’s engagement in FinTech & HealthTech programs as well as broader FinTech Ecosystem Initiatives including the launch of the Mass Fintech Hub, which is a public-private engagement representing leaders from across the innovative ecosystem, focused on making Massachusetts the global Fintech Hub. Mohammed is also the current Chairman of the MassChallenge FinTech Founding Partners Advisory Board.
Mohammed joined MassMutual in 2008 as a technology leader overseeing key product launches and technology initiatives across the company including standing up a new business line. Additionally, Mohammed was appointed as Head of MassMutual’s Business Project Management Office overseeing a portfolio of initiatives worth over $250M where he worked closely with teams across the enterprise to strategically align and support initiatives that help drive company success.
Prior to joining MassMutual, Mohammed launched his own startup focused on strategic planning, business management, computer consulting and engineering services.
Mohammed is a graduate of UMASS Amherst with a degree in Computer Systems Engineering and certification from Boston University in Applied Project Management. He is passionate about building a better community by supporting social causes. Currently, Mohammed serves on several boards focused on community & ecosystem development, humanitarian relief and interfaith initiatives.
Panelist: Patrick Larkin
Deputy Director, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Director, Innovation Institute at MassTech
MassTech is a state economic development agency that strives to strengthen the competitiveness of the tech and innovation economy by driving strategic investments, partnerships, and insights that harness the talent of Massachusetts.
Working at the intersection of State, Industry University, Nonprofit and other key stakeholder communities, the Innovation Institute supports growth of priority industry clusters within the technology and innovation sectors of the economy in Massachusetts.
In his role as Director of the Innovation Institute, Larkin oversees investment activities of the Innovation Institute’s Collaborative Research Matching Grant Program, Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Awards Program, MassTech Intern Partnership Program; MassTech’s Strong Entrepreneur Mentorship Grant Program and Pathways to Scale Mentorship Grant Program.
Larkin is currently engaged in projects to improve economic conditions for Fintech, robotics, blockchain, quantum, marine tech, artificial intelligence/machine learning and other key innovation sectors in the Massachusetts economy. As an example of these efforts, Larkin has been instrumental in the launch of the Mass Fintech Hub, a unique Fintech collaborative focused on cultivating a robust ecosystem in Massachusetts, along with establishment of the Massachusetts Robotics Industry Steering Committee, a leadership group that advances Massachusetts as a global leader in advanced robotics systems.
Panelist: Vasilios Roussos
Founder, FinTech Innovation Advisor & Leader.
Panelist: Richard Napolitano
CEO at Advisor360°
Rich focuses on building a best-in-class wealth management SaaS platform and leading clients through their digital transformation. He has spent over 30 years working in engineering, large-scale IT software systems and sales, enterprise-level team management, and global product development.
Trained as a software engineer, Rich started his career at Digital Equipment Corporation, where his technical and entrepreneurial know-how led him to found or lead several tech companies, including Napcon Associates; Data Kinesis (acquired by Adaptec); BluePoint Technologies (acquired by Adobe); Plexxi (acquired by HP Enterprise); and Pirus Networks (acquired by Sun Microsystems). Rich served as President of U.S. Sales for Sun Microsystems and as President of EMC’s $4 billion software storage division. Rich has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Stony Brook University and has been issued two software patents.
Panelist: Jason Guenther
Senior VP, Technology at Putnam Investments
Mr. Guenther is Head of Investments and Operations Technology for Putnam Investments. He is responsible for the planning, development, and delivery of technology solutions for the front, back and middle office. In addition, he oversees the Digital Technology PMO (project management office) function. During his career at Putnam, Mr. Guenther has overseen the creation of a data science COE (center of excellence), an iOS development team, and the UX (user-experience) function. He has over 15 years of digital media experience and is the co-inventor of a technology patent issued in 2008. Mr. Guenther has been in the investment industry since he joined Putnam in 2013.
Oct 20 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Panel: Bridging the Gap: Navigating the Ethical & Regulatory Landscape in Fintech, Crypto, and DeFi | Unity Hall 400
Moderator: Siti Parida
Associate Professor of Finance at Clark University
Siti Parida is an Associate Professor of Finance at the School of Management, Clark University. He earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE), London, UK, and joined Clark University in 2011. He worked in the Financial and Technology industry before joining the Ph.D. program at the LSE. Siti’s research interests are Mutual Funds, ESG Investing, Strategic Trading, and Financial Regulations. He has multiple peer-reviewed publications in these areas. His current research focuses on Climate Risks and Sustainable Investing. He studies how sustainable mutual funds perform vis-à-vis traditional mutual funds and how various market conditions (such as market crises) affect their relative performance. He also studies the climate risks in investment portfolios and how investors can hedge these risks.
Panelist: David Saul
Executive in Residence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
David Saul has been Executive-in-Residence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Business School since 2019 after a career at global financial services firm State Street and prior to that at IBM. He was Chief Scientist at State Street, having previously served as Chief Information Officer and Head of the Office of Architecture. His work on data semantics has been recognized by regulators and standards bodies.
Panelist: Ian Cain
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman at QUBIC Labs
Panelist: Ian Sheridan
Co-Founder & Managing Director at Vestigo Ventures
Panelist: Sumedh Mehta
Chief Information Officer at Putnam Investments
Panelist: David Mangini
Director of the MS FinTech Program and Instructor of the Practice at Fairfield University
David Mangini is an Instructor of the Practice at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield University, in Fairfield, Connecticut. His areas of specialty include the development of Financial Technology (FinTech), its regulation, and its impact on the market structure for the delivery of financial services. Of particular interest is how changes in regulations, economics, and digital technology have reshaped business strategies and created new ones in FinTech. His other interests include Central Bank Digital Currencies and their implementation around the world.
Oct 20 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Panel: Utilizing AI/ML to identify ESG factors with predictive impact on performance | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Rob Sarnie
Professor of Fintech, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rob Sarnie is a Professor of Practice in FinTech. He joined WPI from Fidelity Investments, where he spent 23 years in the finance industry, holding multiple executive leadership positions including VP of Strategy and Planning, VP Human Resource Systems, and VP Finance, Procurement, and Accounting Systems. Rob also held positions in the public and private sectors for companies in the manufacturing and nonprofit industries.
Rob is also extremely focused on collaborating and advancing the fintech ecosystem by being the Director of the WPI Fintech Project Center, Co-PI of the WPI “FAB Lab for Social Good”, and by being one of the leaders of the “Talent, Academics, & Diversity” workstream within Mass Fintech Hub.
Panelist: Daniel Treku
Assistant Teaching Professor of Management Information, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Daniel N. Treku teaches blockchain-related courses for business applications, business intelligence, and data science at the Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts. His ongoing research lies at the intersection of network technologies (such as blockchain technology), digital platforms, data analytics, fintech (AI-, cryptocurrency- and NFT-related), and Green IS. Mainly, his research utilizes conceptual and empirical approaches toward broader financial inclusivity and social good aims. The innovative approaches and tools utilized influence his teaching and project advisement for greater pedagogical impact, fostering responsible and ethical students and professionals who are well-suited for the ever-changing business landscape. He has multiple book chapters, IS conference proceedings, and publications in journals such as the International Journal of Information Management and Finance Research Letters.
Panelist: Jim O'Neill
Co-Founder and CTO at SaaSWorks
Jim O’Neill is the Co-Founder & CTO of SaaSWorks – a fintech-focused startup leveraging data and algorithms to provide a single source of data truth to CFOs and supporting teams for high-growth, privately funded businesses. Previously Jim was the founding CTO at HubSpot and has led technology organizations from 0 - $250MM in annual revenue. Jim is also an active investor in various startups and an observer of the impacts of AI/ML on industry.
Panelist: Kwamie Dunbar
Associate Professor of Finance, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Dunbar is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Finance at WPI. In addition to his extensive experience in teaching and research, he has a wealth of industry experience working with several fortune 500 companies in various capacities.
Professor Dunbar's research has appeared in leading economics and finance journals such as Quantitative Finance, Economic Modeling, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Research in International Business and Finance, amongst others. His research has received considerable attention via citations, and he regularly presents his work at leading international conferences and writes media pieces. His current research examines Blockchain assets for Social Good and Sustainability. His primary research focus is empirical asset pricing, and cryptocurrencies, with a focus on FinTech and futures markets. His transformational work has contributed to various areas in finance that focus on digital assets, financial technologies, and digital transformation from the perspectives of finance and economics.
Panelist: Nicholas Cantrell
President, Wealth advisor at Green Future Wealth Management.
Nick Cantrell, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CSRIC® is the Founder and President of Green Future Wealth Management, a sustainability focused financial planning and investment management firm headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. His work focuses on helping clients integrate their values into their financial lives while planning for what’s ahead.
Oct 20 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Panel: The role of Fintech & Education: Fintech, Curriculum and the prospects for economic development | Unity Hall 400
Moderator: Marcel Blais
Professor of Math & Data Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Marcel Blais is a Professor of Teaching in the WPI Department of Mathematical Sciences. Blais completed his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at Cornell University in 2006 and has been a faculty member at WPI since 2005. He teaches courses in the areas of financial mathematics, operations research, actuarial mathematics, and calculus and served as the Mathematical Sciences Associate Department Head from 2017 to 2022. He works closely with industry partners in advising student projects, through the WPI FinTech Collaborative and Wall Street / FinTech Project Center as well as the WPI Center for Industrial Mathematics and Statistics.
Panelist: Dr. Debarshi Nandy
Barbara and Richard M. Rosenberg Professor of Global Finance at Brandeis University
Debarshi Nandy is the Barbara and Richard M. Rosenberg Professor of Global Finance at the International Business School of Brandeis University and an affiliated faculty member of the Department of Economics at Brandeis University. His research interests are in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurial finance, corporate and household finance, and financial intermediation. His research has been published in leading journals in financial economics, such as the Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. Debarshi Nandy also serves as the Program Director of the Masters in Finance (MSF) program and the Director of the India Initiative at Brandeis International Business School. He is a visiting research fellow at the Boston Research Data Center of the Center for Economic Studies of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Bureau of Economic Research. He has received multiple research grants, both from the National Science Foundation in the U.S. and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Debarshi serves as a mentor and advisor to several start-ups. He holds a B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Calcutta, India and a Ph.D. in Finance from Boston College.
Panelist: Jason Hoch
Deputy Director, Innovation Institute at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
MassTech is a state economic development agency that strives to strengthen the competitiveness of the tech and innovation economy by driving strategic investments, partnerships, and insights that harness the talent of Massachusetts. Working at the intersection of State, Industry University, Nonprofit and other key stakeholder communities, the Innovation Institute supports growth of priority industry clusters within the technology and innovation sectors of the economy in Massachusetts.
In his role as Deputy Director of the Innovation Institute, Hoch coordinates staff activities for the Institute’s Collaborative Research Matching Grant Program, Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Awards Program, MassTech Intern Partnership Program and MassTech’s Strong Entrepreneur Mentorship Grant Program.
Hoch is also currently engaged in projects to improve economic conditions for Fintech, robotics, blockchain, quantum, artificial intelligence and other key innovation sectors in the Massachusetts economy.
Prior to joining MassTech, Hoch served as a local government executive in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for over two decades. In this time, he spearheaded innovative economic and community development projects, collaborated with institutions of higher education and held leadership roles in state and regional efforts in strengthening public education, supporting historic preservation, revitalizing downtowns, expanding the use of technology and managing collective public sector risk management.
Panelist: Mike Wise
Head of Partnerships at Boston Blockchain Association
As Head of Partnerships, Mike is an ambassador for the Boston Blockchain Association in the global blockchain and Web3 communities with a focus on strategic connections that catalyze the development of the emerging blockchain innovation ecosystem.
Recognizing the transformative potential of blockchain for B2B and B2C enterprises, Mike was inspired to take the MIT Sloan Blockchain Technologies course. After attending Boston Blockchain Week 2019, Mike volunteered to assist the BBA with events and social media, later accepting a position as Director and then Board Chair from the Summer 2020 until Fall of 2021.
Previously, Mike spent about 10 years with ADP, 10 years in e-commerce, 5 years in Social Tech (Web2.0), and now almost 5 years in Web3.
Panelist: Tony Cerce
Co-Founder & CEO at ProsperOn
Tony is the Co-Founder & CEO of ProsperOn, an all-inclusive, data centric, personal finance platform that fosters actionable behavioral change in young adults through simulation-based education and real-time insights. Prior to ProsperOn, Tony founded two startups while in college, a tailgating merchandise company, and a SMB consulting firm. In addition, he spent some time as a financial representative at National Financial Network, and has taught financial literacy for high schools, colleges, and non-profits.
Oct 20 | 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Panel: Insurtech 2.0: Mapping the Future of Insurance Innovation | Unity Hall 500
Moderator: Sang Hoo Bae
Associate Professor of Economics at Clark University
Sang Hoo Bae is an Associate Professor of Economics at Clark University with broad research experience in the game theoretic analysis of the effect of new technology adoption in various market structures. His research has been published in various outlets, including Information Economics and Policy, International Journal of Production Research, Review of Network Economics, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review. His research has focused on Digital Rights Management (DRM), an application of blockchain-based private technology that controls access and usage of digital content. One of the main research questions is about the behaviors of stakeholders in adopting new technology: different incentives and cooperation between content providers and retailers in various market structures, such as vertically related industries. He has been focused on socio-economic sustainability by constructing game theoretic models and simulation analysis of relevant variables in attributes in technology, market structures, and government policies.
Panelist: Marcel Blais
Professor of Math & Data Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Marcel Blais is a Professor of Teaching in the WPI Department of Mathematical Sciences. Blais completed his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at Cornell University in 2006 and has been a faculty member at WPI since 2005. He teaches courses in the areas of financial mathematics, operations research, actuarial mathematics, and calculus and served as the Mathematical Sciences Associate Department Head from 2017 to 2022. He works closely with industry partners in advising student projects, through the WPI FinTech Collaborative and Wall Street / FinTech Project Center as well as the WPI Center for Industrial Mathematics and Statistics.
Panelist: Michael Nugent
Managing Director at Vestigo Ventures
Mike joined Vestigo in 2016 with 20 years of public market, private equity and start-up experience. Prior to joining Vestigo, he was the CEO and Chairman of Bison, a SaaS-based data and analytics solutions provider for the $10 trillion private investment markets (private equity, hedge funds, real estates and real assets). Subsequently, Bison was rebranded as Cobalt and was acquired by FactSet in October 2021. Mike founded Bison based on the private equity industry’s need for greater transparency and analytical efficiencies to benefit both the buy-side and sell-side of the market. Prior to founding Bison, he was a Principal with SVG Advisers, the fund of funds subsidiary of SVG Capital, a publicly traded private equity trust that was listed on the London Stock Exchange. In addition to his private equity work at SVG, he was previously a Director with LP Capital Advisor and began his private equity career as an Associate with HarbourVest Partners, LLC. Before attending business school, he worked for the NASDAQ Stock Market, where he was a Senior Qualifications Analyst responsible for a portfolio of more than 250 non-U.S. based issuers that actively traded on the NASDAQ National Market. Mike began his career working in the public markets, where he was a Registered Representative with Merrill Lynch.
He currently is a Board Member of Acorn Finance, Curu Credit, Formotiv, Jobble, Long Game, Vault and is a Board Observer of Cushion. Mike previously served as a Board Observer of Mirador which was acquired by CUNA Mutual Group in November 2018. He received his B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and an M.B.A from Boston College. Mike lives on the North Shore of MA with his wife and two sons.
Panelist: Mohammed Dastigir
Head of FinTech & HealthTech Partnerships, Ecosystem Development at MassMutual
Mohammed leads MassMutual’s engagement in FinTech & HealthTech programs as well as broader FinTech Ecosystem Initiatives including the launch of the Mass Fintech Hub, which is a public-private engagement representing leaders from across the innovative ecosystem, focused on making Massachusetts the global Fintech Hub. Mohammed is also the current Chairman of the MassChallenge FinTech Founding Partners Advisory Board.
Mohammed joined MassMutual in 2008 as a technology leader overseeing key product launches and technology initiatives across the company including standing up a new business line. Additionally, Mohammed was appointed as Head of MassMutual’s Business Project Management Office overseeing a portfolio of initiatives worth over $250M where he worked closely with teams across the enterprise to strategically align and support initiatives that help drive company success.
Prior to joining MassMutual, Mohammed launched his own startup focused on strategic planning, business management, computer consulting and engineering services.
Mohammed is a graduate of UMASS Amherst with a degree in Computer Systems Engineering and certification from Boston University in Applied Project Management. He is passionate about building a better community by supporting social causes. Currently, Mohammed serves on several boards focused on community & ecosystem development, humanitarian relief and interfaith initiatives.
Panelist: Steven Dorval
President and Founder at Dorval Advisory Group
Oct 20 | 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Panel: The Promise and the Pitfalls of Fintech for Social Inclusion | Unity Hall 400
Moderator: Debora Jackson
Dean, Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson is Professor of Practice and Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a premiere STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based institution recognized for project-based education that integrates the theory and practice of management. In response to changing industry needs, Dr. Jackson seeks to promote research, collaboration, and partnerships that understand broader societal needs and recast the vision for business education in ways that prepare leaders to disrupt, reorient, and innovate for societal impact.
Panelist: David Dwumah
Founder & CEO at OurBanc Corporation
David is the Founder and CEO of OurBanc, a FinTech company with a mission to narrow the racial wealth gap by harnessing the transformative power of purpose, community, and innovative technologies to offer more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive financial products and services for the Underserved. David's inspiration for OurBanc stems from his childhood in Ghana, where he was fascinated by Susu, an informal savings practice that brings together friends and family to support each other financially. Drawing from his personal experiences and background in banking, finance, technology, and risk industries, he established OurBanc to create positive change.
Before launching OurBanc, David amassed over fifteen years of invaluable experience at respected institutions like Citizens Bank, the Boston Federal Reserve, and EY's Financial Services practice. Beyond his company responsibilities, David is deeply committed to advancing faster payments, financial inclusion, and inclusive capitalism. He serves as a Steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism (the Council) and actively contributes to the U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC), where he is on the Board Advisory Group and a member of the Financial Inclusion Workgroup and ESG Subgroup. Furthermore, he is a member of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
David's passion for fostering financial inclusion and sustainability shines through his contributions as an author and speaker. His insights on Inclusive Faster Payments, Financial Inclusion, ESG, and Sustainability have been shared in various articles and papers. He has presented at prominent payment and fintech events, including Nacha's Smarter Faster Payments, US Faster Payment Council conferences, and Benzinga Fintech Deal Day, as well as other gatherings organized by regional payment associations across the United States.
David has a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Baylor University, and a Bachelor's in Finance from the University of North Florida, where he graduated with the highest honors, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). David resides in the Boston area with his family and can sometimes be found indulging in his love for all things BBQ.
Panelist: Kelly Shaw
Principal Investor at Vestigo Ventures
Kelly Shaw is an early-stage Fintech investor with Vestigo Ventures. Prior to joining Vestigo Ventures, Kelly co-founded AlmaPact (now operating as Stride Funding), an alternate student financing platform. She gained a worldwide perspective on the financial industry after spending almost four years in Europe, two while working for a Madrid bank during the heart of the global financial crisis. In the states, she had a broad range of roles in finance and M&A for GE Capital. As Vice President of M&A and Ventures at Synchrony, Shaw established a passion for Fintech, and her work resulted in three acquisitions and a Series C investment in the SMB Financing platform, Fundbox. Kelly holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she majored in Economics and Spanish, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Kelly is currently on the board at PactFi and Climate Club and serves as Board Observer for Aeqium and Calculum.
Panelist: Mimi Sheller
Dean, The Global School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Panelist: Paula Phillips
Chief Operating Officer at The Congress Group
Paula S. Phillips has been working in the field of real estate since 1985 following a seven-year career in the oil and gas industry where she worked as an engineer. Ms. Phillips joined Congress Group Ventures, Inc. in 1999 and holds the position of Executive Vice President of Operations. In this position, she is responsible for the daily management and operations of the real estate portfolio held by the company. Other duties include overseeing the property management, construction personnel for the properties as well as the accounting staff for reporting of the asset performance to the lenders and equity partners. Ms. Phillips’ duties also include the strategic positioning of the assets including leasing, financing, and disposition. The same responsibilities extend to new developments and overseeing marketing and competitive positioning of those assets in construction.
Prior to joining Congress Group Ventures, Inc., Ms. Phillips had managed her own real estate consulting firm since 1995. The firm provided real estate analysis, operation reviews, asset management and other advisory services to the real estate industry. She was formerly the Senior Vice President and Director of Property/Asset Management for a full service real estate company located in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was responsible for the daily operations and overall positioning and growth of the Management Division within the company.
Previously, Ms. Phillips was the Chief Operating Officer of a New York based $300 million real estate bond portfolio. In this capacity, Ms. Phillips was responsible for all corporate, financial and legal matters, strategic planning, investor relations and capital positioning for the company. Prior to her position in New York, she served as the Chief Operating Officer for an affiliate of a publicly traded master limited partnership valued at over $600 million based in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Phillips began her real estate career in Texas where she worked for a national real estate consulting firm in the area of real estate asset management and workouts for the savings and loans and other troubled financial institutions.
Ms. Phillips earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, cum laude from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Finance, magna cum laude from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. She is a member of Who’s Who Among Students, Beta Gamma Sigma, Who’s Who Among Women, and holds a Massachusetts Real Estate Broker’s License.
Panelist: Bridget Dunn
Digital Product Consultant at Fidelity Investments
Bridget Dunn is a software product manager at Fidelity Investments, working to deliver digital solutions related to retirement income and taxes. She previously held roles at Fidelity Labs (Fidelity’s in-house start-up incubator); Duck Creek Technologies (a provider of insurance software solutions); and MCX (a mobile payments start-up). Outside of work, Bridget recently completed a two year term as President of the Board of Directors at The Philanthropy Connection, a 300-member women’s collective giving group that donates $250k annually to Boston-area nonprofits. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Information Systems & Technology from Bentley University, and a dual degree in Economics and Peace & Justice Studies (concentrated on Gender & Economic Justice) from Wellesley College.
WPI Business School Rolls Out FinTech Degrees
Through The Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is now offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in financial technology that leverage the university’s project-based learning approach and deep expertise in science and technology to satisfy increasing industry demand.
Introducing WPI's New MS in FinTech
How will you shape the future of finance? Utilize unstructured data, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (A.I.) insights to drive new financial thinking and processes that deliver innovative financial products and strategies for long-term productivity improvements and economic growth. With these skills, you’ll be invaluable to established firms and startups as we move rapidly to a digitized and data-intensive world. This program expands WPI's FinTech offerings; a graduate certificate is still available.
Introducing WPI's new BS in FinTech
We’re quickly moving toward a more digitized and data-intensive world. Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Technology (FinTech) from WPI, you'll be well prepared to help shape the future of finance. While working toward your degree, you’ll be introduced to key financial technologies and their applications in financial services, all while developing a broad, solid understanding of FinTech innovations, as well as their benefits and limitations. Through WPI’s signature project-based education, you’ll learn the skills needed to meet the critical needs and growing demands for quantitative modeling, analysis in finance, and other aspects in the FinTech industry.
Dr. Debora Jackson, Dean, The WPI Business School
The Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson is Professor of Practice and Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a premiere STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based institution recognized for project-based education that integrates the theory and practice of management. In response to changing industry needs, Dr. Jackson seeks to promote research, collaboration, and partnerships that understand broader societal needs and recast the vision for business education in ways that prepare leaders to disrupt, reorient, and innovate for societal impact.
Professor Kwamie Dunbar, The WPI Business School
Dr. Dunbar is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Finance at WPI. In addition to his extensive experience in teaching and research, he has a wealth of industry experience working with several fortune 500 companies in various capacities.
Professor Dunbar's research has appeared in leading economics and finance journals such as Quantitative Finance, Economic Modeling, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Research in International Business and Finance, amongst others. His research has received considerable attention via citations, and he regularly presents his work at leading international conferences and writes media pieces. His current research examines Blockchain assets for Social Good and Sustainability. His primary research focus is empirical asset pricing, and cryptocurrencies, with a focus on FinTech and futures markets. His transformational work has contributed to various areas in finance that focus on digital assets, financial technologies, and digital transformation from the perspectives of finance and economics.
Professor Rob Sarnie, The WPI Business School
Rob Sarnie is a Professor of Practice in FinTech. He joined WPI from Fidelity Investments, where he spent 23 years in the finance industry, holding multiple executive leadership positions including VP of Strategy and Planning, VP Human Resource Systems, and VP Finance, Procurement, and Accounting Systems. Rob also held positions in the public and private sectors for companies in the manufacturing and nonprofit industries.
Rob is also extremely focused on collaborating and advancing the fintech ecosystem by being the Director of the WPI Fintech Project Center, Co-PI of the WPI “FAB Lab for Social Good”, and by being one of the leaders of the “Talent, Academics, & Diversity” workstream within Mass Fintech Hub.
Brent French, PhD, Assistant Dean, The WPI Business School
Brent currently serves as the Assistant Dean of The WPI Business School and is responsible for accreditation, finance, and operations for 45 faculty and staff, 200+ undergraduate majors, and 200+ graduate students across six programs including an MBA and PhD program.
He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from WPI, and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. He was selected as a Senior Fellow in the Next Jump Leadership Think Tank from 2020 to 2022 and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education Management Development Program in 2023.
Professor Samuel Vigne, FFEA
Dr. Samuel A. Vigne is Professor of Finance. Previously, he was an Associate Professor with Trinity College Dublin. He obtained his PhD in Finance from Trinity College, Dublin, an MSc Finance (University of Dublin), a PGCHET (Queen’s University), and a BSc in Business Economics (Universität Mannheim). His research interests include econometric modelling, international finance, and corporate finance. His research is widely published in leading academic outlets, such as, amongst others, the Journal of Corporate Finance and the European Journal of Operational Research. Furthermore, Professor Vigne serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier’s Finance Research Letters, one of the leading academic finance journals in the world, which is ranked as the number 1 journal by impact worldwide. Professor Vigne also serves as Associate Editor for the International Review of Financial Analysis, the Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, and Research in International Business and Finance, amongst other academic outlets. Furthermore, Professor Vigne is a consultant for the Association of the Independent Professionals and the Self Employed and develops policy recommendations for HM Government, the Bank of England, and the Government of India. A recognized exemplar in the profession, Professor Vigne is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and received a national level award for his services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Brian Lucey, FFEA
Dr. Brian Lucey is Professor of Finance at the School of Business, Trinity College Dublin and editor of Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance and of International Review of Financial Analysis. He also is an associate editor of Journal of Banking and finance. He has published several textbooks, over 80 peer reviewed papers and he runs the annual INFINITI conference on International Finance. Brian was an economist at the Central Bank of Ireland (1987-92), and before that an Administrative Officer at the Department of Health (1985-1987).
The Professor of Finance & Speaker has a BA in Economics from TCD (1985), a MA from UCD in International Economics, Trade and Politics (1988) and a PhD in Finance from Stirling (2003). Brian has taught at various levels, including MBA, MSc Finance, MSc International Management, and all levels of undergraduate.
Professor Sang Hoo Bae, Clark University
Sang Hoo Bae is an Associate Professor of Economics at Clark University with broad research experience in the game theoretic analysis of the effect of new technology adoption in various market structures. His research has been published in various outlets, including Information Economics and Policy, International Journal of Production Research, Review of Network Economics, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review. His research has focused on Digital Rights Management (DRM), an application of blockchain-based private technology that controls access and usage of digital content. One of the main research questions is about the behaviors of stakeholders in adopting new technology: different incentives and cooperation between content providers and retailers in various market structures, such as vertically related industries. He has been focused on socio-economic sustainability by constructing game theoretic models and simulation analysis of relevant variables in attributes in technology, market structures, and government policies.
Prof. Siti Parida, Clark University
Siti Parida is an Associate Professor of Finance at the School of Management, Clark University. He earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE), London, UK, and joined Clark University in 2011. He worked in the Financial and Technology industry before joining the Ph.D. program at the LSE. Siti’s research interests are Mutual Funds, ESG Investing, Strategic Trading, and Financial Regulations. He has multiple peer-reviewed publications in these areas. His current research focuses on Climate Risks and Sustainable Investing. He studies how sustainable mutual funds perform vis-à-vis traditional mutual funds and how various market conditions (such as market crises) affect their relative performance. He also studies the climate risks in investment portfolios and how investors can hedge these risks.
Mike Fanning, Former Head of MassMutual U.S.
Mike Fanning, former Head of MassMutual U.S., to its Board of Directors. Throughout his 37-year career, Fanning held pivotal roles shaping technology strategies, driving digital transformation, and championing innovation in wealth management.
Mike recently concluded a distinguished 17-year career at MassMutual. As head of the company’s domestic insurance business, he led an unprecedented period of growth and change for the company. Known as a trailblazer in the insurance industry, Fanning expanded MassMutual’s suite of protection and wealth management solutions and was a leading force in enhancing the company’s technology platform to meet advisor and customer needs.
Mike is also the Co-Chair for Mass Fintech Hub, Board Member of MassChallenge, and a Board Member of Advisor 360.
Professor Michael Goldstein, Babson College
Michael A. Goldstein, Ph.D. is a Professor of Finance at Babson College. He currently also holds a three-year appointment as a Visiting Professorship Fellow at the Climate Change Research Center at the University of New South Wales. He currently serves on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)'s Economic Advisory Committee and was Chair from 2011 to 2021. Dr. Goldstein previously served as a member of the Nasdaq Economic Advisory Board from 2003 to 2005 and served as Chair in 2005. Dr.
Goldstein was chosen to be the Visiting Economist at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for 1997-1998 and was the eighth academic to hold that post. His research covers market microstructure, corporate bonds, climate change, dividend payments around the world, privatization of formerly communist countries, and real estate, and has consults Fortune 100 companies and financial firms on financial strategy, international strategy, and complex litigation. He is currently the Editor of The Financial Review, and an Editor at Weather, Climate and Society, a journal of the American Meteorological Society.
Dr. Goldstein has received four U.S. National Science Foundation grants related to Arctic Economics. Some of his work can be seen here. He has multiple publications on climate science in science journals.
Sarah Biller, Entrepreneur, Investor and Fintech Leader
Sarah Biller is an Entrepreneur, Investor, and Educator in the FinTech sector and adjacent industries. She is currently the Executive Director of Vantage Ventures, a collaboration of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University (a Research 1 University), global Technology leaders, Fortune Class companies and Venture Capital firms, focused on providing entrepreneurs in the center of the country a systematic and efficient approach to build world-changing ideas into scalable, investable businesses and access venture capital. She was named by Innovate Finance one of the Top 150 global women leaders in FinTech, Lattice80’s list of Top 100 Women in FinTech in the UK and Hong Kong and NY FinTech Women as a Top 20 inspiration for her commitment to lift-up other women in an industry historically not known for doing so. Ms. Biller chaired EY’s National selection committee for its Financial Services Entrepreneur of the Year award. She is an active Advisor and mentor as well as the Founding Advisor for MassChallenge’s FinTech Lab initiative.
Andy Aberdale, Chief Financial Officer, Ascend Elements
Mr. Aberdale’s career background is both broad and deep in finance, technology and operations.
For the first 12 years of his career, after leaving WPI with a BS in Chemical Engineering, Andy worked for W.R. Grace. Andy grew through the manufacturing positions ultimately responsible for the North American chemical plants. During his final assignment with Grace, Andy was responsible for elements of the 72 chemical plants worldwide.
For the past ~20 years, Andy has joined six companies in various stages of transition and in various roles. He is now with Ascend Elements, as their CFO, and this is his sixth company of this type. In the past 20 years, Andy has helped select and develop amazing teams that have delivered amazing results. Two of these companies were brought public via IPO and three were sold privately with excellent transactions for the business and the teams.
Andy previously was the CFO of Target Hospitality, (NASDAQ: TH) where he helped lead to an IPO in 2019 for $1.4 billion. This was an excellent outcome for the whole TH Team.
In 2020, Andy joined Ascend Elements, previously known as Battery Resourcers, as CFO. Andy helped to build the amazing AE Team that is delivering outstanding results. In August, AE closed their Series D with a post money valuation of over $1.5 billion. AE was also awarded $480 million grant from the United States Department of Energy.
Andy holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Masters in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College of California. He is NACD Directorship Certified and has held various board positions with WPI and other organizations.
Shreya Shirodkar
Shreya is a highly motivated individual currently pursuing a Master's degree in Operations and Supply Chain Analytics. She serves as a Research Assistant for Dr. Dunbar, Associate Professor of Finance at WPI, where she actively contributes to his research endeavors. Having completed her undergraduate studies as an Engineer in Information Technology, she went on to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration, further expanding her knowledge and skillset. She gained valuable industry experience working at Novartis, a prominent pharmaceutical company. In her role as a Drug Supply Manager for Novartis Global Clinical Trials, she acquired exceptional organizational and analytical skills while successfully managing the drug supply chain and ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of clinical supplies to global markets.
Binaisha D’souza
Binaisha is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Analytics at the WPI Business School. As a research assistant for Dr. Kwamie Dunbar, she supports him with course administration for Financial Management and contributes to his research studies. She has previously worked for a large US-based Tech Services firm, Cognizant Technology Solutions as a Pre-Sales Business Analyst for their North America Life Science division. Her aptitude lies at the intersection of analytics, technology, and management.
WPI Map
- Google Maps walking directions
- To all 5 locations below. Just remove and reorder the point to point locations you want for your google walking directions.
- Parking Garage - Google Maps Driving Directions
- This large parking garage is for all guests, attendees, speakers, and staff.
- Higgin House
- Alden Memorial Hall
- Salisbury Labs
- Unity Hall
WPI Wi-Fi Access While at Conference
WPI-Open and Eduroam Wi-Fi networks available around campus.
If you need assistance, please visit the IT Services and Support Center in Gordon Library, or use/click the QR code to access support, or click on this link https://hub.wpi.edu/article/162/connect-to-self-service-guest-wireless