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Seismic Sessions

Seismic Sessions

By: Seismic Sessions
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 This is Seismic Sessions: Enabling the Financial Services Industry - a podcast show dedicated to two things, revenue enablement and the Financial Services sector. Join us as we feature experts and leaders across the Financial Services industry, who discuss innovative and impactful ways to sell, market, and deliver, memorable client experiences through enablement. Economics
Episodes
  • 18: Redefining Enablement in Financial Services: Where It Started, Where It’s Going

    18: Redefining Enablement in Financial Services: Where It Started, Where It’s Going
    May 29 2025
    In this episode of Seismic Sessions, hosts Gemma Livermore and Rachael Rowe explore the seismic shifts transforming enablement in financial services. Joined by industry leaders Jalpa Bhatt, Director of Marketing Technology at Janus Henderson Investors, and Deepika Sehgal, Enablement Strategist at Capital Group, the conversation dives into how firms are evolving their approach to empower sales, marketing, and compliance teams with the tools, data, and alignment needed for success. Together, they discuss the rise of enablement as a strategic discipline, the impact of technology and AI, and the critical need to break down silos within organisations.

    Key takeaways
    • Tremors: Enablement in financial services emerged as a response to rising complexity across sales, marketing, and compliance. Digital acceleration—particularly during the pandemic—exposed the limits of traditional support roles. Sales teams, burdened by new tools and shifting demands, needed more than tech—they needed structure, guidance, and training. At the same time, regulatory change, a broader product landscape, and advisor turnover revealed critical gaps in onboarding and knowledge sharing, prompting a shift toward a more strategic approach.

    • Epicentre: Enablement has evolved into a cross-functional strategy focused on unifying experiences across teams. While many firms are investing in platforms to support this shift, challenges remain: fragmented tech stacks, poor integration, and reactive execution. There's growing urgency to better leverage data, measure impact, and break down silos. Today, enablement is increasingly recognised as a driver of efficiency, alignment, and enhanced client experiences—not just internal support.

    • Aftershocks: Looking ahead, enablement will play a central role in digital transformation. The future lies in real-time, in-flow guidance powered by AI and automation—surfacing insights, supporting compliance, and embedding coaching into daily workflows. As content, data, and training converge, enablement will move from a background function to a growth engine—driving performance, building trust, and delivering differentiated experiences. The focus will shift from adding tools to optimising and integrating what’s already in place.

    Jump into the conversation:

    [04:27] The origins of enablement
    [06:06] Overcoming tech overload in sales teams
    [08:50] The breaking point: why traditional models no longer work
    [13:57] The integration challenge
    [17:58] The role of data in driving strategy
    [20:18] AI as a strategic enabler
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    26 mins
  • 17: Empowering Advisors, Elevating Experiences

    17: Empowering Advisors, Elevating Experiences
    Apr 14 2025
    In this episode of Seismic Sessions, hosts Gemma Livermore and Rachael Rowe explore how financial services firms are leveraging technology to enhance advisor enablement. Joined by Kirsty Watson from Aberdeen and Dean Heltemes from Ameriprise Financial, they discuss the evolving landscape of advisor practices, the challenges of integration, and the importance of scalable, efficient technology. The discussion also highlights how firms are balancing technological advancements with the human element to create meaningful client interactions.

    Tremors: With fewer advisors managing more clients, financial services firms are under pressure to scale efficiently. Technology is key - automating workflows and streamlining processes to support advisor enablement. The consolidation of smaller firms into larger entities offers operational advantages, but also raises challenges around standardising practices and maintaining a consistent client experience.

    Epicentre:     Automation is helping advisors reduce manual tasks like meeting prep and data collection, freeing up time for deeper client engagement. Standardisation is now a top priority, ensuring consistent, high-quality service. As compliance demands grow, firms are focusing on better data management and streamlined reporting. Yet, the human touch remains essential—technology must enhance, not replace, the personal nature of financial advice.

    Aftershocks: The future points to a fully digital, automated, and paperless industry. Firms must adapt to the expectations of younger, tech-savvy investors by embracing AI-driven insights, personalised experiences, and faster client interactions. Staying ahead requires not just reacting to change, but proactively investing in infrastructure that supports long-term advisor efficiency and client engagement.

    Jump into the conversation:

    [03:18] Advisor enablement trends
    [04:26] Challenges of integration
    [09:05] Capacity constraints
    [11:18] The epicentre of change
    [11:59] Supporting varied IFA clients
    [23:14] Future steps for advisor enablement
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    31 mins
  • 16: Innovating Through Partnerships: Banks and Tech Companies Driving Financial Services Forward

    16: Innovating Through Partnerships: Banks and Tech Companies Driving Financial Services Forward
    Mar 21 2025
    In this episode of Seismic Sessions, hosts Rachael Rowe and Gemma Livermore sit down with Esra Demir, Group Digital Partnership Director at HSBC, and Marcus Martinez, Financial Services Industry Advocate – EMEA at Microsoft, to explore how partnerships between banks and tech firms are reshaping financial services. They discuss the role of open banking, cloud adoption, and AI in driving innovation, efficiency, and customer experience—highlighting why collaboration, not competition, is the key to industry growth. The conversation also uncovers how HSBC and Microsoft are leading the way in building the future of finance through strategic alliances.


    Show notes

    Key takeaways
    • Tremors: Financial services are undergoing a major shift, driven by open banking, cloud adoption, and fintech disruption. Open banking regulations have pushed greater transparency, while cloud technology has enhanced scalability, efficiency, and security. The smartphone revolution has further raised customer expectations, accelerating the demand for seamless, embedded financial experiences. These forces have moved banks away from siloed, in-house development towards open innovation, with external partnerships proving to be a more agile and cost-effective path forward.

    • Epicentre: Today, collaboration is at the core of financial innovation. Banks, fintechs, and tech giants are working together to enhance efficiency, resilience, and customer experience. Beyond adopting fintech solutions, banks are now co-creating technology, using AI, machine learning, and automation to streamline operations and personalize customer interactions. The focus has shifted from short-term integrations to long-term, strategic alliances that drive sustainable growth and industry-wide transformation.

    • Aftershocks: Looking ahead, AI and cloud computing will drive the next wave of financial innovation, making automation, decision-making, and customer experience more advanced and secure. Banks will deepen their partnerships with tech firms, shifting from transactional relationships to long-term co-innovation. The industry is moving toward a hyper-connected ecosystem, breaking down silos and fostering collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, and customers to solve real-world financial challenges.

    Jump into the conversation:

    [04:38] Partnerships in Financial Services

    [05:06] Evolution of digital partnerships

    [10:32] Key milestones shaping the ecosystem

    [22:11] Collaboration as a catalyst for innovation

    [24:45] Marketplace and MAC agreements

    [25:57] AI and cloud computing driving innovation
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    37 mins
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