Episode notes
Episode 76 of Banking Reinvented explores how financial institutions across Asia can prioritize modernization for real impact, from AI-native operating models to cross-border growth opportunities.
Host Tim Rutten is joined by Cyrus Daruwala, Partner Director-Asia at 3A Ventures International and Executive Director at the ASEAN Economic Forum, who advises some of the world’s largest banks and regulators on practical modernization, data, and AI. Together, they discuss why ASEAN’s trade flows are placing banks at the center of growth, how AI is reshaping both the front and back office, and what leaders must modernize first to balance speed, resilience, and ROI.
Tune in to hear pragmatic insights on what modernization really looks like in practice, why AI is now the baseline for banking, and how leadership teams can steer through hype cycles to build future-ready financial institutions.
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Timestamps
(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” podcast
(00:24) – Introduction to Cyrus
(01:11) – Banking during geopolitical uncertainty
(03:06) – The unprecedented nature of AI in banking
(07:00) – Dynamics of the ASEAN region
(11:47) – The role of incumbents in ASEAN
(13:54) – What’s next for tech transformation in the region
(20:32) – Where to start with AI transformation
(23:37) – Use cases of AI in banking
(29:49) – Leadership skills needed to leverage AI
(33:14) – Training and upskilling for AI
(37:00) – Main takeaways from Cyrus
(45:36) – Final thoughts from Cyrus
(47:47) – Episode wrap-up