The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) is a globally recognised event that is held annually, gathering industry leaders, policymakers, financial institutions, start-up entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts from around the world.
Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Elevandi and Constellar, and in collaboration with The Association of Banks in Singapore, SFF 2023 took place from 15 to 17 November 2023 with artificial intelligence (AI) as this year’s main theme.
As a fresh graduate stepping into the professional world, attending the SFF marks a significant milestone for me. As DollarsAndSense was a supporting media partner this year, the plan (from my editor) was to get more articles and generate more video content so I was asked to attend and write about my experience attending the SFF.
Start Prepping (The Day Before) By Downloading The SFF App
Going to the SFF for the first time was like embarking on a voyage into uncharted territory, possibly fuelled by the unfamiliarity that comes with my inexperience.
The day before SFF, my Managing Editor Timothy (who I was assigned to for the SFF) told us to download the SFF2023 App so that we could be better prepared for the event. Till then, I didn’t even know there was a dedicated event app for the event.
To my surprise, the app was more comprehensive than I had thought, not to mention, it’s easy to navigate as well.
The interface of the SFF app reminded me of a cruise ship app.
The app displayed each zone clearly on the map which is great if you got lost. The app also has all the details of the talk lineups for the three-day event, and the best part is that similar to a cruise ship app, it allows users to bookmark talks that they have an interest in. This is handy because the app will promptly send you a reminder on the actual day for the talks that you have bookmarked.
The First Task: Getting My Media Pass
Upon arrival, there were signages and ushers everywhere to help direct attendees. These were really helpful for first timers like myself as well as the international attendees. There were barely any queues and within minutes, I attained my media pass.
A word of caution. If you intend to drive or take a taxi, be prepared for a jam, especially during peak periods near the Singapore Expo. It might actually be better to go via public transport like the MRT.
Insightful Talks, Fireside Chats And Panel Discussions
My first order of business was to attend the talks. One of them was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s Fireside Chat, and it was extremely insightful.
After that, I also attended other talks and panel discussions by start-up entrepreneurs and industry experts. These talks and panel discussions were definitely thought-provoking. They brilliantly illustrated the trajectory of the FinTech industry as well as provided a preview into the minds of finance leaders around the world.
For example, the talk on AI & existential change: Dialogue with Oscar-nominated film director Shekhar Kapur presented me with an idea of how AI can be great especially if industries use it to accelerate work processes such as collecting data, reporting, or generating ideas. The power of AI is impeccable but what makes it successful is the human touch.
Shekhar Kapur has exemplified the above statement perfectly by providing an example of how both a tea boy and a director have access to AI. The AI can probably write a business proposal for both, but the director can scale up and make the proposal even better because of his knowledge and experience. The human experience, knowledge, and emotions are just some elements that an AI cannot replace.
Another excellent panel discussion was The FinTech workforce for tomorrow: navigating shifts in changing environments and expectations. The talk naturally resonated well with me and offered a peek into what an industry leader is looking for in an employee and the characteristics that matter.
Interacting At The Singapore FinTech Festival Booths
Another highlight of the SFF was the interactive and educational booths at the festival. Each booth was carefully curated to ensure attendees could fully immerse themselves and learn about the brand product.
One example would be the Chubb booth. Chubb is an insurance company serving consumers and companies. Their aim at the SFF was to emphasise that purchasing insurance can be as easy as purchasing coffee.
To illustrate their point, they partnered with Ella, Singapore’s first AI robot barista to make a free cup of coffee for anyone who is interested. To integrate the insurance aspect of it, they also allowed attendees to “insure” their coffee for free, which basically means if you spill your coffee, you get another cup for free.
The idea is simple yet elegant. Being in the marketing and media field, I loved the innovative and creative aspect of this booth because it made insurance interesting while seamlessly blending in the theme of AI.
While it was great to experience booths with cool technology integrated, the other booths without were equally enticing. Possibly because of the carnival concept whereby participants could play games and win prizes, and everyone loves prizes, right? The biggest prize I won was a S$10 Starbucks gift card!
All in all, the booths at the SFF were impressive as they blended the themes of technology, sustainability, and finance.
Read Also: 10 Start-Ups That Caught Our Eye At The Singapore FinTech Festival 2023
The Tapestry Of Networking
As quoted from the SFF website, the top reason why people attend SFF is because of networking opportunities. SFF offers specialised and dedicated spaces for attendees to connect, learn, and engage with each other.
As a fresh graduate, networking can be daunting.
On my first day at the event, I was completely clueless on how to engage in a conversation with other professionals in the industry and there was so much fear of messing up the conversations. This was why I was grateful for the After Hours at Club Street at the end of Day 1. The SFF After Hours presented an opportunity to network with other professionals all night long, in a less formal setting.
With free-flow drinks and good food, it was easier to integrate myself into the conversations happening around me.
Evening networking was more casual which led to creative discussions beyond the FinTech realm. I could hear discussions and laughter in the air across all 14 bars, and I enjoyed that.
There were also some professionals seeking my thoughts on the future of the industry. My guess is that they were keen on the perspective of someone from the younger generation. We sparred ideas back and forth which then also provided me with a new perspective on how the industry works.
Looking at the number of name cards I’ve collected throughout the festival, I can confidently say that I’ve become more comfortable with the idea of networking and understand the importance of it.
Why Everyone In FinTech Should Attend The Singapore FinTech Festival
With more than 62,000 participants representing about 10,000 organisations across 134 countries, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that the SFF is likely the biggest FinTech meet up in the world. And given that it’s right in our backyard (for those of us who are working in Singapore), there is no reason to be missing it if you are part of the finance ecosystem.
Whether you are a FinTech founder, C-level executive or an entry-level fresh graduate (like me!), getting exposed to a vast amount of knowledge and insights from industry experts, along with the opportunities to network and exchange ideas, are invaluable opportunities to foster collaboration and innovation for yourself and your company.
Read Also: Why The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) Is A Must-Go Experience For Anyone In The Finance Industry
The post I Attended The Singapore FinTech Festival For The First Time As A Fresh Graduate. Here’s Why I Loved It appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
0 Mga Komento