EPISODE · Apr 16, 2025 · 49 MIN
Areiel Wolanow On Unleashing AI, Quantum, and Emerging Tech
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine meets Areiel Wolanow, the managing director of Finserv Experts, who discusses his journey from IBM to founding FinServ Experts, emphasising the importance of focusing on business models enabled by technology rather than the technology itself. Areiel delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, responsible AI practices, and the implications of quantum computing for data security, highlighting the need for organisations to adapt their approaches to digital transformation, advocating for a migration strategy over traditional transformation methods KEY TAKEAWAYS Emerging tech should be leveraged to create new business models rather than just re-engineering existing ones. Understanding the business implications of technology is crucial for delivering value. When harnessing artificial intelligence, it's essential to identify the real underlying problems within an organisation, assess its maturity, and build self-awareness before applying maturity models and gap analyses. The EU AI Act serves as a comprehensive guideline for responsible AI use, offering risk categories and controls that can benefit companies outside the EU by providing a framework for ethical AI practices without the burden of compliance. Organisations should prepare for the future of quantum computing by ensuring their data is protected against potential vulnerabilities. This involves adopting quantum-resilient algorithms and planning for the transition well in advance. Leaders should place significant responsibility on younger team members who are more familiar with emerging technologies. Providing them with autonomy and support can lead to innovative solutions and successful business outcomes. BEST MOMENTS 'We focus not on the technology itself, but on the business models the tech enables.' 'The first thing you have to do... is to say, OK, is the proximate cause the real problem?' 'The best AI regulations out there is the EU AI Act... it actually benefits AI companies outside the EU more than it benefits within.' 'Digital transformations have two things in common. One is they're expensive, and two is they always fail.' ABOUT THE GUEST Areiel Wolanow is the managing director of Finserv Experts. He is an experienced business leader with over 25 years of experience in business transformation solutioning, sales, and execution. He served as one of IBM’s key thought leaders in blockchain, machine learning, and financial inclusion. Areiel has deep experience leading large, globally distributed teams; he has led programs of over 100 people through the full delivery life cycle, and has managed budgets in the tens of millions of dollars. In addition to his delivery experience, Areiel also serves as a senior advisor on blockchain, machine learning, and technology adoption. He has worked with central banks and financial regulators around the world and is currently serving as the insurance industry advisor for the UK Parliament’s working group on blockchain. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
On this episode of Scouting For Growth, Sabine VdL meets Areiel Wolanow, Managing Director of FinServ Experts, for a sharp, strategy-first conversation on emerging tech, responsible AI, and why most “digital transformations” fail before they ever create value. Areiel’s journey spans IBM to founding FinServ Experts, but his message is refreshingly consistent: Don’t fall in love with the technology. Fall in love with the business model it enables. Stop modernising the old — design the new Areiel challenges one of the biggest traps in enterprise innovation: using new technology to simply re-engineer yesterday’s operating model. Instead, he argues emerging tech should be used to unlock new business models, new value chains, and new ways to serve customers. That mindset shift is what separates “innovation theatre” from real advantage. AI success starts with brutal self-awareness When it comes to AI, Areiel is clear: the biggest risk isn’t model selection — it’s solving the wrong problem. Before applying maturity models or gap analyses, leaders must ask a tougher question: Is the proximate cause actually the real problem? AI adoption should be grounded in organisational self-awareness: understanding what’s broken, what’s possible, and what the enterprise is mature enough to operationalise safely. Responsible AI: the EU AI Act is a blueprint, not just regulation Areiel points to the EU AI Act as one of the most useful frameworks available for responsible AI. Its value goes beyond compliance: it offers risk categories, controls, and governance principles that can help organisations everywhere build ethical AI practices with more clarity and less guesswork. In his view, it may even benefit companies outside the EU more — because they can adopt the structure without carrying the compliance burden. Quantum computing: the security clock is ticking Areiel also raises a forward-looking concern many executives aren’t planning for yet: quantum computing. As quantum capabilities advance, today’s encryption methods could become vulnerable. The organisations that win won’t be the ones reacting late — they’ll be the ones planning early by adopting quantum-resilient algorithms and preparing their data strategy long before the risk becomes urgent. Transformation vs migration: the smarter path forward Perhaps the most provocative line in the episode is Areiel’s blunt take: Digital transformations have two things in common: they’re expensive, and they always fail. His alternative? Think migration, not transformation. Move deliberately, reduce disruption, and evolve your operating model through staged progress rather than big-bang reinvention. Give younger talent the keys (with guardrails) Areiel also challenges leaders to rethink how they use internal talent. Younger team members often have stronger fluency in emerging technologies — but they’re rarely given the responsibility to drive meaningful outcomes. His advice: empower them with autonomy, support, and real ownership. That’s where unexpected innovation can emerge. Why this episode matters For insurance and financial services leaders, this conversation is a practical playbook for navigating the next wave of change: build business models, not tech demos diagnose root causes before deploying AI use governance frameworks to scale trust prepare now for quantum security risk migrate strategically instead of “transforming” blindly Because in the next era of financial services, the winners won’t be the ones with the newest tools. They’ll be the ones who turn technology into strategy — and strategy into results.
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Areiel Wolanow On Unleashing AI, Quantum, and Emerging Tech
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