As a few fintech companies like Lending Club, Betterment, and others have run into some rough patches lately, it has been interesting to note some of the reactions, especially amongst bankers (that’s just shorthand, I’m looking at you too, credit union leaders). Some have taken this news as indication that fintech was just a bubble after all, and […]
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Strategic Planning: Stacking the Odds in Your Favor
It’s midyear already. Halftime. Two quarters down and two to go for 2016. For many financial institutions, it’s also the start of the 2017 strategic planning season. That time when boards and senior leadership teams sit down to hash out next year’s budget; working together to set aside silo politics and internecine battles to focus on […]
Innovation is an Act of Leadership
The average lifespan atop any corporate leaderboard, whether it’s the Fortune 500 or any other peer group listing, is getting shorter and shorter. Business cycles are growing increasingly brief and volatile. Yesterday’s top companies are soon long forgotten, and today’s leaders are already watching out for tomorrow’s darlings in their rearview mirror. Success is unfortunately a poor teacher. We […]
The World I Want to Live In
Demographically, I am about as “mainstream majority” as they come. I am a Caucasian, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant male who worked most of his career in the banking industry. An upper-middle class suburbanite heterosexual American to boot. No one would use the word “activist” to describe me. I’m apolitical to a fault, and I don’t talk about […]
Your Fast Follower Strategy is Riskier Than You Realize
In my last post Leaders, Learners and Laggards I talked of banking leaders who describe their approach to innovation as being a “fast follower, and how my typical retort is that they are half-right— most of them are definitely followers, but there usually isn’t anything fast about their approach. This has spurred some great discussions […]
Leaders, Learners and Laggards
I talk with a lot of banking leaders who describe their approach to innovation as being a “fast follower. My typical retort is that they are half-right— most of them are definitely followers, but there usually isn’t anything fast about their approach. Pioneers are the ones who get hit with arrows, and it is only […]
The Four People Who Ruin Innovation
Innovation is fun. Except when these types are around. How many do you know? The Hypemaster The Hypemaster is, well… a master of hype. Everything they’re working on is amazing, and you must absolutely drop everything and check it out. Right now! “Hey we’re getting ready to launch Hypemaster.io, check it out and let me […]
Top Five Posts from JP Nicols in 2015
Thanks to everyone who read, engaged, commented and shared my posts over the past year. I am proud to be a part of a great and growing global community that is committed to improving financial services for the better. Here’s to a great 2016! Follow me on Twitter: Follow @JPNicols Learn more about […]