In this insightful episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik engages with Nelson De Jesus, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at CIBC. They dive into Nelson's unexpected journey into the banking and IT sector, revealing the serendipitous encounters and choices that shaped his career. Nelson shares his philosophy on leadership, emphasizing the importance of vision, work ethic, collaboration, and the ability to seek improvement, both professionally and personally constantly.

Nelson discusses the transformative impact of AI and generative technologies in banking, drawing parallels and distinctions with past tech trends like blockchain and crypto. He provides a nuanced perspective on the adoption of these technologies, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the financial industry while acknowledging the challenges of integrating AI into traditional banking systems.

The conversation then shifts to experiential banking and the future of digital transformation within the sector. Nelson explores the evolution of banking services, the role of smart branches, and the necessity for banks to adapt to changing customer expectations in the digital age. He underscores the continuous pursuit of innovation and the strategic importance of maintaining stability and trust in the rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Key Highlights:

- Vision, work ethic, collaboration, and commitment are cornerstones of effective leadership.
- Tailoring digital experience to the client is a process. You can’t begin at 100% right away.
- There’s optimism in AI's capabilities, especially in improving predictions and generating content.
- Banks must adapt to consumer expectations with more personalized and efficient services.
- For open banking to thrive, there needs to be a much higher participation rate.

Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.