Bringing something new to the market - a new product, service, or way of working - is difficult. Not understanding or accepting this reality has caused much frustration for many organizations and leaders. It's especially challenging in banking and financial services, which have many regulations to comply with, and large numbers of customers to serve. But it's not impossible - and when it's done right, the satisfaction of seeing what you made out in the world is incredible.I have been fortunate to lead pioneering teams in corporate strategy, banking innovation, fintech partnerships, and digital transformation for almost 20 years. Over this time, I have held many roles - from bank executive leading innovation & new ventures, to fintech firm founder, to management consultant with top-tier advisory firms & clients. Highlights include:- Pioneered the corporate innovation program in a large bank, building an innovation culture with 40K employees. At the same time, created new lines of business via the earliest fintech partnerships, including a SME banking solution used by over 400k business customers.- Culminated with the bank being recognized as "the most innovative bank in the world" by BAI, Chicago in 2012. - Co-founded the first Fintech engagement platform, used by over 130 financial institutions & 7k fintech firms; successfully exited by selling this business to KPMG International.From these experiences, I've developed an in-depth understanding of corporate innovation and how to leverage new technology to drive positive change in financial services.Executives and leaders in financial services (esp. banking) and technology firms (incl. established fintech and large tech providers) are dealing with unprecedented change & complexity. The financial services landscape is changing fast, with technology giving access to customers to diverse players, both established and new. Banking and fintech business models have evolved over the past decade, from more direct vendor relationships to a more complex array of platforms and partnerships. Within this context, the need to innovate has never been greater.Today I lead a boutique consulting firm that brings together a team of specialists and a network of global alliances with deep experience and insights. Together we help clients navigate the complexity of bringing new ideas to market, using a combination of real-world experience, proven methodologies, and leading solutions - which we call the "UP Way".Get in touch with me to find out more, or visit our website: https://ulysses-partners.com