The world of finance is always on the move, with new developments in fintech and mobile banking forever changing the way business is done. It’s not always easy to keep up with the constant stream of new developments in the field. But getting left behind carries some serious costs.
One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is by keeping an eye on some of finance’s most dynamic players. Forward-thinking individuals are the ones driving change in finance; for that reason, it’s crucial to stay on top of the most influential thinkers.
If you’re hoping to stay on the cutting edge of what’s happening in finance, keeping track of these leaders is a good place to start:
1. Anthony Clervi
At first glance, Anthony Clervi’s story might sound a lot like others on this list. Through hard work and diligence, Clervi became a managing partner at procurement solution company Una. What makes Clervi different is the attitude and mindset he brings to his rapidly expanding business.
Una is a group purchasing organization, a company that uses the collective buying power of its members to procure products efficiently and affordably. Una uses technology and analytics in unprecedented ways, meaning its clients are saving large sums of money and getting products at speeds not previously possible. Clervi’s focus on the future makes Una a must-watch company for the future of tech’s financial impact.
2. Wendy De La Rosa
Wendy De La Rosa, a Wharton graduate and PhD student at Stanford, is rethinking how finance is done from the bottom up. The daughter of Dominican immigrants, De La Rosa grew up watching her household manage complex systems of finances — and she wanted to know more.
With Dan Ariely, De La Rosa helped found Google’s Behavioral Economics Group, where she began research on how understudied populations of Americans make financial decisions. De La Rosa’s methods combine elements of psychology, sociology, and economics to uncover remarkable insights into what affects the financial decisions we make.
3. Ryan Williams
Previously featured on Fortune’s “40 Under 40” and Forbes’s “30 Under 30” lists, Ryan Williams has been making waves in the fintech space for some time. At 32, however, his potential to shake things up even further is far from gone.
Williams is the CEO of Cadre, a digital platform that enables people to invest in commercial real estate around the world. Cadre’s easy-to-use interface and relatively low barrier to entry make it possible for more people to access potentially lucrative real estate investments. Williams is leveling the investment playing field for many; it won’t be long before everyone can feel the effects.
4. Sebastian Siemiatkowski
Swedish wunderkind Sebastian Siemiatkowski has already transformed the financial landscape in his native Europe, making waves that are likely to be felt stateside very soon. After meeting his business partner while grilling patties at Burger King, Siemiatkowski went on to co-found Klarna, a PayPal competitor.
What makes Klarna different is its focus on short-term credit disposal. Every year, Klarna lends tens of millions to consumers in an attempt to lure users away from credit cards and toward digital lending options. Whether Klarna will transform finance entirely isn’t yet clear, but the innovation at the heart of Siemiatkowski’s work is.
5. Tobias Lütke
While he might be the most famous entry on this list, Tobias Lütke is far from done with disruption. The 39-year old co-founder and CEO of e-commerce giant Shopify has already given thousands a platform from which they can run an online store, but the consequences of his innovations still have further to go.
As Amazon grows, more consumers are looking for smaller alternatives to the supermassive corporate entity. Shopify makes it easy to sell and distribute products digitally. As demands for alternatives increases, Shopify has the potential to become the go-to platform. Growth like that could make Lütke an even bigger player in his space than he currently is.
6. René Lacerte
Businesses send invoices and receive payments in different formats and on different platforms, but René Lacerte doesn’t think it has to be this way. Lacerte’s company, Bill.com, consolidates all payment processes and information into one place, making it easy to get a sense of where your business’s money is moving at any given time. As the digital economy grows, the need for uniform billing processes grows as well. Lacerte is hoping to ride that wave all the way to the top.
The world of finance is full of excellent leaders, but these have something truly special going for them. By constantly looking forward, they’re poised to shape how business is done now and well into the future.
