Rob Samuel Interview

Tell me a little about yourself (in a few sentences): 

I’ve spent 15 years working across numerous facets of finance and fintech, from short term lending to high street banking to lead generation. I am a keen traveler and golfer in my spare time.

What has been the proudest moment of your career?  

Either earning my promotion to Commercial Director or receiving the award for Rising Star from Credit Strategy in 2017.

What hopes do you have for your industry moving forward? 

I’d like to see more collaboration which leads to innovation. There is a lot of ‘secret sauce’ within the fintech space. With more and more consumers moving online, away from traditional institutions, there are a lot of new finance companies popping up that could benefit from learning with and from each other in the interest of creating better products that suit consumers’ needs. 

How do you think a business can nurture employee buy-in for its objectives and values?  

For me it is all about people feeling valued within their roles and ensuring that everyone’s opinion is heard. It’s okay to not know everything. Leaning on others with different experiences and skill sets helps to fill in the blanks, allowing for better decision making in terms of strategy whilst ensuring everybody feels valued and respected for what they bring to the table.

What advice would you give to someone looking to work in a similar role to yours?  

Work hard, learn from others around you and build relationships with others in the industry. The fintech space is a community and you can learn a lot from others in the industry who have faced different challenges and had other experiences.

What do you do to unwind?  

I’m a keen golfer and also live by the sea, so I like to spend time at the beach or swimming in the sea when the weather is nice.

What are the values within your job role?  

Accountability, integrity and problem solving.

What advice would you give to your younger self?  

Like I said earlier, accepting that nobody knows everything. You also have to understand that this is a strength and not a weakness. It means you are wrong less often and make better informed decisions.

How would your partner describe you in three words?  

Driven, dedicated, good-humoured.

What celebrity would you cast to play you in a movie about your life? 

Being 6’7 it has to be the one and only Crouchy! (Peter Crouch).