University of La Verne - Online Tours
Briefing Session
Please join us for the briefing session on the 17th of January from 18h00-20h00.
Zoom Link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88455624330
Speed Networking
Please join us for the speed networking session on the 19th of January from 18h00-18h45
Zoom Link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83809254688
Opening Ceremony: Guest Speaker
Mr Gibran Registe-Charles
CEO
Urban Edge Capital – Hedge Fund
The speaker is the CEO and founder of UEC. Skilled in AI and Machine Learning and Fintech Robo advisors, Gibran has an extensive professional background including working for EFG, Rothschild’s Asset Management and Morgan Stanley. Gibran is also a former political FinTech policy advisor in the European Parliament, working within the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.
Having recently signed with Goldman Sachs, Urban Edge Capital is a leading fund manager with a unique angle. Using data, metric and machine-learning UEC generates consistent alpha through diversity equity-based opportunities. In this way UEC’s innovative use of technology highlights urban purchasing power and cultural trends overlooked by the traditional sector. The firm operates a long/short fund to capture maximum investment and uses Quality, Growth and Valuation to qualify stock picks.
Gibran has more than 20 years experience in Asset Management and Hedge Fund companies before he set up Urban Edge Capital.
Business Presentation - After Amazing Race
Sync. - Fintech
An advanced banking platform tailored to the users’ needs that has recently presented at the House of Commons, Sync. recently won the prestigious Alibaba Group Global Competition at Hong Kong FinTech Week.
Sync. Represent the future of open banking allowing users to aggregate all financial accounts in one place, swap between different currencies and transfer funds to other users. Sync. has partnered with the world’s major banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander, Citigroup and more.
Sync. has also been actively exploring different market potential during the pandemic.
Click here to watch our interview with the CEO and founder of Sync:
https://www.insiderlondon.com/blog/the-future-is-fintech-spotlight-on-sync/
Professor Issam Ghazzawi received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, his Masters in Labor and Human Resources (MLHR) from The Ohio State University, and his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Sul Ross State University. He has taught management and organizational studies courses and has over 20 years of executive management experience.”
Paul J. Abbondante, Ph.D., has extensive experience as an investment banker and chief financial officer. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Genève International Corporation, a FINRA broker-dealer specializing in investment banking, from 2000 to 2016. Prior to that, he was President of Irvine Securities, also a FINRA broker dealer, and was responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations. The duties included investment analysis, due diligence, and the management of 25 brokers. In his previous positions as CFO with Triple Crown Industries, Inc. and Capital Network, Inc., he was responsible for the allocation of corporate funds along with the financial analysis and modeling that preceded the spending decisions. Triple Crown Industries was publicly traded and he submitted quarterly and annual reports to be filed with the SEC. Dr. Abbondante has taught economics and finance at the University of California at Los Angeles, California Polytechnic University at Pomona, and Chapman University. He received his doctoral degree in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also had series 7 (registered representative), series 24 (general securities principal), and series 27 (financial and operations principal) securities licenses.
Dr. Kathy Duncan is a Professor of Management at the University of La Verne. She is the Program Director for the Master’s in Leadership and Management program. Before coming to academia, Kathy had over twenty years of experience in healthcare including clinical, management, and educator positions as a registered nurse. Dr. Duncan has presented at a number of academic and leadership conferences. As a consultant, Kathy facilitates team building, strategic planning, and conflict resolution with teams in healthcare, education, and non-profit organizations.
Closing Ceremony: Guest Speaker
Matthew Khoury
CEO/Co-Founder
Loke Global
Graduated from University of South Australia, Matthew Khoury co-founded Loke Global in Australia in 2012.
LOKE builds branded ordering, loyalty and marketing technology for retail and hospitality brands. It provides both web and native apps in customer’s brand with the widest selection of tools to build revenue and customer data. LOKE’s bespoke platform includes customisable segmentation and tracking tools, allowing its customers to create powerful and meaningful journeys while enhancing customer’s interaction with businesses. It offers a feature set normally only achieved by combining multiple platforms.
After the successful launch in Australia and Singapore, Matt moved to London to expand Loke’s operation into the UK in 2018. When Covid-19 hit UK in March 2020, Matt led his team to change its business model over night, they have pivoted extremely successfully to focus on providing ordering platforms, for delivery services, to small and medium sized hospitality businesses.
Its customers include Shake Shack, Nandos, Baskin Robbins, National Australia Bank, Milestone Group, Gelato Messina, City Pub Group and many more, it has offices in Sydney, Singapore, London and Aukland.