The minute December comes around the corner, schedules undoubtedly fill up with holiday parties. At U.S. Dataworks, it’s no exception. We planned our small holiday party for a Friday afternoon in mid-December. We would have snacks and adult beverages—but most importantly, a white elephant gift exchange. For those unfamiliar with the concept, in a white […]
Category Archives: Innovation
Banks Are Not Telling Their Stories
I frequently scan the news, particularly when it relates to financial services, and one fact is inescapable: current generations will not conform to the methods of traditional financial services as previous generations have. Some financial experts will disagree, but there is a big difference between individuals who used to need access to accounts and payment […]
Being Creative in Any Situation
I recently needed to have an online meeting while I was at the Oklahoma City airport. While I wouldn’t normally schedule this type of presentation with the knowledge that I would be in a public space, circumstances aligned that this could not be avoided. I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare […]
Innovation Needed – Marriott Are You Listening?
It seems I have a never-ending supply of stories from mainline companies who just can’t get their customer service act together. Here’s my reasoning for sharing them: since I try to highlight the good and innovative things companies do, it’s only appropriate that when there is a customer service failure, I call that out, as […]
I’m Not as Innovative as I Thought …
Despite my quest to look for innovation in all aspects of everyday life, I often amaze myself at the number of instances I remain oblivious to it, even when it is staring me right in the face and working in my favor. For instance, there was the time I rented a beautiful new car from […]
Our Future is in Good Hands
As a frequent speaker to financial services audiences, I talk often about the future customers of financial institutions, including Gen Z, the youngest generation, who are mostly still in some form of school as I write this. So when I have a chance to interact with an actual Gen Z member, I generally ask a […]
It Was My Fault and I Quit AVIS Anyway
As a frequent traveler, I get the opportunity to accumulate travel award points. This summer, while in Colorado to teach at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado, I rented a car so I could travel up to the mountains to fish and visit with friends. Since I had many American […]
Innovation… in the Restroom Stall?
Recently I was facilitating a small group of bankers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago- an iconic old building with magnificent architecture, soaring columns and lots of marble. But of course, the inside is modern; our meeting room had every electronic audio and visual convenience- the best of everything. During a break, I went […]
Battling Confirmation Bias and My Lying Eyes
I had previously written about my experience flying from Albuquerque to Houston and how I was able to overcome confirmation bias in getting through security and making my flight after a long security checkpoint shutdown. On the ensuing flight, I was reading an article by Ben Yagoda in The Atlantic about cognitive biases. I […]
Do What You Can Do
After two long, but rewarding weeks teaching technology and innovation at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado, I was at the Denver airport waiting on my flight back to Houston. I had parked at a charging station and was working on my computer when out of the corner of my eye, […]