By aligning these key elements, organizations can optimize their operations and enhance their competitive advantage in today's dynamic market.

In today's constantly evolving business market, success requires more than traditional tactics. Organizations must manage a complicated web of obstacles, including dynamic market trends and technological upheavals. At the heart of this shift is a remarkable synergy between corporate strategy, investing practices, and fintech innovations—a convergence altering industries and reinventing success. Today we have Konstantin Vladimirovich Tserazov, a Corporate Strategy Advisor & Financial Expert, with us. Konstantin is a seasoned financial professional with a distinguished career spanning over two decades, specializing in corporate strategy, investment business, and fintech innovation. Throughout his career, Konstantin has held several pivotal roles across the financial industry. Since 2022, he has been a Corporate Strategy Advisor, providing expert guidance to organizations aiming to explore new markets. He has held numerous influential roles on various boards. From 2017 to 2022, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Otkritie Broker, a leading financial firm in Russia. He was also a St. Petersburg Stock Exchange Board Member from 2017 to 2021. In addition, he contributed to the National Association of Securities Market Participants (NAUFOR) from 2015 to 2022 and held board positions at the National Financial Association (NFA) and Sova Capital between 2015 and 2017.

Konstantin, Welcome to Business Lobbies! We appreciate your effort and the time you have taken for this interview. In today’s discussion, we will dive into the various measures of how forward-thinking organizations use a framework to generate long-term growth and competitive advantage. Corporate strategy establishes the vision, investment practices give resources and discipline, and fintech technologies are accelerators, allowing for real-time decision-making, improved consumer experiences, and operational efficiency. I’ll begin with the questions now. Q. 1. While consulting different brands, how do you advise them to balance risk and returns, when they are investing in fintech? Konstantin - My background is rooted in traditional finance – Troika Dialog, BNP Paribas. But leading Otkritie Broker during a period of extraordinary market turbulence – the global financial ripples, the pandemic COVID-19, and geopolitical instability – forced us to confront the challenges and opportunities of fintech head-on. It’s about identifying what I call "new correlations." In today’s data-saturated world, the old metrics are no longer sufficient. You need to dig deeper. You need to find the hidden connections and the emerging patterns that others are missing. That’s where the real insights lie. That’s where you find the edge. That’s where you mitigate risk and maximize return. At Otkritie Broker, this meant a significant push toward digitization. We didn’t just add a few online features; we transformed the entire client experience. 76% of our brokerage accounts were opened online. This wasn’t just about convenience; it was about building a digital ecosystem, a true fintech hub within the Otkritie ecosystem. It was about meeting our clients where they were online. And the results speak for themselves. In my last full year, our client investment strategies achieved an 88.2% success rate. Our client assets grew by 32%. Our client base expanded by 34%. By prioritizing solutions like remote account openings, we mitigated operational risks while driving returns through increased client acquisition. Companies should similarly invest in fintech solutions that complement their long-term goals rather than chasing fleeting trends. When advising brands, I advocate for detailed due diligence, ensuring they assess the robustness of a fintech solution’s technology, its compliance frameworks, and its scalability. For fintech investments, I recommend an akin approach: a blend of scenario analysis and stress testing to evaluate potential impacts on both short-term performance and long-term resilience. Fintech offers opportunities across various domains, from payment systems to blockchain platforms. However, concentrated exposure to a single fintech niche can magnify risks. I advise clients to diversify across segments and geographies. Additionally, adopting an incremental scaling model — starting with pilot projects — allows businesses to validate assumptions and adjust strategies without overcommitting resources.

Q. 2. How do you identify, evaluate, and work on potential investment opportunities and emerging market trends and technologies? Konstantin - It starts with identifying macro trends. Drawing from my leadership roles, I adhere to the following methodology:

1. Proactive market research and trend analysis. Staying ahead begins with a deep understanding of the macroeconomic and technological landscape. Today, I advise companies to harness data-driven insights, leveraging tools like AI and blockchain to predict trends and assess their potential impact on business ecosystems.
2. Rigorous due diligence and feasibility studies. Each potential investment undergoes a multi-layered evaluation process. This includes technical validation, regulatory compliance checks, and financial modelling. I encourage adopting a similar framework: a blend of quantitative analysis with qualitative assessments, such as team expertise and technological uniqueness.
3. Collaborative ecosystem engagement. Working closely with startups, regulators, and other stakeholders enhances understanding and aligns efforts with market dynamics. As a board member and advisor, I’ve facilitated partnerships between traditional institutions and innovative fintech players, promoting ecosystems that drive mutual growth. Companies must engage with industry networks, participating in accelerators or consortiums to access cutting-edge ideas and forge strategic alliances.
4. Embracing incremental investment models and real options-based scenario analysis. Scaling investments progressively addresses risks and maximizes learning. For instance, piloting blockchain applications within a controlled environment allows companies to refine strategies before wider implementation. Incremental models also help identify potential red flags early, minimizing exposure while providing flexibility to adapt. A deep understanding of how emerging technologies redefine markets is crucial.

Q. 3. What are your top 3 strategic initiatives for the next 3-5 years, and how are they integrated into your planning process and investment decisions? Konstantin - Digital transformation is embedded into every phase of strategic planning. This involves identifying technologies that align with business goals, conducting pilot programs, and scaling initiatives based on data-driven results. Decisions are guided by assessing the scalability and regulatory compliance of technology-driven investments. Companies must focus on partnerships with tech innovators and early-stage funding of promising startups that align with this vision. Markets in the GCC, CIS, and other growth regions offer significant potential. With increasing fintech adoption and regulatory support in these regions, opportunities abound for businesses to expand their footprint. Expansion strategies are built on detailed market analysis and stakeholder engagement. For instance, my advisory work in the GCC includes helping firms align their products with local consumer behaviours and regulatory frameworks. Fintech solutions can drive financial inclusion and sustainability, making this a critical focus for the future. Digital transformation supports market expansion by making services scalable, while. By embedding these strategic initiatives into a structured planning process, supported by data analytics and stakeholder collaboration, businesses can ensure their steps translate into measurable success over the next 3-5 years.

Q. 4.How would you advise organizations or clients to allocate capital between organic growth, acquisitions, and shareholder returns? Konstantin - First, you have to understand the core business. What are its strengths? We consider all three levers: Organic growth, acquisitions, and shareholder returns. Find the right mix: this will depend on the specific circumstances. Allocate resources to R&D and partnerships with innovative tech providers. Pilot programs for emerging technologies help validate their potential and scale them incrementally. Pursue strategic acquisitions for market expansion and capability building. A targeted portion of capital should support acquisitions, particularly in fintech, regtech, and digital ecosystems. Acquiring innovative startups or established players provides a faster route to adopting cutting-edge solutions and entering new markets. When advising clients in the GCC and CIS, I emphasize acquisitions of fintech firms specializing in AI-powered financial tools or blockchain-based systems. These acquisitions bolster technological capabilities while expanding market presence. At the same time, I always pay attention to growing innovative solutions in-house. I’ve helped my clients achieve consistent shareholder returns by integrating digital solutions that boosted operational income and client asset portfolios, demonstrating the dual benefits of innovation and profitability.

Q. 5. How do you assess geopolitical and macroeconomic risks affecting your investment portfolio? Konstantin - I assess geopolitical and macroeconomic risks affecting my investment portfolio by considering several key factors on both fronts. On the geopolitical front, I look at: > International relations: From emerging conflicts to trade disputes or shifting alliances, the global stage is in constant flux. These changes can reshape trade dynamics and investment flows, setting the tone for future economic cooperation — or confrontation. The 47th U.S. President-Elect, Donald Trump's intention to introduce extra tariffs on goods from the EU, Canada, and Mexico leads me to firmly estimate how this will not only redraw logistical routes for goods but also shift investment flows — not just in these countries, but across the globe. > Political stability: Upcoming elections, social unrest, or geopolitical tensions that could destabilize a region or country. > Regulatory changes: New regulations or policy changes that could impact specific industries or markets. These changes should include the potential adoption of digital identity systems, which may be accelerated by geopolitical developments or regulatory reforms, as they can impact cross-border transactions and compliance requirements. On the macroeconomic front, I focus on: > Economic growth: Growth prospects for different regions and countries; signs of recession or overheating. > Inflation: Is inflation under control or rising to trigger central bank intervention? > Geographic and Sector Diversification: Identifying opportunities in various markets and specific sectors with high growth potential.

Q. 6. In what way do you include environmental issues in all your investment and technology strategies? Konstantin - It’s not just about adding an "ESG filter"; it’s about deeply embedding environmental considerations into every step of the investment and tech process. I’ve seen firsthand how climate change and resource scarcity impact global markets across my career, from Troika Dialog to Cresco Capital. It’s clear: environmental factors are financial factors. For investments, we’re looking at: > Carbon footprint: Greenhouse gases from operations and products. > Resource efficiency: How well a company manages water, energy, and raw materials. > Environmental impact: Biodiversity, ecosystems, and community effects. > Regulatory risks: Upcoming environmental laws that could affect profitability. ESG considerations are incorporated into all strategic frameworks, ensuring initiatives align with broader societal goals. This includes investing in platforms promoting green finance and inclusive technologies. I advocate allocating capital to ventures prioritizing sustainability. ESG principles enhance brand reputation and attract forward-looking investors. For technology green strategies, we’re leveraging innovations like: > Digital identity: Verifying certifications, tracking environmental impacts, and aiding consumer decisions. > Other innovations: Renewable energy, energy storage, green materials, and circular economy models. We integrate these factors into our due diligence, portfolio construction, active ownership, and tech roadmaps.

Q. 7. What are the biggest challenges in the present fintech market situation, and how are you preparing to address them? What would you advise other brands about the same? Konstantin - Let’s be clear: the fintech landscape isn’t some Silicon Valley utopia. It’s a battleground. And these are the key skirmishes: First, regulation. You have jurisdictions from London to Dubai to Moscow with their own sets of rules, often playing catch-up to the innovation itself. It’s a compliance minefield. Try navigating the regulatory framework for cross-border digital onboarding. Because one wrong step can bring the whole house of cards down. Second, cybersecurity. As fintech platforms increasingly digitize services, cybersecurity threats pose significant risks to customer trust. We invested heavily in robust security measures at Otkritie Broker. Why? Because in this business, trust is the currency. You lose that, you lose everything. Third, competition. The fintech space is crowded. Everyone’s got an app, a platform, an algorithm. How do you stand out? Intense competition requires fintech firms to innovate continuously while scaling operations efficiently. At Otkritie Broker, we focused on two things: client experience and cutting-edge technology. And it resonated. Our client base grew by leaps and bounds, even attracting high-net-worth individuals and industry leaders. So, how do you address these challenges? Here’s what I’d advise other brands, based on my experience. Be agile. Embrace innovation, but responsibly. To remain competitive, businesses must adopt AI and blockchain for operational optimization and customer personalization. Prioritize trust and transparency. Be upfront about your data practices, your security measures, your business model. Trust is paramount, especially in financial services.

With this, we come to the end of this valuable interview. We thank Konstantin Vladimirovich Tserazov for sharing his constructive thoughts on the topic of “Framework for Success: The Efficient Convergence of Corporate Strategy, Investment Practices and Fintech Innovations”. We wish him all the very best in all his future endeavours and hope he continues to illuminate the paths of the finance and fintech spheres. Stay tuned on our platform Business Lobbies for more such exclusive interviews, Op-Eds, and special feature articles, on all things business.