About Fintech Frontiers 2026
Conference at a Glance
What We’ll Explore
Keynote Voices
Conversations at the Frontier
01 — Future of Banking, Insurance & Asset Management
October 22, 2026 · 1:30–2:30 PM
Moderator: Prof. Gene
Meet the Panel
Key Themes
- Digital transformation and the reinvention of core banking and lending models
- AI and data analytics in underwriting, claims, and insurance risk management
- The future of asset and wealth management in an AI-driven, data-rich era
- Embedded finance, open banking, and new competitive dynamics from FinTech entrants
- Personalization, automation, and the evolving customer experience across financial services
02 — Tokenization, Digital Assets, and the Future of Financial Market Infrastructure
October 22, 2026 · 4:30–5:30 PM
Moderator: Prof. Treku
Meet the Panel
Key Themes
- Tokenization of financial and real-world assets
- Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
- Blockchain-enabled payment systems and settlement technologies
- Decentralized finance (DeFi) and financial market innovation
- Regulatory and cybersecurity challenges in digital finance ecosystems
03 — AI, Higher Education, and the Future Workforce
October 23, 2026 · 1:30–2:30 PM
Moderators: Prof. Dunbar/Prof. Gene
Meet the Panel
Key Themes
- The future of business education in the age of generative AI
- AI’s impact on financial-sector employment and workforce restructuring
- Human-centered AI collaboration and the evolving role of analytical and creative skills
- Preparing the next generation of FinTech leaders through interdisciplinary education
- Ethical and societal implications of AI adoption across industries
Plan Your Conference Experience
Extend Your Research Impact
Organizers
Behind FinTech Frontiers
Professor Kwamie Dunbar
Interim Dean of the Business School, WPI
Dr. Dunbar is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Finance at WPI. In addition to his extensive experience in teaching and research, he has a wealth of industry experience working with several fortune 500 companies in various capacities.
Professor Dunbar's research has appeared in leading economics and finance journals such as Quantitative Finance, Economic Modeling, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Research in International Business and Finance, amongst others. His research has received considerable attention via citations, and he regularly presents his work at leading international conferences and writes media pieces. His current research examines Blockchain assets for Social Good and Sustainability. His primary research focus is empirical asset pricing, and cryptocurrencies, with a focus on FinTech and futures markets. His transformational work has contributed to various areas in finance that focus on digital assets, financial technologies, and digital transformation from the perspectives of finance and economics.
Dr. Eugene Okyere-Yeboah
Professor of Practice, WPI Business School
Managing Director, FinTech Project Center
Dr. Eugene Okyere-Yeboah is a Professor of Practice in the WPI Business School and Managing Director of the FinTech Project Center. His work focuses on financial technology, digital finance, and the application of quantitative methods to real-world financial problems, connecting academic research with industry practice.
He holds a BSc in Pure Mathematics (First Class Honors) from the University of Essex, an MBA in Finance and a PhD in Empirical Financial Economics from City, St George’s, University of London, and an MS in Computational Finance from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. He also earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Sustainable Finance from Sacred Heart University. Through his teaching, mentoring, and project-based collaborations, Dr. Okyere-Yeboah helps prepare the next generation of leaders in FinTech and modern financial markets.
Khushali Shah
Khushali is a master’s student in FinTech at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and she works as a Graduate Assistant to Dr Kwamie Dunbar, Dean of Business School. She brings over three years of professional experience in operations and program management within the foreign education sector, along with hands-on exposure to fintech research and innovation. Currently, Khushali works as a Research Assistant, supporting data collection and survey-driven insights for fintech initiatives, and has been actively involved in blockchain-based investment platform research and industry collaboration. As a GA, she supports conference operations, coordination, and communications, helping ensure seamless and engaging experience for speakers, partners, and attendees. With a strong interest in financial technology, data-driven decision-making, and emerging digital finance trends, Khushali is passionate about contributing to conversations that bridge academia, industry, and innovation.
Regina Ali
Regina is currently pursuing an MBA in Analytics at WPI Business School. She serves as a Graduate Assistant to Dr. Kwamie Dunbar and Dr. Eugene Okyere-Yeboah, where she supports course administration for Financial Management, Investment Management, and Finance and Technology, while also contributing to conference planning and coordination.
Regina holds an MPhil in Finance and brings professional experience from the regulated pension industry, having worked as a Pension Advisor and Corporate Relationship Manager. Her strength lies at the intersection of finance and analytics, with a strong interest in applying data-driven insights to financial decision-making and industry innovation.
WPI Business School Rolls Out FinTech Degrees
Through The Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is now offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in financial technology that leverage the university’s project-based learning approach and deep expertise in science and technology to satisfy increasing industry demand.
Introducing WPI's New MS in FinTech
How will you shape the future of finance? Utilize unstructured data, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (A.I.) insights to drive new financial thinking and processes that deliver innovative financial products and strategies for long-term productivity improvements and economic growth. With these skills, you’ll be invaluable to established firms and startups as we move rapidly to a digitized and data-intensive world. This program expands WPI's FinTech offerings; a graduate certificate is still available.
Introducing WPI's new BS in FinTech
We’re quickly moving toward a more digitized and data-intensive world. Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Technology (FinTech) from WPI, you'll be well prepared to help shape the future of finance. While working toward your degree, you’ll be introduced to key financial technologies and their applications in financial services, all while developing a broad, solid understanding of FinTech innovations, as well as their benefits and limitations. Through WPI’s signature project-based education, you’ll learn the skills needed to meet the critical needs and growing demands for quantitative modeling, analysis in finance, and other aspects in the FinTech industry.