Welcome to the 2026 FinTech x Emerging Technologies Conference:
AI Reshaping Finance, Markets, and the Future of Work
Overview
This conference is organized by the Lam-Larsen Emerging Technology and Fintech Initiatives at San Francisco State University in Partnership with BlackRock SF.
Conference Theme: "AI Reshaping Finance, Markets, and the Future of Work"
Held at BlackRock San Francisco—one of the world's preeminent asset management and investment firms—this conference brings together students, academics, industry leaders, and technology experts to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of business, finance, work, and the workplace environment by redefining the skills, roles, and tools of tomorrow.
Whether you're a student exploring career paths, a professional navigating workplace transformation, or simply curious about what the future holds, this conference is your gateway to understanding and engaging with the AI-powered future of work.
During this conference, we'll explore the latest trends in FinTech, AI, and their impacts on finance, central bank digital currency, financial inclusion, and more.
Students who attend this conference will gain a better understanding of the fintech industry, which will help them determine if they wish to pursue a career in this industry.
Agenda
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Reception & Informal Networking |
| 8:30 - 9:00 AM | Welcome Remarks |
| 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Keynote Speech |
| 10:00 - 11:30 AM | Panel Discussion |
| 11:30 - 11:40 AM | Coffee Break |
| 11:40 AM - 12:30 PM | Panel Discussion |
| 12:30 - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
| 1:30 - 2:30 PM | Fireside Chat |
| 2:30 - 2:45 PM | Coffee Break |
| 2:45 - 3:45 PM | Technology Demo & Showcases |
| 3:45 - 4:00 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Networking Reception |
Speakers
Andrea Anderson
Head of User and Information Experience, Guidewire
Andrea Anderson is a globally recognized software and AI
leader with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of user experience (UX), learning experience (LX), information experience (IX), business strategy, and
technology.
Since 2019, Andrea has served as Head of User and Information Experience at Guidewire, leading diverse, highperforming teams to build an AI-driven product development lifecycle and deliver intuitive, profitable intelligent enterprise
solutions for the insurance industry.
Andrea’s leadership combines design thinking, agile development, and business model innovation to help teams solve complex problems, turn data and AI into practical tools, and drive measurable business results. A passionate intrapreneur and connector, they have held key roles at industry leaders including Guidewire, MEAD, and SAP, shaping product vision and strategy in finance, analytics, IT, and application development.
Their expertise includes building global teams, standardizing how AI is integrated across products, and championing accessibility and inclusion in intelligent software design. Andrea is known for inspiring trust, supporting continuous growth, and helping stakeholders at all levels embrace user-centric, AI-augmented, future-ready solutions.
Tom Becker
Portfolio Manager, Global Tactical Asset Allocation Team, BlackRock
Tom Becker, Managing Director, is a portfolio manager on the Global Tactical Asset Allocation (GTAA) team within BlackRock's Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions group. The GTAA team manages multi-asset macro investment strategies, including the Tactical Opportunities Fund and the iShares Global Government Bond USD Hedged Active ETF, for retail and institutional clients around the world.
Tom’s service with the firm dates back to 2010. Prior to assuming his current role, he led fixed income research within the multi-asset Global Market Strategies Group. In 2009 he served as an economist in the Office of International Affairs at the US Department of Treasury.
Tom earned a BS degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003 and an MA and PhD in international and environmental economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
Tom is co-head of the BlackRock San Francisco office and serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring California with his wife and three daughters.
Multi-Asset Strategies and Solutions (MASS) meets client demand for active asset allocation strategies and whole portfolio solutions through funds, model portfolios, and more. MASS draws on the toolkit of BlackRock's index, factor, and alpha-seeking capabilities to deliver cutting-edge insights and investment outcomes.
Karl-Heinz Hoffman
Senior Director, Technology Partnerships, Immersive
Karl-Heinz Hofman is Senior Director for Technology Partnerships at Immersive, where he built the company's cybersecurity technology ecosystem from greenfield to 20+ active alliances with organizations including Google, Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Elastic, and Palo Alto Networks - including work that contributed to strong recognition in industry assessments of cybersecurity skills and excercising platforms. His day-to-day focus is trust between vendors and buyers:executive-level roadmap alignment, integration and GTM design, and restructuring complex licensing so partnerships reduce risk instead of adding ambiguity.
Previously, as VP of Technology Alliances at SingleStore and in multiple VP roles at SAP spanning database and global partner solutions, he scaled partner marketplaces and programs, led IPO- and privacy-ware partner onboarding (including GDPR/CPRA considerations), and drove large partner-sourced revenue and pipeline outcomes. That background shapes how he thinks about AI adoption in the enterprise - especially cyber, third-party risk, data-governance, and the pressure security and financial workflows put on "trust at scale."
He also maintains a personal Django-based investment workflow platform using disciplined, AI-assisted development - useful ground truth for how security and governance show up in real software delivery.
He holds a B.Cs. in Computer Science & Quantitative Management from the University of South Africa, and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Thomas Kang
Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Finmo
Thomas is a Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Finmo. He leads the strategic direction of Finmo’s growth team and revenue generation efforts.
He is a financial industry veteran with 25+ years of experience in Venture Capital, Fintechs, Institutional Banking, and Corporate Treasury. He was a research engineer for the US Navy for ten years before starting his career in finance.
Before founding Finmo, he was the Director of Business Development at Rapyd and the Head of Global Outreach at M-DAQ. Thomas also held multiple senior roles at Citi, including Asia Pacific Regional Head in Singapore. He started his financial career at Agilent Technologies as an international treasury manager.
Outside of Finmo, Thomas is a Managing Partner at Voveo Capital, actively seeking emerging technologies and product trends to support socially responsible entrepreneurs.
Thomas graduated with an MBA from Yale University and received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.
Randy Schieber
Independent Consultant
Randy Schieber is an independent consultant and part-time lecturer with over two decades of experience at the intersection of financial services, payments innovation, and regulatory policy. He has held senior leadership roles in enterprise strategy, risk management, and cross-functional transformation initiatives in highly regulated environments.
Most recently, Randy served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Visa, where he helped shape global corporate affairs strategy and guided the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence tools. Prior to Visa, he spent seven years as Vice President of Strategy and Analytics at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where he led enterprise strategy and played a key role in evolving the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management framework to address emerging risks, integrate risk appetite into decision-making, and strengthen alignment between strategy and oversight.
Randy began his career in national security policy as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He is also actively engaged in community leadership, including mentoring students through the nonprofit Braven and supporting civic dialogue as co-chair of the Silicon Valley chapter of Braver Angels.
Partners
The Lam Family College of Business welcomes persons with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you would like reasonable accommodations for this event, please contact Prof. Sameer Verma at sverma@sfsu.edu as soon as possible so your request may be reviewed.