Interviews

Privacy is the future . . . Responsible stewardship of customer data is not a compliance initiative - it's actually an investment in the customer value proposition." - Buhle Goslar.

In this Brookings Institute, Foresight Africa podcast, Lesly Goh (Technology Advisor - World Bank) and Buhle explore the critical role of private sector data protection in safeguarding African consumers. 

They highlight how fintech businesses can proactively address digital harms while fostering innovation. Buhle emphasizes that data governance is about ensuring that data is a tool for empowerment, not exploitation. 

The conversation examines key challenges, including emergent data protection laws, compliance cost barriers for startups, and the need for regional cooperation. Buhle and Lesly advocate for a balanced approach that protects consumers while enabling the free flow of data to drive digital economy growth.

"Financial exclusion is definitely a supply side issue, not a demand side issue. We do not see a problem with finding customers." - Buhle Goslar.

In this digital banking keynote, "Scaling in Africa: Lessons from the Coalface", delivered at Copenhagen Fintech Week, drawing from extensive experience across multiple African markets, Buhle presents four critical lessons with real-life examples:

1. Designing for the life your customer actually lives - Your biggest competition may be analogue or a goat.
2. Success comes to those who venture out - "The Map is not The Territory."
3. Craft for the future while understanding present realities - It's possible to have predictive AI delivered to feature phones leveraging mobile money infrastructure.
4. Ensure the whole is greater than the sum of parts - Scale and profit matter, but strategic partnerships make it possible.

Buhle shares an ambitious vision of connecting African entrepreneurs to essential financial products; technology and human-centred design can work together to drive meaningful financial inclusion.

"People used to say data is the new oil, and now I think you can extend that to fintech is the new oil, it's driving economies, it's changing the world, it's changing livelihoods." - Buhle Goslar. 

 In this Branson Centre interview, Nwabisa Mayema sits down with financial technology leader Buhle Goslar, who highlights how predictive AI is closing the credit-access gap in Africa. By eliminating traditional credit hurdles and leveraging mobile money, digital payments, e-commerce, and other transactional data, FinTechs are creating opportunities for millions previously excluded from banking. 

While celebrating technology's role in economic growth, Buhle warns that carefully regulating innovations like cryptocurrencies is crucial to preventing long-term digital inequality. Her message to entrepreneurs is clear: understand the practical use cases for technology being sold to you rather than following trends. Buhle emphasises fintech's potential for growing SMEs and broader societal development in emerging markets.