Welcome to the Leader’s Insights, a place where The Future, asks the simplest, yet, the most interesting questions to the executives of well-known companies, startups and innovators.
This time we spoke with Dr Demetrios Zamboglou, a Cypriot-born fintech visionary, specialising in blending technology with finance. He is a prominent figure in the online trading industry, having been featured in many prestigious publications over the past decade. He has held top management positions at online brokers on multiple continents, including CFI Financial and Libertex Group. Notably, he helped build Switzerland’s first cryptocurrency exchange, Lykke AG.
Dr Zamboglou has extensive experience with startups, including founding his online brokerage in 2013.
He is the UAE General Manager of BlockFills, one of the world’s largest providers of tailored end-to-end solutions for dozens of crypto companies worldwide.
Outside of work, Demetrios lectures at the Rome Business School and recently published a book on leadership, “Become Your Own Leader”, a top seller in Greece and Cyprus. Also, he is actively involved with his family’s charity foundation, supporting children disaffected by adversity and enabling them to develop their talents to benefit their communities and the world.
Let’s see what Dr. Zamboglou has to say…
1. Do you remember your first day on the job at BlockFills?
My role as General Manager began the minute I accepted the role a few weeks prior to my first day at the office. BlockFills provides tailored end-to-end solutions for dozens of crypto companies worldwide – a considerable challenge for which I have ultimate responsibility.
I knew I had to hit the ground running when I eventually met all my new colleagues face-to-face for the first time. My 12-hour day felt like seconds as the 101 things I had to do were all done.
2. What is more difficult: being interviewed to join a team or doing the interviews yourself?
Being interviewed includes presenting your relevant skills and experience while ensuring you make an excellent first impression. Conversely, conducting interviews requires a shrewd evaluation that includes assessing key skills, the candidate’s ability to integrate into their team, and the company culture. Candidates should be concise and honest, while the interviewer must be fair and unbiased.
Both roles can be difficult, but with solid preparation, the interview process should be straightforward for everyone.
3. What do you most value in your employees?
Trustworthiness, ability and independence. When working correctly, they create a positive feedback loop.
Mutual trust is essential, especially in my multifaceted role where delegation is required. Meanwhile, strong abilities will likely ensure that results are forthcoming.
Being able to work independently is particularly important in fintech — having the ability and the confidence to work independently can often mean the difference between a task being completed or progress coming to a halt because someone in another time zone is required to chip in.
4. Which is a motto/quote you use in your work?
One motto that stands out for me is: If You Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail.
Preparation is vital in achieving anything, whether it be consistent results over time or having a relaxing day off. Doing anything without preparation is the equivalent of cooking a meal without a recipe: it could become a masterpiece, but most likely, it will be a kitchen disaster that will leave you with something bittersweet.
5. If you were back to the start, what would you advise yourself for a great career?
I would advise my younger self to relax and enjoy the journey more. Focus on long-term planning, but never at the expense of your health.
6. How do you pump up your creativity?
To boost my creativity, I try to visualise achieving conventionally better results in unconventional ways.
I often turn to art for inspiration because it can inspire new approaches to age-old problems and help you discover your true self. Self-improvement is a noble pursuit, and creativity enables you to get there.
7. What is a talent you would like to have?
Any talent is great to have because talents ultimately translate to skills. Having more skills in your wheelhouse is always better than having less. The one talent that springs to mind is linguistic ability.
A knack for learning languages is a superb talent, especially in modern business and finance where travel is customary.
8. How do you balance work and personal life?
I aim to transcend this seeming dichotomy by doing only what I love.
Our world doesn’t always accommodate this, but boredom soon dissipates if you can find a way. When you genuinely enjoy what you do for a living, it becomes an integral part of your personal life. If you decide to take this approach in seeking a work-life balance, it is essential to find a partner who understands and supports you in pursuing it.
9. What are the top five foods you like in Cyprus?
Given my Cypriot heritage and my mother’s unforgettable cooking, my top five dishes are:
- Souvla,
- Kleftiko,
- Zucchini with Eggs,
- Makaronia tou fournou,
- Okra in the oven.
10. Can you name your top five favourite places in Cyprus?
The five places where the beauty of nature and the grace of the divine intertwine:
- A. G. Leventis Gallery in Nicosia,
- Anassa Hotel in Polis Chrysochous,
- Columbia Sun in Lady’s Mile, Limassol,
- Tavernaki of Melis in Pareklisia, Limassol,
- Matsuhisa Restaurant in Amara, Limassol.
11. Which personality, throughout history, do you admire most?
As one of the world’s greatest-ever traders, Jesse Livermore greatly impacted the world of trading due to his innovative approach to trading strategy and market psychology. He inspired me to write my doctorate thesis on trading psychology and helped me understand the complex underbelly of trading.
Livermore’s book ‘Reminiscences of a Stock Operator’ remains a cult classic of trading literature to this day – more than one hundred years since it was first published.
To understand the present, you must first understand the past.
12. Who is your favourite author/book that helped your career?
The book that truly catalysed my career in trading and fintech was ‘Traders, Guns and Money: Knowns and Unknowns in the Dazzling World of Derivatives’ by Satyajit Das. I first read this book in 2018 and have not looked back since. The book demystifies several concepts that continue to flummox trading industry insiders.
13. Where would you advise our readers to go this summer?
I would advise your readers to pick any Greek Island and come visit. You’ll find stunning sunsets, breathtaking architecture, dramatic volcanic landscapes, great food, and a culture that will endear you to the finer things in life. Don’t think twice, just do it!
To dare is to do.
