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" At TransferWise, we started out as - and continue as - idealists. We start with what we can do to make things better and how we can solve problems, focusing on what people need. It turns out you can focus on building the best service and be successful as business. "

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" Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't mean that they should not be held to account and follow international rules. But with the right motivation, they can be the force for change. "

Taavet Hinrikus

Rules

Better

Change

" We're living in a world where international governance is failing to overcome borders, but technology is succeeding in removing them. "

" As a consumer, I'm definitely waiting for what's going to come after banks. "

" In 2011, when we launched TransferWise, it was our frustration with banks not giving us what we wanted or needed as customers. The motivation was a strong desire to solve a problem and not just fix something that was broken but create a better alternative and a new system for doing things. "

" When a new hire is afraid to roll up their sleeves and get things done, it's a clear sign it's not going to work out. "

" The world is becoming more global. More than ever, people are proactively deciding where to live, where to study, where to work. Sometimes it's out of necessity, sometimes it's out of choice. "

" Costs should always be presented up front so that consumers can make informed choices and get a fairer deal. "

Taavet Hinrikus

Costs

Choices

" Securing and attracting the best talent is an obsession in the tech industry for good reason. It's your main asset; it's your edge. "

" The world is getting smaller thanks to technology. "

" Creating a new country from scratch has given Estonia the license to imagine what a country could be. "

" I was pretty vocal about being anti-Brexit before the referendum vote. "

" While in two very different sectors, both Skype and TransferWise were born out of frustration. "

" There are lots of people building the next TransferWise, not in a sense of competing with us but in a sense of building large, successful companies that are doing something important. I just enjoy helping these founders navigate the journey. "

" For Estonia, joining Europe meant our potential as a country increased - not decreased - because of that connectedness. "

" There's the risk of a serious case of FOMO at a place like Davos. "

" I think that if Britain does decide to leave the E.U., that would be a disaster for the technology sector here and probably also for the broader economy. "

" I did an MBA because when I left Skype, I didn't have a clear idea of whether I wanted to create or join a company. But you don't need an MBA to become an entrepreneur. "

" Large incumbents become big and sometimes become lazy and set themselves up for failure in the future. "

" There's most definitely a Davos bubble. You're in a small Alpine town that, for just four days in January, sees its population tripled with world leaders, CEOs, media, police, the army... and a whole bunch of people who aren't invited but just come to hang out. "

" Most of my time at Skype was spent doing new things. "

" A seed depends on a whole host of factors to grow - from the fertility of the soil to the right mix of rain and sun to not being eaten by a passing bird. The same goes for an idea. For an idea to really take hold, other factors come into play, from timing to the emerging technology that makes it possible. "

" I spent my workdays at Skype creating a more connected world. We were shrinking the distances between people, making it easier to connect across countries. Then I'd go to my bank to transfer my euros to pounds, and it was like going back in time 50 years: expensive, inconvenient, and painfully slow. It was a nightmare. "

" If the hard Brexit happens, I would assume that London wouldn't be the centre of the tech world in Europe. "

" With a smartphone, we have a supercomputer in our pocket and are always connected. The way we bank is changing as part of this macro trend. "

" People need the financial sector to be safe; people also need the financial sector to go through a massive phase of innovation. That means delivering on the positive rhetoric, like around settlement accounts, not allowing Open Banking to be diluted, and leading the way on AML. "

" I think that's the beauty of being a private company: you get to choose when you disclose something. You can play it in a strategic way or in a tactical way. "

" If the U.K. leaves the E.U., we'll have to consider whether it makes business sense to stay headquartered here. "

" There are so many instances in banking where 'free' simply doesn't mean free, whether it's opaque overdraft charges or credit card providers that are quietly raising interest rates without customers noticing. "

" As technology progresses, I believe that fintech will fundamentally change finance. "

" A preoccupation with job title is an immediate giveaway that someone's priorities are not in line with the company's. "