Alumni Spotlight: Gastón Tchicourel
June 15, 2022
Meet Gastón Tchicourel '20
Information Technology Advisor at World Bank Group
Digital Innovation for FinTech
Gastón came into the Digital Innovation for FinTech degree program with a strong background in both software development and technology consulting and management.
Get to know Gastón!
What were your most valuable takeaways from the Digital Innovation for FinTech degree?
There were many reasons for why I enrolled in the Digital Innovation for FinTech degree program; however, I would say the main reason was to keep myself up-to-date with the current trends in the business. I have spent the majority of my professional career working on the technology side of the banking and financial services industries, so this program was an obvious choice toward that goal. And it definitely served that purpose. Not only did the degree serve as a refresher of both financial and technical concepts, but it also covered many other topics that span from regulatory frameworks to the future of finance.
What was your favorite course from the Digital Innovation for FinTech degree?
There were many interesting courses throughout the program. It is difficult to choose just one so I will highlight a few favorites:
- RDFT 130: Launching FinTech Ventures
- In this course we covered and analyzed some of the best and most prominent business cases and success stories in the FinTech field. This is key knowledge for anyone looking to become an entrepreneur.
- RDFT 160: Python Programming
- As a software developer turned technology consultant and manager, taking this course felt like a break in my routine, like being a kid playing with Legos again! I can acknowledge that this is not the same for everyone.
Do you have any advice for students currently working toward completing the FinTech degree?
Having completed the program, the best advice I can offer for current students is as follows:
Be curious: Don’t focus on just passing the courses. Read beyond the class requirements. Do your research online. Learn about success stories beyond the ones covered during the weekly sessions.
Build your network: Engage with your classmates and instructors. Attend industry events, both online and in-person. Stay connected on LinkedIn.
Stay sharp and stay involved: FinTech is moving much faster than other traditional industries. You have to be quick and flexible to surf this wave. Focus on data, learn about different DLTs and Blockchain technologies and crypto assets. This is the future of finance.
What are your best hopes for your career in the future?
I’m hoping to get much more into crypto and, from a professional career perspective, complete my transition into the FinTech start-up space soon. I am hoping to jumpstart my own FinTech endeavor next…I’m working on a few ideas that I actually first thought about during the FinTech degree program. These ideas served as the core tenents of my capstone project.
To learn more about the MS in Digital Innovation for FinTech or any other Brandeis GPS program, please visit our website.