The story behind… the success of Finscale

In the month of June 2024, LUXHUB is proud to sponsor the Finscale podcast. Hosted by Solenne Niedercorn Desouches, Finscale shines a spotlight on innovations in Finance, Banking, and Insurance. Addressing topics such as payments, behavioral finance or cryptocurrency, the podcast covers a wide range of topics. Solenne expertly guides her guests, making complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. We took 10 minutes of Solenne’s time to get to know the person behind the mic we all eagerly await each Sunday.

Solenne, where did the idea for the Finscale Podcast come from?

I created this podcast to educate the version of myself who ventured into Tech entrepreneurship after spending years in banking. It took me a long time to understand how this ecosystem worked. I found there were so many opportunities unknown to the traditional finance world. Moreover, I realized how much my clients struggled to grasp the challenges of entrepreneurship in this sector.

So, the idea was to bridge the worlds of Tech and finance through the stories of entrepreneurs, investors, top executives, legislators, and others. Ultimately, it’s my passion that drives me, the joy of meeting these inspiring people and satisfying my own need to learn.

How do you choose your guests? Do you have a quota in a specific timespan per topic?

I meet a lot of people, and I think I have calls every day with entrepreneurs to understand what they do, with whom, and how. Over time, I’ve developed a good instinct for identifying interesting stories, and I also receive numerous recommendations from various sources. My natural curiosity drives me to explore different fields and topics.
I aim to balance between early-stage startups and more mature companies, ensuring a mix of origins, themes, and perspectives to maintain diversity. I don’t follow a strict quota per topic, but I strive for variety and inclusiveness. The key principle guiding my selection is to learn something new from each interview, providing fresh insights and valuable knowledge to my audience.

How do you select your sponsors?

I am very selective and do not choose sponsors randomly. I prioritize companies that I enjoy working with and would naturally recommend to my clients. It’s also about a cultural fit, as my reputation is at stake, so I am careful in my selection. This might mean passing up some professional opportunities, but it’s all for the benefit of my listeners. Ensuring quality and alignment with my values is paramount to maintaining the integrity of the podcast.

In addition to hosting the Finscale podcast, you are also an Independent Advisor & Director. How do you organize your time to carry these two activities in parallel?

I juggle many overlapping roles, besides these activities, I also have a family with children, and I love trail running. First and foremost, I get a lot of support, which I’m very grateful for. Also, I am extremely disciplined. I manage my priorities carefully and try to avoid getting lost in unnecessary social media.

Every morning, I dedicate time to meditation to stay focused, and every evening, I have my sport training sessions. I delegate what I can, cut out unnecessary noise from my life, and selectively choose the events I attend, which means I go out less often. Reading is also a big part of my life and brings me a lot of peace.

On the professional side, I choose to work with clients who I genuinely want to collaborate with, ensuring that my time and energy are well spent. I also make sure to set aside time for creative brainstorming sessions with selected coaches, whether it’s for the podcast or for my business ventures. These sessions help me generate new ideas and keep the content fresh and engaging. Additionally, I use project management tools to keep track of deadlines and tasks, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. This structured approach allows me to maintain a high level of productivity while still enjoying the process.

You’ve recorded over 200 episodes of Finscale, which must have led to many interesting moments. Can you share a funny anecdote with us?

I definitely have a lot of stories! For instance, I’ve had quite a few technical issues: full memory cards, non-functioning microphones, and other equipment failures.

One particular anecdote comes to mind involving an episode I recorded with an entrepreneur I really admire, Charles de Gastines. We were recording in a bar, and the bartender kept making cocktails, shaking his shaker with such enthusiasm that it triggered fits of laughter throughout our conversation. I remember asking my engineers to cut out about three-quarters of the laughter from that episode. The result turned out great, but we had to edit out a lot of laughs!

Finally, you always ask your guests to recommend a book or podcast at the end of each episode. What are the top three recommendations that have come up most often?

Good to great by Jim Collins

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings

And one that was recommended to me only once but that I recommend enthusiastically: Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Thank you so much, Solenne, for taking the time to answer our questions. For those who aren’t familiar with the Finscale podcast, we invite you to check it out on your favorite podcast platform.

Re-discover the Finscale episode with LUXHUB CEO Claude Meurisse