In this episode of Fintech Meetup Mashup, Georgia Fintech Academy brings together emerging fintech talent and industry leaders for a candid conversation about careers in financial technology.

Georgia Fintech Academy student Benjamin Willhite-Mettler sits down with Michael Bugno, Vice President of Enterprise Experiential Marketing at Fiserv, to talk about how professionals find their way into fintech, what skills matter most early in a career, and how to make the most of large industry events.

As Benjamin prepares to attend Fintech Meetup for the first time, Michael shares insights from his own journey in the industry and offers practical advice for students and professionals navigating major conferences and networking opportunities.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How careers in fintech often begin in unexpected ways
• The importance of communication and relationship building 
• Advice for first-time attendees at major fintech conferences
• Why curiosity and continuous learning are essential in fintech

This conversation is part of the 2026 Future Fintech Leaders Cohort, where Georgia Fintech Academy students and alumni attend Fintech Meetup to engage directly with leaders across the fintech ecosystem.

Learn more about the Georgia Fintech Academy
https://georgiafintechacademy.org

Connect with our guests

Michael Bugno
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bugno/

Benjamin Willhite-Mettler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-will-mett/

Send a text

Support the show

Georgia Fintech Academy
https://www.georgiafintechacademy.org/

LinkedIn (Georgia Fintech Academy)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-fintech-academy/