Practical AI in financial services
Practical AI systems for financial services, where automation, intelligence, user experience, measurement and governance need to work together.
Product Director at Wise
Mike Shebalkov
Fintech, Data & AI Product Leader
I build data-driven financial products, AI-enabled systems and scalable fintech platforms across onboarding, risk, analytics and digital financial infrastructure.
Experience and references
About
Building financial products where product, data and AI meet.
Mike Shebalkov is a London-based product leader working on the systems behind modern financial products: onboarding, risk, analytics, AI workflows and digital financial infrastructure. He is Product Director at Wise and has built products, platforms and analytics capabilities across financial services, credit products, machine learning and international fintech markets. His work focuses on turning complex financial systems into scalable, measurable and customer-centric products.
Some earlier publications and interviews use my formal name, Mikhail Shebalkov.
Focus
What I work on
Data-driven product leadership
Product strategy, experimentation, analytics and decision systems that help teams build better financial products with measurable outcomes.
Fintech platforms, risk and compliance
Scalable product platforms across FinCrime, KYC, KYB, AML, fraud, customer journeys and operational workflows.
Credit products and banking growth
Experience across credit cards, cash loans, BNPL, retail and SME banking, including portfolio strategy, risk-aware growth, upsell, cross-sell and data-driven lifecycle management.
Growth, risk and operational scalability
Balancing customer growth, risk controls, cost efficiency and operational quality in regulated financial products.
Digital financial infrastructure
Experience across digital wallets, emerging fintech markets and financial infrastructure, with a careful, non-promotional approach to digital assets.
Experience
Selected experience
Product Director
Product leadership in a global fintech environment, focused on scalable customer journeys, FinCrime, onboarding, risk, AI-enabled systems and data-driven outcomes.
VP / Head of Global Fintech
Led fintech initiatives across international markets, combining product, data, partnerships and financial services strategy.
Scaled global delivery and operations for an enterprise data consulting firm, building project-level P&L discipline, management reporting, internal data infrastructure and partnerships across data engineering, CRM, process intelligence and compliance solutions.
Head of Data & Analytics
Telegram Wallet / TON ecosystem also listed as The Open Platform . Opens in a new tab.
Led data and analytics capabilities in a digital wallet context, connecting product, analytics and operational decision-making.
Executive MBA experience focused on strategy, finance, leadership and global business.
Evidence
Selected evidence
A concise set of third-party references, interviews, speaking profiles and public evidence.
Media
Financial Times
Quoted in the Financial Times on UK immigration rules and technology talent.
View reference : Financial Times. Opens in a new tab.Speaking
Data Products & Platforms Summit
Speaker profile for a data product and platform leadership event.
View reference : Data Products & Platforms Summit. Opens in a new tab.Interview
TechTimes
Interview on digital financial solutions and fintech product development.
View reference : TechTimes. Opens in a new tab.Writing
HackerNoon
Authored analysis on H1 2025 digital asset market themes.
View reference : HackerNoon. Opens in a new tab.Interview
Vanguard
Interview on mobile money, fintech growth and emerging markets.
View reference : Vanguard. Opens in a new tab.Judging
Burning Heroes 2026 London
Jury involvement in a London startup pitch competition.
View reference : Burning Heroes 2026 London. Opens in a new tab.Mentorship
Innovators London
Listed as a mentor for fintech, data and analytics leadership.
View reference : Innovators London. Opens in a new tab.Interview
Esquire Greece
Greek-language interview on decentralized finance, institutional adoption and AI in digital asset markets.
View reference : Esquire Greece. Opens in a new tab.Speaking, advisory and media
Selected conversations around fintech, AI and product leadership.
Mike is open to selected conversations around fintech, AI in financial services, data-driven product leadership, onboarding, risk, digital financial infrastructure, mentorship, NED and trustee opportunities, and international fintech markets.
- Speaking and panels
- Media commentary
- Advisory conversations
- Startup judging and mentoring
- Mentorship
- NED and trustee roles
Contact
Get in touch
For speaking, advisory, media or serious project conversations, please include context on the problem, audience, timeline and where Mike can help.
hello@shebalkov.com