Brad Hickey: Insights From the Founder of CU Build

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Brad Hickey, Manager of Application Development at American Airlines Federal Credit Union. They delve into the importance of passion and grit in the software development industry, discussing how these qualities can lead to more intuitive and user-friendly financial software.

Hickey shares his insights on the future of AI in education and learning, emphasizing the need for humans to evolve alongside AI. He highlights the importance of being able to consume and understand the vast amounts of information AI can provide, likening it to the need to read and comprehend text.

The conversation also covers the topic of operational efficiency, with both DeTar and Hickey expressing their appreciation for systems that save time and automate processes. They discuss the potential of AI in automating financial management, appealing to various demographics, from those lacking financial literacy to those who simply value their time. The episode ends with a discussion on the potential pitfalls of AI, particularly when it fails or “goes off the rails.”

Key Insights

⚡AI: Accelerating Education and Shaping How We Learn: Brad Hickey and Josh DeTar discuss the potential of AI in accelerating education and learning. They highlight the need for humans to evolve alongside AI, emphasizing the importance of being able to consume and understand the vast amounts of information AI can provide. Hickey suggests that as AI accelerates education and learning, humans need to accelerate reading and comprehension. He also discusses the potential of AI in automating financial management, appealing to various demographics, from those lacking financial literacy to those who simply value their time.

⚡Passion: The Driving Force Behind Effective Software Development: The conversation delves into the importance of passion in software development. Hickey and DeTar discuss how passion can lead to more intuitive and user-friendly financial software. They highlight the difference between a team working for a paycheck versus a team that is passionate about what they do, suggesting that the latter will produce a more effective piece of software. They also touch on the importance of competitive salaries and tools in attracting and retaining creative talent.

Decentralized Finance: A Game-Changer in the Financial Sector: Hickey shares his insights on the potential of decentralized finance (DeFi). He suggests that banks and credit unions need to keep an eye on DeFi, as it could bring about significant changes in the financial sector. Hickey also mentions that he draws inspiration from the innovative concepts being developed in the DeFi space, even if some of them may not be feasible or see the light of day. He warns that ignoring DeFi could have serious consequences for traditional financial institutions.