According to a news release shared with AFROTECH™, the Shawn Carter Foundation, with support from Toyota Motor North America, is launching the Champions for Financial Legacy (CFFL) program in time for Spring 2025. To start, the program will benefit students at Lincoln University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, offering a financial curriculum structured around real-world applications.
“We are excited to see our partnership with the Shawn Carter Foundation evolve to include this innovative initiative,” said Monica Womack, general manager of diversity & inclusion and community engagement at Toyota, per the release. “One that not only provides resources to HB
Gary Gensler shares insights into his teaching approach for the course 15.S08 FinTech: Shaping the Financial World, which examines how technology is transforming the finance industry. The curriculum delves into cutting-edge topics like artificial intelligence, deep learning, blockchain, and open APIs. Designed for those eager to understand how technology is reshaping financial services, the course explores its impact on business models, products, applications, and user experiences.
Students will investigate significant trends shaping the financial landscape of the 2020s, including advancements in AI, blockchain, and open API ecosystems. The course focuses on four key areas of opportunity: payments, credit, trading, and risk management. Additionally, it examines the competitive dynamics between FinTech startups, established financial institutions, and global tech giants across regions such as the U.S., China, India, and Europe.
Through this journey, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the technologies, market structures, regulations, and disruptions driving change in finance. The term “FinTech” itself has evolved over the past two decades to describe how innovations like machine learning and blockchain are revolutionizing the industry. However, FinTech’s roots stretch back to the invention of money and accounting ledgers—early examples of financial technologies. Today, it reflects the ongoing transformation of finance by leveraging modern advancements, from machine learning to the Internet of Things.
