In this episode, Mayoran Rajendra, Head of Asia Innovation Centre for SMBC, shares why success of a bank’s innovation lab depends on transforming core businesses rather than chasing side projects. He explains how his team delivers free analytics tools to CFOs as a bridge to financial products, why SMBC built the Asia Rising Fund to co-invest with startups, and how they’re already deploying generative AI for CFO “agents” that run financial reviews. With insights on sponsorship, governance, and customer readiness, this is a rare look at how one of the world’s largest banks is making innovation practical, profitable, and scalable.