The Translator: How This Entrepreneur Found Her Voice In Finance

Nicole Valentine, Senior Director of Fintech at the Milken Institute, discusses the future of finance, the role of technology, and her personal journey in an interview at the NASDAQ. She describes herself as a "translator" and a "financial policy whisperer," bridging the gap between innovation and governance. Valentine outlines her investment strategy, favoring ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) for exposure to tech stocks, alongside mutual funds and retirement accounts for safety. She also dabbles in crypto, holding fractional shares of Bitcoin. She describes herself as a cautious investor, preferring to rely on experts rather than taking high risks. When asked about the "soundtrack to 2026," Valentine reveals her preference for jazz, particularly artists like Robert Glasper. She connects jazz's abstract nature to navigating volatility and fostering creativity in a rapidly changing world. To explain her work to a third-grader, Valentine would use a world map, showing emerging markets and major financial hubs. She would highlight how people globally engage in financial transactions, raising capital, making payments, and being entrepreneurs. The common thread, she emphasizes, is technology, particularly mobile phones, which enable transactions, transfers, and communication. Fintech, she explains, is the financial technology engine that fuels economic markets through communication, connectivity, compliance, and trust. She gives the example of sending money internationally (remittance) as a practical application of fintech. She also relates it to video games, where in-game tokens represent transferable value, making the concept tangible for children. The conversation then shifts to the Milken Institute's 29th annual Global Conference in Beverly Hills, which Valentine considers a "business world Super Bowl." The theme, "Leading in a New Era," reflects the current global landscape of geopolitical issues, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological advancements like AI. Valentine expects the conference to feature "real conversations" leading to "real action" and solutions, particularly on how to close the gap between innovation and governance in a fragmented world. Specifically, Valentine will be involved in sessions on fintech and digital assets, including prediction markets. She acknowledges the debate around prediction markets, particularly concerning insider information and potential gaming of the system, which regulators are addressing. However, she also sees them as a valuable "source of truth" for gaining insights into public sentiment and future events. She clarifies that prediction markets involve event contracts, essentially "yes or no" bets on whether a specific event will occur, and are regulated in the US. The pros include fostering innovation and building new markets, while the cons involve risks of fraud and unfair playing fields, necessitating policymaker involvement. Describing the US financial markets in one word, Valentine chooses "deep." She elaborates that the US has mature, strong financial markets with robust regulation and participants, serving as a model for other nations. She highlights ongoing efforts to modernize policy, citing work on stablecoins and acts like the "Clarity Act," as crucial for growth and innovation. Regarding stablecoins, Valentine explains them as a "technology wrapper" on US-backed currency, allowing for fast, efficient, and cost-effective global transfers. She notes that 99% of stablecoins are US-backed, contributing to US dollarization worldwide, and emphasizes their stability and safety due to issuers needing to hold an equivalent amount of US fiat currency. Valentine's role as Senior Director of Fintech at the Milken Institute involves "opening doors to conversations" about modernizing finance and technology. She convenes diverse voices, facilitates private discussions with policymakers, and works to build solutions. She also highlights the institute's public sessions, which are live-streamed, making complex financial matters accessible to a broader audience. As a "translator" on Capitol Hill, Valentine focuses on nonpartisan issues where consensus exists, such as financial inclusion and literacy. She also emphasizes the importance of addressing economic mobility and the real experiences of American households and entrepreneurs, believing these are issues that transcend political divides. She encourages her team to share insights and accomplishments on platforms like LinkedIn, which she uses daily. Reflecting on her upbringing in Franklin Township, Central New Jersey, Valentine describes it as a "model United Nations" due to the diverse backgrounds of her peers. This experience fostered her attraction to global collaboration. Her parents, who owned three early education schools, influenced her work ethic and people skills. Her mother, a hands-on operator, taught her that "nothing is beneath me or below me" in getting work done, while her father, a "people person," instilled in her a desire to encourage others and tap into their best selves. Valentine recalls her early aptitude for puzzles at age two or three, which her parents saw as a sign of intelligence and encouraged. She identifies as part of the Mary J. Blige generation and, looking back, would advise her teenage self to "keep being authentic," step outside societal boxes, and stay in "growth mode" both personally and professionally. Her career journey includes studying at American University and the University of Virginia Law School. She interned for Senator Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman elected US Senator, learning about pioneering leadership. She even had an opportunity to work with Al Gore's advanced team but chose law school instead, a decision she is glad she made. Valentine describes her journey in one word: "evolution." She highlights the transformation from valuing a physical briefcase to using digital tools like iPads, and from focusing on traditional finance (like M&A law for major mergers) to the "game-changer" of financial technology, which offers greater scale and access. She sees her role evolving from "knocking on doors to being a door opener," and emphasizes the continuous modernization driven by technology. She also mentions her past work translating market data into business intelligence for entrepreneurs, leading to the creation of an app. She believes AI will further this evolution, leveraging collective intelligence for businesses, families, and personal well-being. She expresses excitement, not nervousness, about AI, acknowledging the need for governance, policy, and guardrails. Her primary concern is ensuring that AI's data sets accurately include "everyone's intelligence" to avoid biases and "hallucinations," thereby achieving true collective intelligence. Valentine shares that her biggest failure was a personal one related to a relationship. She learned to view such experiences not as failures but as moments of "transformation" and "growth," understanding that what might seem like a loss can actually free one to pursue new paths. If given $10,000, Valentine would invest it in the stock market, specifically seeking more exposure, as she already has other investments like real estate. Her superpower, she states, is "connection" – understanding how people relate and then strategically connecting individuals and relationships within her extensive network. Her favorite AI app is Claude, and she recently learned about new AI technology that uses voice to help write books or screenplays, capturing the user's tone and rhythm. Valentine recommends reading "The Fourth Turning," which, in its two iterations, explores cyclical patterns in history over 80-year periods, identifying phases of high, awakening, unraveling, and crisis. She notes that the research places the current era in a "crisis mode," implying a "rebirth" is coming. This perspective underscores the importance of leadership and individual contributions to shaping the future. Finally, when asked about the difference between a "good" and a "great" fintech startup, Valentine emphasizes "financial inclusion." Great fintechs, she argues, build inclusion into their design, creating "fractionalized opportunities" and economic mobility for more people, much like Alexander Hamilton ensured the creation of a half-penny so day laborers could participate in the economy. She praises companies like Jusu for their work in this area, creating "everybody win scenarios."