Interview Series: Sanjib Kalita

The Master Connector on how to connect the dots of his life.

If you’ve ever found yourself at a fintech event, trading thoughts on the future of money, or simply seeking out the warmest mustached smile in the room, chances are you’ve already met Sanjib Kalita. A celebrated name in financial technology, Sanjib is not just a seasoned executive and visionary thought leader—he’s a gravitational force who brings people together with the ease of a maestro conducting a symphony of ideas, talent, and heart.

Professionally, Sanjib has worn many hats—and worn them well. From serving as the Editor-in-Chief of Money20/20 to shaping strategy at disruptive startups and global financial institutions and now leading Fintech MeetUp as Chairman, his impact is as broad as it is deep. He’s known for turning complexity into clarity, building bridges across sectors, and always asking the questions (when interviewing tech celebrities or chatting with friends) that others haven’t thought of yet —but wish they had.

Yet, beyond the titles and the accolades, it’s Sanjib the human that makes the biggest impression. His disarming humility, genuine curiosity, and magnetic kindness are what draw people in—and keep them coming back. A true super-connector, Sanjib doesn’t just network; he nurtures. He creates space for others to shine, to speak, and to belong. Whether he’s on a panel, behind the scenes, or just grabbing coffee with a newcomer, he radiates a generosity of spirit that makes any room better.

This conversation isn’t just with a fintech leader—it’s with someone whose heart is just as remarkable as his resume. And I am one of the few fortunates to have known him for quite some time and always looking to our next chat. So we’re thrilled to sit down with Sanjib and explore what drives him, what inspires him, and what’s next on his incredible journey.

Sanjib and I connected again at the last Fintech MeetUp aka The Moustache Connection.

🌱 Early Days

The Delivery Man (DM): What’s the first memory you have of thinking, “Money is more than just currency”?

Sanjib Kalita (SK): As an immigrant from India to the US, we’d visit our relatives in India every few years. Back then, the I remember the exchange rate being 7 Indian Rupees for 1 US Dollar. While I found the concept of exchange rates to be interesting and weird, my mind was blown when I tried to compare purchasing power and the differences. For example, luxury goods in India, like a soda (back then), were quite expensive, while Indian food in a restaurant was not. This was the opposite in the US where a soda was not expensive, while Indian restaurant food in the US was rare and expensive.

DM: Growing up, did you see yourself as more of a creator, a connector, or a contrarian?

SK: I thought of myself as a creator who saw the world in a different way from even when I was a toddler and young child. When I was 4 and 5, I remember enjoying playing with toy cars, like many children of that age. But I also drew on paper to design cars, including materials and brands. I remember drawing a sports car and then drawing a sectional view of body panels which included rubber and metal for greater safety. I also wrote the brand name on top, ‘Piraat’, which I thought sounded fancy and a bit like the word pirate, which captured a bit of the brand personality. So perhaps I was a contrarian creator?

DM: Who in your early life helped shape your curiosity about the way systems (financial or otherwise) work?

SK: I used to ask my father so many questions about the world, and he’d usually have good answers. As an example, when my entire family would drive in the car to go to a family friends’ house for dinner, I’d start by asking him, which country has the most people, then asking him 5 more times, ‘who’s next?’. Then I’d ask about the size of mountains, rivers or armies. He also didn’t dumb down anything. When I was 9, I remember reading comic books about Indian epics like the Mahabharata or Ramayana, and was interested in reading the actual (LONG) epics. So my father bought two 400-500 page books for his 9-year old son. I read them, and probably didn’t understand everything till years later, but my father was vital in fostering my curiosity about the world.

DM: Did you ever have a childhood hustle—lemonade stand, comic book trading, DJing birthday parties?

SK: I did not. I probably had a more intellectual view on things rather than commercial view.

DM: What’s something from your early days—music, food, philosophy—that still inspires how you see the world today?

SK: Children can be cruel. While growing up, I remember that every year, a critical mass of students would decide that a particular child was not ‘cool’ or nice. They might ostracize the child or even make fun of the child. I never understood this, nor did I agree with it. There were multiple cases of children in my classes whom I was their only friend. In my mind, this child never did anything to me and I got along with them, so I was their friend. I remember one time, one of my friends biked across town from his house to my house crying because his dad was very angry and yelling at him. I tried to comfort him and told my mom, who called up his mom, who came by and took care of him. More recently, I reconnected with another friend who thanked me for being his only friend 40 years ago.

💼 Career Journey

DM: When did you first realize that Fintech wasn’t just a buzzword, but a mission?

SK: When I was building Money20/20 in the US, Fintech still wasn’t a word, but by the time we launched Money20/20 Europe and Asia, the word had started to gain traction. While in the US, mobile payments were still predominantly for the elites, seeing what they were doing in places like China or Kenya made me recognize how Fintech could be revolutionary, not just evolutionary.

DM: Looking back, was there a pivotal “I’m in too deep to turn back now” moment in your professional journey?

SK: I’ve done so many different things and reinvented myself in my career that, “being in too deep” is typically not something I think about. I tend to have a Buddhist outlook on things, so shun concepts or things that dwell too much on permanence. In a couple of instances, I’ve gone back to visit places I used to work many years later and was always dumbfounded when I saw the same people working on the same things. I felt like shaking them and saying, “Don’t you realize that there’s a whole wonderful wide world out there?!”

DM: You’ve worn many hats—strategist, editor, connector—how do you choose what hat to wear in any given moment?

SK: There’s often a battle between the angel and devil on each of my shoulders. The angel wants things to be safe and sweet. The devil wants things to be spicy and dangerous. I usually start with ensuring that things are comfortable, but then have devilish questions like “What’s really happening? What are you not telling me?” The hat I try to wear is a halo with tiny horns. On the personal level, I do default to being a connector. On the professional level, I tend to default to thinking about things strategically.

DM: What’s a proud moment in your career that most people don’t know about?

SK: I was a founding engineer who helped create and launch Intel’s graphics chip business in the 90’s. I did a lot of cool work, some fun, some not so fun. This was a joint venture between 3 companies (Intel, Lockheed, Chips & Technologies) with over 100 experienced engineers working on it. When we finally launched our first product, the GM said there were 3 people who knew this chip inside and out, the Chip Architect from Lockheed, the Chip Architect from Intel, and me. The other two had 20+ years of experience and I was right out of college.

DM: What advice would you now give to you then, back when you were just starting out?

SK: Don’t’ worry about buying fancy cologne or clothes to try to impress someone, i.e., just be yourself. When starting out, there’s a tendency to feel like you need to emulate successful leaders or be in fashion, intellectually or physically. With experience and exposure, you realize that even bastions of industry are people trying to figure things out, like yourself.

(Sanjib impeccable taste in literature is verified with just one photo)

🔍 Trends: Likes, Dislikes, and Everything Between

DM: What’s a trend in Fintech that you think is wildly overrated—or at least, not living up to the hype?

SK: I think people try to be ‘the smartest one in the room’ at the expense of everything else. But smarts doesn’t necessarily lead to success. Many other things, such as listening, developing relationships, being trustworthy, flexible, etc. are important as well… potentially even more important.

DM: On the flip side, what’s something you feel isn’t getting nearly enough attention but absolutely should?

SK: I’m disturbed by the turning away from inclusion and diversity. Some of the most amazing products, services and companies gained traction away from the bright lights of mainstream markets. They experimented and grew in sectors that were underserved by mainstream, and their benefits were eventually happily adopted by mainstream.

DM: Do you think financial literacy is finally getting the platform it deserves, or is it still buried under jargon and product pitches?

SK: Forget about financial literacy! How about basic literacy? I’m consistently shocked at how many people are unable to put their thoughts into a coherent set of words and sentences. In their defense, there’s such a greater volume of information to process than even a decade or two ago. Also in their defense, unfortunately so many industries bread and butter is creating terms and conditions in tiny print to trap customers. Unfortunately, this is an example where financial services is a leader. For example, one of my colleagues from Europe checked into a hotel room in NYC and was complaining that he had to pay additional access fees on top of what the company already paid for the room. I wish I could agree with you about financial literacy gaining the platform it deserves, but I think too many people are making too much money through obfuscation and trickery. This is the opportunity for startups, that I hope they take.

DM: If you had a magic whiteboard and could sketch out the next wave of innovation, what would be at the center of that drawing?

SK: Building on that last question, I would like transparency to be at the center of innovation. With greater access to financial information through embedded services, with increased usage of data and analytics through AI, with increased capabilities of fraudsters, there will be tradeoffs. Transparency would help individuals assess these tradeoffs and make decisions based on their specific goals and preferences.

🤪 Silly (But Still Curious) Questions

DM: If you were a fintech product, what would your slogan be?

SK: When you Must-Stash your money, let Moustache help!

DM: What’s your go-to “conference survival snack”? No shame.

SK: Day 0: nuts & fruit. Day 1+: Bacon & Eggs!

DM: If you had to be stuck in a Zoom meeting with one fictional character, who would you choose?

SK: Yoda. I feel like I could learn a great deal from the Jedi Master, and it would be fun to decipher and unpack the way he speaks.

DM: What’s a completely irrational hill you’re willing to die on—pineapple on pizza level?

SK: I find that lemons make just about everything taste better. Appetizers, main course, deserts. Indian, Mexican, Mediterranean, etc. I have an irrational taste for lemons. Perhaps I have a sour personality? :D

(Note from the Delivery Man: Being the maker of Calimoncello and a big fan of Meyer Lemons, I can only agree. An acquired taste for sure)

DM: Sanjib, thank you for sharing your journey with such warmth, wit, and insight. From designing “Piraat” cars as a kid to launching Intel’s graphics chip business straight out of college, your story is a testament to curiosity and bold thinking. You remind us that real leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions—with a halo, tiny horns, and a lot of heart.

And thank you for the fun along the way. “Must-Stash your money with Moustache”? Brilliant. The lemon obsession? Relatable. Wanting Yoda in a Zoom? Perfect. You’ve shown us that empathy, humor, and a solid breakfast are as vital to success as strategy. Here’s to more laughs, more learning, and more Sanjib-style magic ahead.