Page 5 - CCFA Journal - 12th Issue

加中金融 Exclusive Interview 人物专访

科学家出身的连续创业者

跟传统的企业家不同，吴雅楠的破圈旅程一直都令人叹为观止。学霸体质的他，在同龄人还在高中时他就完成了大学学
业。他顺利获得安大略西部大学统计物理博士学位，并在洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室的获得博士后研究经验后，这位专业出
身的核物理学家决定转向金融领域。多年来，他管理了超过 300 亿美元的机构资产，担任了从对冲基金交易员到投资组合
基金管理人等多种职位。
学术严谨和商业智慧为他提炼出了两大人生参悟：勤勉刻苦能带来回报、市场敏锐嗅觉至关重要。2010 年代初，在中国
方兴未艾的数字金融市场成功开局之后，吴雅楠将目光投向了东南亚、拉丁美洲和非洲。他回忆起在东非出差途中偶遇一
位肯尼亚妇女的经历，这让他更加坚定了在广泛新兴市场推广金融可及性的决心。

"我遇到了一个肯尼亚妇在卖自制的围巾。起初我有些犹豫要不要买，但我被她真诚打动，因为她说“多卖一条围巾就能
给孩子多买点牛奶”。" 他回忆道。"她递给我围巾时露出了天使般的笑容，让人难以忘却，也让我更加坚信，一定要深
度耕耘普惠金融。"

吴雅楠认为，新兴市场具有巨大的金融科技潜力。原因包括：大量年轻人口，市场潜力未被开发，以及当地人对改善生活
条件有强烈愿望。尽管存在挑战，譬如当地普遍生活水平不如他在中国创业初期的 2010 年代那样有利，以及智能手机在
这些地区尚未普及，但金融科技的普及必将继续推动这些市场的增长。

他还指出一些国家的低银行开户率，比如在非洲，不到一半的人口拥有银行账户，这使建立标准信用体系变得复杂。此
外，多种语言、不同的法规环境和法律框架的影响，也都构成一定的挑战。

Scientist-turned serial entrepreneur
Wu is far from your conventional entrepreneur. His journey has been
nothing short of awe-inspiring, beginning with an early academic
distinction that saw him complete university studies while his peers were
still in high school. Armed with a Ph.D. in statistical physics from the
University of Western Ontario and post-doctoral research at the reputable
Los Alamos National Laboratory, this trained nuclear physicist pivoted to
finance. Over the years, he managed more than $30 billion in institutional
assets, serving roles ranging from hedge fund trader to portfolio manager.

His academic rigor and business savviness distilled two life lessons for him:
a strong work ethic is rewarding, and market agility is crucial. After carving out a successful niche in China's digital
finance landscape in the early 2010s, his gaze turned toward expanding into Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. A
heartwarming encounter in East Africa, involving a Kenyan woman and her baby, only cemented his resolve to broaden
financial accessibility in the wider emerging markets.

“I met a Kenyan woman selling handmade scarves. I was initially hesitant, yet her earnest appeal convinced me to make
a purchase because it would enable her to ‘buy more milk for her child’,” he recalled. “That angel-like smile she
exhibited, after I bought the scarves, only reinforced my commitment to expanding financial inclusion.”

Three factors convinced Wu of the huge potential for fintech in emerging markets: a predominantly young population,
the untapped market scope, and a strong aspiration for better living conditions. "A traffic jam in Nigeria allowed me to
observe young entrepreneurs peddling various items on the streets. Their tenacity brought back memories of the early
days in Shenzhen during China’s reform and opening-up, as evidence of this global aspiration for a better life,” Wu said.

However, he acknowledged formidable challenges: The
living standards in these emerging markets are not as
conducive as they were in China when Wu began his first
fintech journey in the 2010s. Additionally, the
penetration of smartphones, a crucial element for data-
driven fintech solutions, is far from ubiquitous in these
regions.

More critically, the alarmingly low banking rates—such as
in Africa where less than half of the population holds a
bank account—complicate the creation of any benchmark
credit system. These hurdles are further compounded by
diverse languages, disparate regulatory landscapes and
legal frameworks.

CCFA JOURNAL OF FINANCE November 2023 Page 5 第5页