Dubai, UAE – February 17, 2026 – FinTech Week Dubai 2026, held February 16-17 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, wrapped up successfully under the theme “Payments, Security & Beyond.” Organized by The People Events, the event drew over 50 global leaders to discuss fintech innovation, cybersecurity, AI, and cross-border payments. Among the highlights were keynotes by Shelli Ryan, CEO of Ad Hoc, and Melanie Lennert, CEO & Co-Founder of CRO2go, addressing critical growth challenges for B2B SaaS and fintech firms.

Keynote Highlight

Shelli Ryan, APR, Fellow PRSA, session focused on fixing growth stalls for mid-market BPOs, ITOs, and CX AI companies. With 38 years of experience as a Certified GTM OS Partner, she leads a global network of 200 senior consultants delivering branding, marketing, and revenue strategies. Ryan emphasized embedded collaboration with C-suite executives to optimize market positioning and drive measurable outcomes from startups to enterprises. Her insights resonated with attendees navigating competitive fintech landscapes.

Melanie J. Lennert-Anliker's keynote, “The Consolidation Imperative: Why Every Online Business Needs One,” tackled the top challenge for 64% of founders—scalable go-to-market execution, per the High Alpha 2025 SaaS Benchmarks Report. Drawing from her track record at Clearwater Analytics, where she built the DACH revenue engine from zero to a €70bn+ AuM client, and J.P. Morgan managing €160M in revenue, Lennert advocated fractional CRO models. These provide board-level strategy without lengthy hires or high costs, ideal for PE-backed firms pursuing European expansion. Her INSEAD International Directors Programme credentials add governance expertise for revenue acceleration and EBITDA impact.

Expert Profiles

Both speakers exemplified thought leadership. Ryan's Ad Hoc specializes in demand generation and CX transformation across global business services. Lennert pioneers fractional CRO in Continental Europe via CRO2go, sharing weekly LinkedIn insights and speaking at events like Davos Innovation Week. In an AI-driven world, they stressed human expertise and community as key moats.

Event Impact

FinTech Week fostered high-level networking amid awards for fintech excellence. Ryan and Lennert's talks equipped leaders with tactical tools for scaling amid regulatory shifts and digital disruption.

For more, visit https://fintech.peoplevents.uk.