We are delighted to present an insightful conversation with Sajid Lhessani, a seasoned business leader in the FinTech industry and the Co-founder and AI lead at AlgoForce and Silver Ledger. With over 8 years of expertise in quantitative finance, Sajid is pushing the frontiers of the FinTech field via AI and algorithm trading. Together with his team, Sajid has come up with cutting-edge solutions for complex financial problems, thus adding value to clients at AlgoForce and recently at Silver Ledger Honk Kong. In this insightful interview, Sajid shares his invaluable insights on leadership in the financial field, entrepreneurship, and strategic growth.
Spark Behind The Journey
Reflecting on your journey as an algorithmic trader, what inspired you to enter this industry, and what was a defining moment early in your career?
Sajid Lhessani shared, “At the start of my career, I worked as a civil engineer. However, I soon realized that my passion for quantitative fields and my career aspirations weren’t fully aligned with the role. I felt drawn to a broader exploration of the world and new challenges.
Driven by this, I initially pursued a PhD in Mathematics but pivoted after three months to study Business Administration in Cambridge, Massachussets between Hult Univesity and Harvard Business School. During this time, an introduction to finance became pivotal for me—it opened my eyes to the powerful intersection of mathematics, data, and economics.”
“Before completing my second Master’s degree, I had the invaluable opportunity to work with the European Central Bank, developing stress tests for BNP Paribas. This experience ignited my passion for algorithmic trading as I saw firsthand the impact that data science and AI could have on solving complex financial problems. One defining moment was developing a machine learning model to automate risk fund calculations at BNP Paribas. Witnessing the optimization of high-stakes financial processes through data science confirmed that this was the right path for me.
Later, I joined Deloitte UK, where I strengthened my quantitative expertise, collaborating with renowned firms such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Rabobank in Amsterdam, further solidifying my foundation in finance and data science.” He added.
Transformative Experience Of Sajid’s Career
We further asked, “You’ve worked with major companies like Chez Switch, a leading energy player in Europe, and mostly the release of a Web3 and blockchain Project. Can you share how that experience shaped your career and approach in the industry?”
“Working with Chez Switch was pivotal in shaping the direction of both AlgoForce and my previous company, Trading707 Ltd. Partnering with talented professionals like Tarik Fadil and Guillaume Garbay in Luxembourg allowed me to immerse myself in cutting-edge developments at the intersection of energy and technology, especially with the release of their Web3 and blockchain project. This experience was invaluable, as I saw firsthand the transformative potential of blockchain in creating secure, transparent, and efficient trading environments.
I would like to mention my team of data scientists as well, Maxwell Au and Edgar Sicat who have been amazing employees. Our team developed robust algorithms and trading bots that managed liquidity and prevented price manipulation, essential for maintaining market stability in a blockchain-integrated system. This project not only strengthened my skills in building adaptive algorithms but also deepened my understanding of Web3 technology and its applications in finance. The insights gained from this collaboration have been instrumental in shaping my approach to all subsequent projects, allowing me to lead in both traditional and blockchain-based financial innovations.” He reflected.
Reviving From The Biggest Fall
Challenges are a part of every business, particularly when the field is risky. So, we asked Sajid Lhessani, “Throughout your career, what has been one of the most significant challenges you faced, and how did you overcome it?”
Sajid Lhessani responded, “One of my biggest challenges was adapting to the fallout from the FTX collapse in December 2022, which had significant repercussions on cryptocurrency markets. While working at AlgoForce, we needed to quickly pivot to Binance and adjust our models to maintain profitability under new market conditions. Collaboration was key here—I worked closely with Ofri Shaked and our team to redesign and recalibrate our trading bots, ensuring they met the evolving requirements.”
Potential Trends In The FinTech Industry
Digital transformation has been redefining the way businesses perform. We inquired, “Given the rapid evolution in your industry, what major trends do you see shaping the future, and how is your company preparing for them?”
“The integration of AI and machine learning in real-time trading and risk management is a major trend that I believe will continue to transform the industry. My company is preparing for this by focusing on developing highly adaptive and scalable architectures. We are also looking to expand through a strategic partnership with Alin Breaban from Vestinda, which will allow us to leverage Vestinda’s cutting-edge technology to refine our models even further.” Sajid added.
Visions For Silver Ledger
We were interested to learn more about the goals Sajid has set for his business. So, we asked, “Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your company, and what strategies are you considering to achieve them?”
Sajid Lhessani shared, “My vision is to position my company as a leader in AI-driven trading solutions. To achieve this, we plan to forge strategic partnerships and continuously invest in R&D. Recently, I’ve partnered with Saad-Eddine Lamfichekh, a skilled professional whose expertise in market strategies aligns with our mission. Together, we’re developing new, innovative models that we believe will set new benchmarks in the industry.”
Embracing Digital Evolution
AI and emerging technologies are transforming businesses. We asked, “How do you see these changes affecting your industry, and how is your company adapting?”
Emphasizing the role of AI, Sajid explained, “AI is enhancing precision and scalability in trading, which directly benefits our industry by enabling more accurate market predictions and faster decision-making. To stay ahead, we’re heavily investing in cloud computing and machine learning models. For instance, our AWS-based architecture supports thousands of trades monthly, allowing us to seamlessly scale and adapt to market fluctuations in real-time.”
Core Ethics Guiding Sajid’s Business
Addressing the values impacting Sajid’s company, we asked, “We asked, “What guiding principles or core values have you consistently relied on to drive your company’s success?”
Sajid Lhessani shared, “Collaboration, adaptability, and innovation are the principles that have consistently guided me. Working with talented individuals like Ofri Shaked at AlgoForce and now partnering with Saad-Eddine Lamfichekh at Silver Ledger Honk Kong, I’ve learned that teamwork and openness to change are key to thriving in a fast-paced industry. Innovation has also been a cornerstone, allowing us to build cutting-edge solutions for complex challenges.”
Game-Changing Innovations By AlgoForce
Eager to learn more about an innovative strategy that helped AlgoForce stand apart from the competition, we asked, “Could you share an innovative strategy or approach that has recently helped your company stand out in a competitive market?”
Sajid Lhessani replied, “A recent innovative approach was the implementation of predictive models using Support Vector Machine and PCA to enhance the accuracy of market movement predictions. This model was instrumental in our success at AlgoForce, enabling us to launch over 50 trading bots and manage high trade volumes on Binance. This unique use of machine learning algorithms has distinguished us in a competitive field, attracting both clients and industry partnerships.”
An Agile Approach
We ended the session by asking, “How has your leadership philosophy evolved over the years, particularly in light of the technological advancements and disruptions in your industry?”
“My leadership philosophy has evolved to prioritize continuous learning and adaptability. Technology in this field changes rapidly, and leading teams in algorithmic trading means staying at the forefront of these advancements. I’ve learned to emphasize mentorship, training many data scientists to specialize in AI for trading, and fostering a culture where every team member feels empowered to contribute innovative ideas.” Sajid concluded.
Follow Sajid Lhessani on LinkedIn.
Find AlgoForce on LinkedIn and visit their website https://www.algoforce.io/
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