In our "Meet a Frankie" series we dive deeper into the stories of the people who make it all happen here at FrankieOne. This time we have Rony, Senior Product Owner from our Melbourne office sharing his story. Rony leads the Platform squad which builds foundational and future-proof capabilities for our customers.
Let's dive in..
What was your dream job when you were growing up?
To be a Physicist 👨🔬
Tell us about your career journey to date and what led you to FrankieOne.
Picture this: fresh-faced me, starting out as a Software Developer, knee-deep in code for wireless access points. Soon, I found myself getting more and more curious about the bigger picture. Before I knew it, I was sliding into roles that mixed product and technical. It's been a wild ride, mostly with startups, and I've had the chance to wear many hats - product management, general management, software architect, algorithm designer, patent filer, and even marketing.
In 2017, I moved to Australia with my family. A few years down the line, I attempted to build my own startup. I joined Antler, an accelerator program, to pursue an idea that limits the impact of data leaks on people. Think virtual identity profiles - disposable email addresses, credit cards, maybe even physical addresses. The goal? Limit the damage from data breaches to just these throwaway profiles.
But hey, not every idea is viable, right? When that didn't pan out, I started looking around for interesting startups to work with. That's when I stumbled upon FrankieOne. Their mission really spoke to me - they're all about helping banks and fintechs manage regulatory compliance and protect people's identities from fraud. It felt like a perfect fit - like a natural next step that aligned with what I've been passionate about all along.
What led you to a role in Product Ownership here at FrankieOne?
At FrankieOne, my role is to be the Senior Product Owner for the Platform squad. We are building foundational capabilities on which the next generation of FrankieOne’s products will be delivered to our customers. By leading the platform squad, I ensure that our technology is future-proof and ready to integrate with the growing demands of global markets.
What do you love about working at FrankieOne?
I love building innovative products with interesting people. At FrankieOne, I have found that blend of creativity, challenge and collaboration. Most importantly, the products that we build have real impact - someone’s identity was protected because FrankieOne was used for onboarding, a bank could stop someone from completing a fraudulent transaction, and a fintech company could onboard good customers efficiently.
What has been your proudest moment so far at FrankieOne?
We delivered our v2 version of the product on the improved platform that the team built. As we speak, we are onboarding customers to it. The v2 platform will greatly enhance value to our customers.
What are some of your favourite things to do outside of work?
I pick up an occasional non-fiction book to read. Currently reading: ‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari and ‘Why We Die’ by Venki Ramakrishnan.
What’s a fun fact that you think people should know?
I once seriously considered being a full time equities & derivatives trader.
Do you have any advice for people looking to work at a startup?
If you have never worked in a startup, take the plunge. You will get to learn more in a few months that will take years elsewhere. You’ll pick up skills to deal with ambiguity, to be resourceful and be crafty. I would highly recommend it!