Podcast
Podcast
In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Roy Vella, fintech veteran and founder of NextCoLabs, to explore what it really means to live with intention. From building PayPal in its earliest days to creating AI-powered meeting tools, Roy shares why presence—not productivity—is the true key to success.
Roy Vella is a well-known global executive delivering high-growth, mission-critical digital solutions. He is a paid professional speaker who is considered a thought leader, digital strategy expert, and independent Non-Exec Director, Advisor & Consultant to enterprises large and small. As a resourceful Stanford JD/MBA and US/UK citizen, Roy has proven complex problem-solving skills and global execution delivering high-growth, digitally-driven teams. He the CEO of Next CoLab and also runs a management consultancy providing strategic advice and commercial services to digital leaders globally, particularly as an expert in the AI/deeptech, fintech, smart home industries.
In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Roy Vella, fintech veteran and founder of NextCoLabs, to explore what it really means to live with intention. From building PayPal in its earliest days to creating AI-powered meeting tools, Roy shares why presence—not productivity—is the true key to success.
Early Career & PayPal: Roy’s role in shaping fintech during the birth of PayPal and the lessons learned in execution and hiring smart.
Family & Parenting: Redefining fatherhood with presence and attention; setting clear boundaries even in high-stakes roles.
Health Optimization: How Roy uses biofeedback (Oura Ring, Muse Headband) to enhance performance and prioritize sleep.
Personal Loss & Growth: Losing a child shaped his perspective on empathy, resilience, and connection.
NextCoLabs: Launching an AI-powered meeting analysis platform to make work more efficient, effective, and aligned.
Future Vision: Roy’s predictions on personal AI, exponential tech, and what the next generation of founders needs to know.
Learn more about NextCoLab:
Connect with Roy:
© 2025 Thankz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.