Date of Conferral

6-13-2025

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Kim Critchlow

Abstract

Ineffective strategies to adapt to evolving regulatory changes can negatively impact financial technology (fintech) leaders’ capabilities. Fintech leaders who struggle to adapt to evolving regulatory changes are at risk of business instability. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore and identify effective business strategies used by fintech leaders to adapt to evolving regulatory changes. The participants were eight fintech leaders who effectively used strategies to adapt to evolving regulatory changes. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, and documents, current and archival. Using thematic analysis, five key themes were identified: (a) external compliance assistance, (b) internal compliance infrastructure, (c) cooperative regulatory engagement, (d) technology-integrated compliance, and (e) learning communities and professional networks. A key recommendation for fintech leaders is to pursue proactive stakeholder engagement, ethical alignment, and integrated compliance systems. Also, embedding compliance into operational strategy enhanced investor confidence, reduced regulatory friction, and supported scalable growth. The implications for positive social change include enabling fintech leaders to institutionalize stakeholder-centered governance that integrates inclusive decision-making, aligns profit with accountability, and strengthens trust across the financial ecosystem —ultimately benefiting shareholders, employees, consumers, regulators, and the broader community.

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