Senior Product & Innovation Advisor
Turning complex banking, payment and telecom ecosystems into products that scale.
I help banks, payment companies, fintechs and telecom operators make confident product decisions — drawing on nearly 20 years of hands-on experience across the Middle East.
- Nearly 20 Years of Experience
- Banking & Electronic Payments
- Fintech & Telecom
- Board-Level Advisory
- Nearly 20 Years of Experience
- Banking
- Electronic Payments
- Fintech
- Telecommunications
- Product & Innovation Leadership
- Advisory & Board-Level Experience
What I Solve
Complex product challenges, structured into clear decisions.
From idea to executable strategy
Turn ambiguous, complex ideas into a product strategy teams can actually execute.
Digital & open banking models
Design the product model for digital banking and open banking initiatives.
Portfolio & investment priorities
Refine the product portfolio and prioritize investment where it creates real value.
Payment & wallet products
Design payment, wallet and financial products that balance UX, regulation and economics.
Business, technology & regulatory alignment
Connect business goals, technology constraints and regulatory requirements into one coherent plan.
Fintech–telecom convergence
Identify and design convergence opportunities between financial services and operator capabilities.
Product maturity & team structure
Assess product maturity and team operating models — then fix the gaps that slow you down.
CEO & board decision support
Independent, structured analysis to support high-stakes product and innovation decisions.
Areas of Expertise
Where strategy meets execution.
Eight domains shaped by nearly two decades of building products across banking, payments, fintech and telecom.
Product Strategy & Portfolio
Clarify where to play and how to win — portfolio review, prioritization and an executable roadmap.
For: banks, fintechs, operatorsDigital Banking & Open Banking
Digital banking propositions and open banking models — from API strategy to partner ecosystems.
For: banks and platformsElectronic Payments & Wallets
Payment and wallet products that balance user experience, regulation and unit economics.
For: PSPs, wallets, retailersFintech Products & Partnerships
Build or partner: collaboration models, BaaS structures and go-to-market for financial products.
For: fintechs and banksTelecom, MVNO & Financial Convergence
Turn operator assets — distribution, eSIM, billing — into financial product opportunities.
For: operators and MVNOsProduct Governance & Operating Model
Clear ownership, decision rights and KPIs so teams ship consistently and predictably.
For: scaling organizationsDigital Transformation & Innovation
Move from pilots to scaled products — innovation pipelines tied to real business metrics.
For: enterprises and operatorsExecutive & Board Advisory
Independent, structured advice on product investments, risks and opportunities.
For: CEOs and boardsEngagement Models
Flexible ways to work together.
From a single strategic session to ongoing board-level advisory.
Strategic Consultation Session
A focused session on one specific question or decision.
Product Diagnostic
A rapid, structured assessment of your product and operating model.
Project-Based Advisory
Hands-on consulting for a defined scope and timeline.
Ongoing Executive Advisory
Continuous support for a CEO, board or leadership team.
Executive Workshops
Tailored workshops for leadership and product teams.
Product Strategy Design
End-to-end strategy work: vision, portfolio, roadmap.
Portfolio Assessment
Review of your product portfolio with clear investment priorities.
Product Leadership Mentoring
Mentoring for product managers and product leaders.
How We Work
A clear, structured path from request to results.
Submit your request
Share your challenge via the form, WhatsApp or email.
Initial review
I review your context and confirm where I can add value.
Discovery & alignment
We align on scope, constraints and success criteria.
Engagement proposal
A clear proposal covering scope, timeline and deliverables.
Execution
Structured consulting work with regular checkpoints.
Review & next steps
Results, recommendations and a practical path forward.
Experience
Selected leadership & advisory roles.
A snapshot of leadership, advisory and board positions.
Advisor
ICT Commission, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture
Board Member
Digital Publishers Association
Representative & Member
Deregulation & Business Support Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance
Representative & Member
National Cross-Border E-Commerce Committee
Member
Transformation & Innovation Commission, Tehran Chamber of Commerce
Chief Product & Innovation Officer
SamanTel (MVNO)
Board Member
Pars Shahrvand E-Commerce Company — Shahrazad App, Tehran Municipality
For the complete professional history, visit my LinkedIn.
Insights
Perspectives on open banking, convergence and financial innovation.
Selected themes I write and speak about.
Open banking in supply chain finance
Open banking in payment networks
Open banking for platforms & businesses
eSIM opportunities for secure, innovative solutions
Convergence of banking, fintech & telecom
Designing innovative financial products & infrastructure
About
Building products at the intersection of technology and business.
For nearly two decades, I have worked across some of the most complex industries in the region — banking, electronic payments, fintech and telecommunications — building products where technology, regulation and customer experience meet.
My focus is practical: turning new technologies into viable products and business models, aligning executives, product teams and stakeholders around clear decisions, and bringing structure to problems that resist simple answers.
I work with CEOs, boards and cross-functional teams who need an advisor that understands the ecosystem — not just the theory.
FAQ
Answers before you reach out.
Who is this consulting for?
Banks, payment service providers, fintech startups, telecom operators and MVNOs, and any organization building digital financial products — as well as CEOs, boards and investors evaluating product opportunities.
Is project-based collaboration possible?
Yes. Engagements range from a single strategic session or diagnostic to project-based advisory and ongoing executive support.
Which languages do you work in?
English, Persian and Arabic.
How does the first meeting work?
After you submit a request, I review it and we arrange a short discovery meeting to align on your challenge, scope and expectations.
Is project information kept confidential?
Yes. All shared information is treated as confidential, and a non-disclosure agreement can be signed before detailed discussions.
Do you advise CEOs and boards?
Yes. A significant part of my work is independent advisory for CEOs, boards and executive teams on product and innovation decisions.
Are online and in-person sessions available?
Online sessions are always available. In-person workshops and meetings can be arranged depending on location and engagement scope.
How do I request a meeting?
Use the form below, send a WhatsApp message, or email directly — whichever is easiest for you.
Contact
Let's discuss your product or innovation challenge.
Share a few details about your challenge. Your information is used only to review your request.
Direct channels
Prefer to reach out directly? These channels are always open.
Phone+98 912 107 2957 WhatsAppFastest way to reach me Emailmirjafari@gmail.com LinkedInProfessional profile