Semi Koen, Head of Innovation at Mizuho EMEA, has had an impressive journey in the tech and financial services sector. Her passion for technology, AI, and machine learning was ignited during her studies in Computer Science, and she is now bringing that enthusiasm and expertise to life at Mizuho EMEA.
“I was always surrounded by computers when I was young,” explains Semi, who was inspired by her father – one of the first pioneers within information technology in Greece, teaching it academically and helping introduce it to the banking sector.
“I was inspired by my dad's incredible problem solving, and this set me on a path to increase my curiosity about computers and have a career in computer science.”
Semi began her career as a graduate developer at an international payments’ provider in Greece, where she gained the foundational elements of her development expertise. Semi later moved to the UK, briefly working at a management consultancy before joining Mizuho in 2009.
Since joining Mizuho she has held various technical roles globally across front-to-back domains, including Regulatory IT, Risk IT, and Global IT, progressively taking on more leadership responsibilities.
Reflecting on her career highlights, Semi shares two standout achievements. The first was during her time in the Risk department, where she led a major transformation of the technology stack designing a framework to modernise several risk engines.
“I designed and spearheaded the transformation of our technology stack and built one of the most technologically advanced IT teams for our securities business,” she recalls. “I set up the architectural vision that my successor now continues – I am very proud of this.”
The second highlight came in 2019 when Semi, along with her manager at the time had the opportunity to move to Tokyo and establish a global IT team from the ground up.
“We brought the development in house and that allowed us to build greenfield applications, as well as make process improvements – The (STW) Sales-Trader Workflow application in particular was a big revenue generating success and ended up being expanded into a few desks.”
A day in the life as Head of Innovation
In her latest role as Head of Innovation, Semi is responsible for the strategic and purposeful adoption of AI and other innovations within the bank and identifying high-impact opportunities where emerging technologies can address business challenges, enhance efficiency, and create value.
“A day in the life of innovation is never the same. We have a very big pipeline of projects, and many people have ideas of what we should or should not do,” says Semi.
“Mizuho is people-centric, and combining that with having the tech stack, and technical leadership, made it a place where I knew I could learn and move forward in my career.”
Semi Koen,
Head of Innovation
A key priority for Semi is governance. She explains that it’s important to have a stable foundation and responsible AI governance in order to align with the bank’s policies and the evolving regulatory landscape.
“One notable initiative is introducing Copilot 365 to the organisation, deploying a central AI platform to democratise access to large language models and developing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) applications to improve knowledge management,” states Semi.
Semi elaborates how these AI initiatives directly benefit employees, citing the development of a new HR policy assistant that simplifies policy access and the introduction of AI coding tools that enhance the software development lifecycle.
Beyond technological advancements, Semi is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation by actively engaging with colleagues and transforming even the most sceptical into advocates of change.
“It’s not that AI will take our jobs,” she asserts. “But people who use AI will have an advantage over those who don’t because it makes us more productive.”
Innovation, in her view, is essential for progress, especially in the fast-changing world of technology. Quoting a Japanese proverb, she explains: “A frog in a well knows nothing of the sea. Innovation helps us understand emerging technologies from different perspectives and drives us forward.”
Semi mentions that her team regularly runs trials, conducts lunch and learn sessions and formalised training to help colleagues and management understand the potential and adopt new technologies. They also connect business teams with external vendors, FinTech labs, and highlight emerging technologies that could drive efficiencies or create new opportunities.
The importance of passion and Innovation
When Semi joined Mizuho 15 years ago, she notes the two things that attracted her were the company's agile environment and its talented team.
“Mizuho is people-centric, and combining that with having the tech stack, and technical leadership, made it a place where I knew I could learn and move forward in my career,” says Semi.
She continues, “the technology we have at Mizuho is quite advanced, and due to our size, we’re able to be agile and when it comes to internal mobility, you get exposure to different domains within the company.”
Semi remarks that she’s still finding new challenges and opportunities for growth.
“I haven’t had 15 years of the same experience,” she says proudly. “My career at Mizuho has been dynamic and rewarding and I have real fulfilment from it.”
For Semi, passion is a driving force that fuels her motivation. She firmly believes that passion is contagious, saying “when leaders approach their work with enthusiasm and passion, it uplifts their teams and encourages a culture of resilience and boundary-pushing.”
When asked what advice she would give to those starting out in tech, Semi stresses the importance of hard work, authenticity, and adaptability. “There are no shortcuts to hard work,” she states, “but being adaptable and authentic are assets that will never go out of fashion.”
She also encourages young professionals to understand the business side of technology. “Take the time to truly understand the business, not just the IT side, as this broader perspective will make you more effective and impactful,” she explains.
Reflecting on advice she would give to her younger self, Semi notes: “Growth happens from uncomfortable moments. In the past, although I was quite strong in a few areas I wasn’t confident enough to try new things or step up unless I was fully ready to do the task. I would change this completely if I were to start again – I would embrace the unknown.”
As she looks to the future, Semi remains committed to driving innovation and inspiring others to embrace change. Her journey is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and bold thinking.