Smart Money – Monocle CEO David Buckham

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, David Buckham discusses the pros and cons of quantum computing in finance.

Buckham is the founder and CEO of Monocle Solutions and boasts nearly 30 years of experience in the finance industry.

His career began when he joined ADvTECH as an account manager and content development specialist in 1996. He then held multiple other notable positions at industry-leading companies.

These include working as the Head of Risk Management and Solutions Specialist for SAS and as a Solutions Specialist for PSG Asset Management.

He founded Monocle Solutions in 2002 to fill the gap between the complex world of high finance and the systems and data that support it.

Since then, he has guided and helped the company grow into the highly regarded international management consultancy it is today.

Buckham has co-authored several books which have been well-received by the market, including:

• The best-selling The End of Money: The Great Erosion of Trust in Banking, China’s Minsky Moment and the Fallacy of Cryptocurrency (2021)
• The internationally published Unequal: How Extreme Inequality is Damaging Democracy and What We Can Do About It (2023)
• The hard-hitting Why Banks Fail: Unrelenting Bank Runs, the Conundrum of Central Banking and South Africa’s Place in the Global Order (2023)
• The recent release Orthogonal Thinking: My Own Search for Meaning in Mathematics, Literature & Life (2024)

He holds a Master’s Degree in Literature and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Cape Town.

The interview

In this Smart Money interview, Buckham unpacks how the finance industry is evolving and how quantum computing may eventually fit into this. He noted the advantages and disadvantages it could introduce.

He then outlines the potential timeline for how far away we are from commercially usable quantum computing and whether it is the next big thing after generative AI.

Buckham also touches on the impact of the private sector’s increased global influence, which he argues approaches the power of entire governments.

He concludes the interview by sharing how, if he were in charge of South Africa, he would address the current problems South Africa faces with America.

Watch the full interview with David Buckham below.