Beyond Boundaries | How BBVA Drives Innovation, Strategy & Partnerships Globally
Welcome back to the Beyond Boundaries interview series, where we speak with the people shaping how insurance is built, scaled, and reimagined around the world.
In this episode, Sønr’s CEO Matt Connolly is joined by Diego Ramos Pato, Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Innovation at BBVA, for an in-depth look at how one of the world’s leading banking groups is driving insurance innovation globally.
Diego has worked across BBVA’s engineering, insurance, and banking units, and now leads the team responsible for charting the bank’s strategic innovation roadmap. From embedded insurance to industrial partnerships, Diego shares how BBVA builds with discipline, customer context, and long-term impact in mind.
🎙️In this episode:
- The three levers BBVA uses to drive innovation
- Why banking and insurance can’t be separated
- How BBVA adapts its insurance model across different geographies
- Embedded opportunities at every customer touchpoint
- How BBVA tests, pilots, and scales new ideas
- How Diego’s team measures innovation impact using KPIs and NPS
📍 What you’ll also hear:
Diego shares how BBVA brings its innovation efforts to life, from A/B testing and agile pilots to industrial partnerships with firms like Sanitas and Bdeo. He explains the importance of having clear goals, a strong cultural foundation, and a deep understanding of customer needs.
A huge thank you to Diego for sharing his time and insights, and for giving us a clear view of what it looks like to drive innovation, strategy, and partnerships on a global scale.
💡 This is a must-listen for anyone working in embedded insurance, digital transformation, or ecosystem design.
To explore more of the people and companies defining global insurance innovation, the full Beyond Boundaries study offers a deep dive into emerging ecosystems, investor themes, and insurer strategies worldwide. The 2025 report will officially launch at ITC Vegas this October – a milestone moment for the global insurtech community.
Click here to learn more about Beyond Boundaries.
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