“Not another glossy transformation story. A practical blueprint and toolkit for building a future-proof institution when ripping everything out is not an option.” – Sampsa Laine CEO, Alisa Bank at the time of writing the book
I have had the pleasure of knowing Sampsa since his Nordea days. Since then, we have often found time to discuss the continued shift in the banking industry, usually circling back to embedded finance, modernisation, legacy technology and, perhaps most importantly, the legacy business models that still shape far too much of banking.
Many of my bigger ideas have been pressure tested against Sampsa’s experience, both as an industry thought leader and as an executive across several financial institutions. He has the useful habit of not letting vague ideas get away with pretending to be fully formed ones.
So when I finally managed to get my thoughts down on paper and had an initial full draft of the book, I was excited to have Sampsa review it. I was even happier when he offered to write a review.
Sampsa provided the foreword while serving as CEO of Alisa Bank. That context matters. His contribution does not come from the comfortable distance of theory, but from the lived perspective of someone who has carried executive responsibility inside a bank while the industry around it continues to change.
He also gave me his blessing to use his review as a foreword to the book.
So, what does he have to say?
In the relentless pursuit of innovation, the true entrepreneur isn’t merely content with identifying problems; they’re driven to rip out the broken foundations and build something fundamentally better. For too long, the banking industry has been bogged down by legacy—not just in its code, but in its very mindset. We’ve seen grand visions crumble under the weight of outdated systems, ambitious projects drowned by “technical debt,” and promising ideas suffocated by processes designed for a bygone era.
This isn’t a book for those who want to patch up the cracks or simply add a fresh coat of paint. This is a battle cry for the bold, a playbook for the builders, and a survival guide for those who understand that in today’s landscape, inaction is the riskiest strategy. My dear friend Pål Krogdahl, with the wisdom of a seasoned architect and the pragmatism of an engineer, doesn’t just diagnose the ailments of core banking; he hands you the blueprint and the toolkit to construct a future-proof financial institution. What resonates most deeply for an entrepreneurial spirit within these pages is the call to action that emerges from crisis. Like the unexpected disaster in Pål’s kitchen, many financial institutions face a moment of truth where the old simply cannot hold. But where some see insurmountable chaos, Pål sees a strategic pivot point. He doesn’t advocate for reckless demolition, but for deliberate, capability-driven transformation that prioritizes outcomes, leverages ecosystems, and embraces continuous learning.
This isn’t theory; it’s a practical path born out of experience. It’s about building with purpose, partnering smart, and progressing with confidence. It challenges you to think modularly, to seek agility over monolithic control, and to turn the complexity of legacy into an opportunity for true differentiation. Whether you’re a challenger looking to outmanoeuvre incumbents, or an established player determined to reinvent from within, this book offers the strategic clarity and tactical guidance you need.
It’s time to stop mopping the floor. It’s time to truly “rip out the core” of what holds you back and build a platform-enabled future that is not just more efficient, but infinitely more innovative and simply game changing. This book is your essential guide to that journey. Be bold and start building.
The book Rip Out the Core will be published at the end of July 2026, but it is already available for preorder on Amazon.
