"The important thing in the transition to globalization is culture and people"

"The important thing in the transition to globalization is culture and people," said Adam Singolda, CEO and founder of Taboola, during a panel moderated by Yarden Rozanski of Calcalist. Also participating in the panel were Yaki Noyman, CEO of Doral, and Ira Robbins, chairman and CEO of the American banking group Valley Bank. The panel was part of the Calcalist and Bank Leumi's Mind the Tech New York conference.

Growth means global. What do you think about the transition from Israel to global?

Singolda: "We are in 22 countries. There are things that change all the time, but not how people work together. Our competitors were 40 times larger than us, but that was our energy. We had a search for passion and empathy. We fought for every client without shame. All the offices look similar, but what matters is the soul inside."

Yaki, you have a similar story, what brought you to the U.S.?

"The focus today is the move to clean energy, which creates huge opportunities for us in the United States. We founded a company here, thinking we would succeed and reach a billion dollars. In just five years, Doral is on track to secure $4 billion in investments and build the two largest projects in the United States. Our projects are the size of Tel Aviv. What’s important to us in every project is creating a win-win situation for all parties. We are building the project for the long term in full cooperation."

Ira, you have operated in a large number of countries. When is the right time to enter a country?

"Life is a journey. A few years ago, the concern was the coronavirus. It’s always a good time to enter and invest in Israel and the United States. We must not be swayed by the various events countries go through. We can and should invest. We have invested a lot in both Israel and the United States, and we will continue to do so."

Yaki, investing in green energy is problematic in the United States today.

"We produce the cheapest technology. Data centers, which are the core of technology today, require energy, and I don’t think there will be any problem. We looked at what happened in the past: under the previous Trump administration, there was an increase in new energy, while in the Biden administration, there was a decrease. So, we’re not concerned about the situation."

Adam, you announced new technology that will compete with the tech giants.

"When we started Taboola, we had innovative native technology. We did a lot there, but businesses want to grow, and the world of advertising is limited. When you try to create an alternative to Google and Facebook in the open world, it’s not an easy challenge. We need a free world of communication, not one closed off by Facebook, Google, or TikTok."

Ira, how do you see banking in the next wave?

"We’re looking for what sets us apart from every other bank. There are 5,000 banks in the United States. Technology is critical, but people are paramount."

Adam, is AI an opportunity or a threat?

"It is, of course, an opportunity. Until now, people tried to stop it out of fear, but now there’s no choice but to embrace it. Beyond that, it’s important to understand that it’s in our hands. Today, everyone has access to ChatGPT, but what determines its value is the data you have and what you do with it."

Yaki, you invest in high-tech through an innovative arm. What are you looking for, and is there a different way to invest?

"We are a corporate investment fund, looking for technology that will help us. We’ve invested in 26 companies that are benefiting us."

Robbins said, "In times of uncertainty—whether due to inflation, interest rate changes, or market volatility—banks must be an anchor of stability. Valley National Bank is a long-standing, diverse, and stable financial institution. But beyond that, we provide Israeli entrepreneurs with the guidance and network of connections they need to succeed and expand in the U.S.

"The next wave of US-Israeli cooperation will be shaped by artificial intelligence, fintech, and cyber—areas where both countries are leading the way. As a bank with deep expertise in technology, Valley Bank not only follows these trends, we actively invest in and support them, ensuring that Israeli startups have the financial infrastructure needed to drive innovation forward. Three years ago, Valley Bank made a strategic decision to enter the Israeli market. We identified a real need for Israeli companies, and we are in a unique position to provide them with teams based in the U.S., who understand U.S. banking but also 'speak Israeli.' We serve as a bridge to help Israeli companies navigate the U.S. financial system and expand successfully."

Watch the full exchange in the video above.