Latest news with #Zhang
Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Fintech engineering is growing. The job can come with high salaries and energizing work.
If you've sent money through an app or deposited a check with your phone, you've used fintech. Fintech, or financial technology, is a vast ecosystem of services and solutions, including payment systems, lending platforms, and cryptocurrencies, that is revolutionizing the way businesses operate and creating promising new career paths. Behind these innovations are fintech engineers who design, build, and maintain the software that powers many modern financial products. Though the role can require specialized education, it offers creative opportunities across finance and tech industries. It's also in high demand. The World Economic Forum's " Future of Jobs Report 2025" projected fintech engineers to be the second fastest-growing job over the next five years. Jimmie Lenz, the executive director of Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering's Master of Engineering in fintech program, has nearly thirty years of experience in the financial services industry and has witnessed firsthand the increasing demand for expertise in the field. "The driver behind everything new in finance over the past 30 years has been innovation," Lenz told Business Insider. He added that technological advances continually spur change in the financial world, keeping the role of a fintech engineer both compelling and essential. Stella Zhang, the engineering manager for applied AI and growth at Plaid, a fintech company that connects consumer bank accounts to financial apps, likes that her work is helping make people's financial lives frictionless and intuitive. "This field rewards those who can zoom out to see the big picture while zooming in to perfect the details," Zhang said. "If that kind of multi-scale thinking excites you, you'll thrive in fintech." Working at the cutting edge of finance Lenz said there was immediate demand when Duke's Master of Engineering in Fintech program launched in 2020, and interest has stayed consistent. "The very first year, we probably had eight or 10 applications for every one seat," he said. Fintech engineers are often proficient in various programming languages, blockchain technologies, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Those interested in specializing in fintech can acquire relevant skills through various routes, including intensive, short-term boot camps and specialized degree programs. While undergraduate majors vary, Lenz said he sees many applicants with backgrounds in mathematics, finance, economics, and computer science. He said the opportunity to be in a rapidly evolving field is driving interest in fintech engineering. "Students definitely see their experience as getting to be at the very front wave of things," Lenz said. He said a talented fintech engineer is able to apply their programming and software engineering skills in a financial context, so it's important that his students leave with both technical and contextual information. Zhang found her way to Plaid after "an unconventional journey through finance and tech." She studied quantitative finance at Princeton University and researched computer science and AI at Stanford University. She went on to work at Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, Citadel, a hedge fund, and Ironclad, a software company. Zhang said she was drawn to Plaid because it connected all the dots in her career. "At Plaid, I can use my understanding of financial systems to build AI that serves developers and, ultimately, hundreds of millions of end-users," Zhang said. "Working on applied AI in fintech where accuracy, reliability, and security are paramount provides exactly the level of challenge and responsibility that energizes me every day." Lenz said his students have gone on to work in large technology companies, banks, entrepreneurial start-ups, and investment and brokerage firms. Glassdoor's salary estimate for fintech engineers ranges from $109,000 to $170,000 a year, but Lenz said that based on conversations with his former students, the range can sometimes stretch to $200,000. Curiosity is key to a fintech career Kathleen DeRose, the academic director of the Master of Science in Fintech program at New York University, said new advancements like artificial intelligence keep fintech evolving and exciting. The job prospects for fintech engineers "reflect the tech transformations underway," she said. The surge of multibillion-dollar companies in the fintech space also "suggests the prospects are really good," said DeRose. When DeRose speaks with hiring managers and recruiters, she's increasingly hearing a desired characteristic that goes beyond technical skills: curiosity. "You need to have the technical chops, but the ability to learn quickly and have the curiosity to do so is the adaptive power that's wanted," she said. Zhang recommended choosing to work with companies "that give you space to experiment and fail safely." Breakthrough innovations rarely come from prescribed roadmaps, and the best ideas can come from "what if" conversations over coffee, she said. "Most importantly, remember that fintech engineering is about people, not just systems," Zhang said. "Yes, you need to understand distributed systems and API design, but you also need empathy for the small-business owner trying to make payroll or the recent graduate navigating student loans." "The best solutions come from engineers who never forget there's a human on the other end of every product experience," she added.
Economic Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang stabs 16-year-old girlfriend to death after she snubs him, gets executed by firing squad in first-ever celebrity death sentence
Zhang Yiyang, a Chinese actor, faced execution for the murder of his girlfriend. The crime occurred in 2022, and the execution happened in December 2024. News of the execution became public in July 2025. The court found him guilty of a violent and premeditated act. He had a history of abuse towards the victim. His appeals were rejected. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A violent birthday The execution Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Manipulation and abuse Who Was Zhang Yiyang? Chinese actor and singer Zhang Yiyang became the first celebrity in mainland China to be executed for a violent crime, following his conviction for the premeditated murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend. The 33-year-old was executed by firing squad on December 18, 2024, though news of the execution only became public in July 2025, according to Chinese media and judicial sources. The actor lured his girlfriend to a remote forest in Xingping City under the pretense of celebrating his birthday. When she expressed a desire to end their relationship, he attacked her with a folding to the official verdict from the Xianyang Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi Province, the murder took place on February 26, 2022, Zhang's birthday. The court revealed that Zhang stabbed her multiple times in the neck, severing her carotid artery and windpipe, which led to instant death by hemorrhage and asphyxiation. The brutal assault was described as 'extremely violent, deliberate, and socially harmful.'Zhang then attempted to stage the scene to look like a suicide and fled. He later tried to take his own life at a hotel but survived and was arrested shortly after by local execution, carried out by firing squad, a method still sanctioned under Chinese law, was not publicly disclosed at the time. The case only came to light in July 2025, prompting an outpouring of reactions on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and expressed outrage over the fact that Zhang's work, including films and music, remained publicly accessible even after his conviction and execution. Many called for him to be formally added to the government's blacklist of disgraced public figures, which bars artists from being featured in media or earning royalties from their capital punishment remains legal in China for crimes like murder, executions of public figures are exceedingly rare. Zhang's execution signals a harsh precedent, and perhaps a turning point, in how China deals with celebrity of now, Chinese authorities have made no formal announcement regarding the removal of Zhang's existing media, nor has his name appeared on official state court also highlighted that Zhang had a long pattern of emotional abuse and psychological manipulation over the victim, including threats of suicide to prevent her from leaving him. Reports indicated that the two had been in a relationship since September 2021, despite the victim being labeled the murder as intentional homicide, arguing that the actor had shown no genuine remorse and had tried to obstruct justice. His appeals to both the provincial High Court and the Supreme People's Court were Yiyang was a relatively obscure but rising figure in the entertainment world, often referred to as an '18th-tier' actor. He trained under Hong Kong director Li Wenlong and had released a few albums, including Crying Man. He also appeared in low-budget films such as The Sound of Music (音疗大师), which ironically premiered just months after his was awarded a "Golden Shang New-Star Actor" prize early in his career but never achieved mainstream fame.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang stabs 16-year-old girlfriend to death after she snubs him, gets executed by firing squad in first-ever celebrity death sentence
Chinese actor and singer Zhang Yiyang became the first celebrity in mainland China to be executed for a violent crime, following his conviction for the premeditated murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend. The 33-year-old was executed by firing squad on December 18, 2024, though news of the execution only became public in July 2025, according to Chinese media and judicial sources. The actor lured his girlfriend to a remote forest in Xingping City under the pretense of celebrating his birthday. When she expressed a desire to end their relationship, he attacked her with a folding knife. A violent birthday Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management Data Analytics healthcare Design Thinking others Management Finance Data Science Digital Marketing Data Science Product Management Public Policy Degree Project Management MBA Healthcare Leadership MCA CXO Others Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details According to the official verdict from the Xianyang Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi Province, the murder took place on February 26, 2022, Zhang's birthday. The court revealed that Zhang stabbed her multiple times in the neck, severing her carotid artery and windpipe, which led to instant death by hemorrhage and asphyxiation. The brutal assault was described as 'extremely violent, deliberate, and socially harmful.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Zhang then attempted to stage the scene to look like a suicide and fled. He later tried to take his own life at a hotel but survived and was arrested shortly after by local authorities. The execution Zhang's execution, carried out by firing squad, a method still sanctioned under Chinese law, was not publicly disclosed at the time. The case only came to light in July 2025, prompting an outpouring of reactions on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Douban. Live Events Netizens expressed outrage over the fact that Zhang's work, including films and music, remained publicly accessible even after his conviction and execution. Many called for him to be formally added to the government's blacklist of disgraced public figures, which bars artists from being featured in media or earning royalties from their work. While capital punishment remains legal in China for crimes like murder, executions of public figures are exceedingly rare. Zhang's execution signals a harsh precedent, and perhaps a turning point, in how China deals with celebrity crimes. As of now, Chinese authorities have made no formal announcement regarding the removal of Zhang's existing media, nor has his name appeared on official state blacklists. Manipulation and abuse The court also highlighted that Zhang had a long pattern of emotional abuse and psychological manipulation over the victim, including threats of suicide to prevent her from leaving him. Reports indicated that the two had been in a relationship since September 2021, despite the victim being underage. Prosecutors labeled the murder as intentional homicide, arguing that the actor had shown no genuine remorse and had tried to obstruct justice. His appeals to both the provincial High Court and the Supreme People's Court were rejected. Who Was Zhang Yiyang? Zhang Yiyang was a relatively obscure but rising figure in the entertainment world, often referred to as an '18th-tier' actor. He trained under Hong Kong director Li Wenlong and had released a few albums, including Crying Man. He also appeared in low-budget films such as The Sound of Music (音疗大师), which ironically premiered just months after his execution. He was awarded a "Golden Shang New-Star Actor" prize early in his career but never achieved mainstream fame.
The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang executed by firing squad after murdering underage girlfriend
Chinese singer-actor Zhang Yiyang was executed by firing squad on Dec 18, 2024, after being convicted of the murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend. He was 33 at the time of his death. According to a recently released court document from the Intermediate People's Court of Xianyang City in Shaanxi province, Zhang lured the victim – who was 15 when they started dating – into a forest in Xingping city on Feb 26, 2022. When she expressed her intention to end the relationship, a heated argument broke out, during which Zhang fatally stabbed her in the neck. Following the attack, Zhang returned home to change his clothes and disposed of both the bloodied garments and the victim's mobile phone by throwing them into a river. He then checked into a hotel, where he attempted to take his own life but was discovered by a staff member who alerted the police. The court described Zhang's actions as extremely violent and socially harmful. His pattern of emotional manipulation, including repeated threats of suicide to control the victim, further influenced the court's decision to uphold his death sentence after a failed appeal. The case sent shockwaves across mainland China. It marks the first time a celebrity in the country was legally executed for a criminal offense. In the wake of the news, netizens slammed the posthumous release of Zhang's film Jie You Yin Sheng Guan, which premiered in March this year. Users on Douban (a Chinese online database for film, books, music and more), also bombarded the film's page with one-star ratings, condemning its release given that its lead actor had been executed for the murder of an underage girl. Those suffering from mental health issues or contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's Family, Social and Community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929, visit for a full list of numbers and operating hours, or email sam@
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Chinese Actor Zhang Yiyang Executed For Murdering Girlfriend, 1st Celebrity To Face Death Penalty
Chinese singer-actor Zhang Yiyang was executed in December 2024 for murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend in February 2022, a rare celebrity death penalty case. In a shocking development Chinese singer-actor Zhang Yiyang was executed in December 2024 after being convicted of murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend. The Xianyang Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi recently released the details of the case, marking the first known instance of a Chinese celebrity receiving the death penalty for a violent crime. The incident occurred in February 2022, when Zhang allegedly lured the teenager to a remote forest area in Xingping City under the guise of celebrating his birthday. However, the meeting took a tragic turn. Reports from Koreaboo and Dimsumdaily indicate that the two got into an argument during which the victim expressed her desire to end the relationship. What followed was a violent outburst as Zhang repeatedly stabbed her in the neck with a folding knife. The brutal attack proved fatal. The girl died at the scene after her carotid artery and windpipe were severely ruptured. In an attempt to cover up the crime, Zhang tried to stage the murder as a suicide. He also made a failed attempt to take his own life, after which he was taken into custody by local law enforcement. Zhang was later charged with intentional homicide. His trial concluded with a death sentence, which was upheld even after an appeal. The sentence was carried out by firing squad, a method of execution still practiced in China. The case quickly drew national attention not only because of the actor's rising fame at the time of the crime but also due to the particularly disturbing nature of the murder. Zhang was seen as a promising talent in the entertainment industry, with several projects lined up and a growing fan base. 'This was a deliberate and calculated act," the court noted in its ruling. 'The brutality of the crime and his attempt to manipulate the scene reflect a severe threat to public safety." Zhang's execution has since become one of the most high-profile legal cases in recent years. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
