Kuwait Finance House (KFH) honored the graduates of Harvard Executive Development Program, titled “Leading in a World Transformed” in a ceremony held at KFH headquarters. The program is part of (Kafa`a) initiative launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) in collaboration with the Kuwaiti banks and organized by the Institute of Banking Studies (IBS).  

In collaboration with Harvard Business School, 12 employees from the middle and executive management at KFH have participated in the two-week intensive training program delivered by experts in finance, innovation management and product development.

The program focused on two primary themes: financial markets strategy and leadership, equipping participants with concepts and tools for successful leadership in a rapidly changing financial landscape. This included cutting-edge technologies and understanding how to compete with FinTech disruptors, an integrated set of practical, simulation, and analytical experiences, in addition to examinations that demonstrate the importance of leadership and management in formulating and implementing a strategy to address challenges.

The second theme focused on the importance of digital transformation in the financial sector and the approach that will impact the performance, innovation, organization culture and the participation in generating creative ideas.

Group Chief HR Officer, Zeyad Abdullah Al Omar congratulated the employees on completing the program successfully, stressing the importance of its being reflected in their performance and in polishing their job skills in order to boost productivity, facilitate procedures, contribute to the structure of services and products, as well as developing work mechanisms that are suited to the continuous change in the banking industry in light of the accelerating technology adoption.

Al Omar added that KFH is going ahead with its innovation and digital transformation initiatives, all of which require elites, competencies and talents that are capable of carrying on with innovation and creativity and keeping up with all developments in the banking industry, while making use of technological applications and their tools, such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain and others to take KFH to new levels that would enhance its local and global standing.

Al Omar pointed out that KFH spares no effort in investing in talent development out of the belief in its importance in enhancing customer experience through initiatives that contribute to meeting the aspirations of customers according to the highest standards of quality and security. He explained that enriching employees’ know-how and pursuing the approach of leader-making are pivotal foundations for establishing a more sustainable growth model in the future.

Al Omar pointed out that KFH invests in its human resources as they are most prominent asset in the success equation as well as being the present and the future of KFH, adding that ongoing education is highly important and contributes to maintaining KFH leadership.

He stressed that it is important for every manager who passed the training program to share the scientific experiences and achievements they gained with their work team. He pointed out the vital role of such sharing in improving the work environment through the sharing of knowledge.

Since 2011, KFH has been keen to participate in the “Harvard Executive Development Program”, with the number of participating employees exceeding 86. It is the largest number in the banking sector and a testimony to the Bank’s leadership in investing in its employees.