KUWAIT: Pursuing its endeavors to build a dynamic and agile workforce to drive its long-term progress and promote sustainable human capital, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) organized an intensive training program for developing leadership in all divisions, in cooperation with INSEAD Business School, one of the world’s most reputable business schools.

The opening ceremony was attended by Salah Al-Fulaij, CEO of National Bank of Kuwait - Kuwait, Sulaiman Al-Marzouq, NBK-Kuwait Deputy CEO. The attendees also included Faisal A Al-Hamad, CEO - Global Wealth Management, Mohamed Al-Othman, CEO - Consumer and Digital Banking Group, Mohammad Al-Kharafi, COO - Head of Group Operations and Information Technology, Ahmed Bourisly Head of Corporate Banking Group.

The program titled “Leading Customer-centric Digital Transformation” aims to develop and enhance leadership skills, with a particular focus on team leadership and strategy execution, in a way that enables them to keep pace with the fast-paced challenges facing the banking industry, and taking on future leadership positions to sustain NBK’s long-standing success, which aligns with its long-term strategy.

The program’s Module 1, which was held on Nov 6 and Nov 7, was themed “Fast Changing Banking World” highlights the significant challenges facing the banking industry due to digital disruption, and change management skills, developing and enhancing leadership skills, with a particular focus on self-awareness, team leadership, change management and strategy execution.

The program also covered a number of key topics including: framing and building a powerful customer-centric strategy by leveraging innovative digital approaches, data and technologies, The Three Transformational Shifts (Digital Experience Makeover, Digital Proposition Pivot and Engaging Customers and Selling More Effectively). It also covers Developing an Innovative Mindset in an Agile World, Group Work, Driving Transformation Through Data-driven Strategies, Understanding and Leveraging Key Enablers for a Successful Transformation.

The program also helps participants in understanding how to create outstanding customer experiences by leveraging digital tech and data, and learning how to leverage data and analytics to analyze your competitive landscape, measure the success of digital activities.

Speaking on this, Emad Al-Ablani, GM – head of Group Human Resources at National Bank of Kuwait said: “The leadership development program is an important part of the bank’s consistent strategy to develop human capital and ensure readiness for the fast-paced changes taking place in the banking industry.” “At NBK, we firmly believe that leadership development is instrumental to sustain our long-term business growth at all levels. Therefore, training and development initiatives are at the heart of our strategic plans.”

“Developing executives has always been the main focus, as NBK’s training model enhances leadership skills based on a consistent vision of how we understand leadership and what we expect from leaders. It also reflects the unique needs of leaders and is supported by rigorous scientific research to determine the essential knowledge and skills for effective and comprehensive leadership in order to serve employees’ training needs.

Joerg Niessing, Senior Affiliate Professor at INSEAD and program director of “Leading Customer-centric Digital Transformation” added “I’m very much looking forward to the program with executives from NBK to discuss digital strategy in the age of disruption. Digital strategy isn’t just about adapting to the future; it’s about shaping it, one innovative idea at a time creating opportunities that drive sustainable success.”

As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD offers participants a truly global educational experience. INSEAD’s business education and research spans the globe with locations in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) and North America (San Francisco).