DUBAI: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) received the Bronze Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion - 2023 by the Society for Human Resource Management Middle East & North Africa’s office (SHRM). The recognition is credited to the NBK RISE program, a global initiative that aims to promote, support, and empower women leaders.

The bank was presented with the award during the Annual Human Resources Conference and Expo hosted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Dubai. The event focused on key issues concerning human capital development, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on the future of organizations in general, with a focus on human resources management.

The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion awards aims at recognizing organization which show a growing trend for setting transparent targets and increase organizational accountability towards the D&I initiatives. It requires organizations to encourage honest conversations between employees and their managers, inspire them to share ideas and solutions with the end goal of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment where all employees can feel safe, respected, and valued.

Furthermore, there is a strong emphasis on institutional initiatives that seek to empower women and provide support for female leaders. These initiatives are specifically designed to enhance crucial skills that will facilitate their career progression. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest HR professional society, representing 325,000 members in more than 165 countries and its influence extends to over 235 million workers and their families worldwide.

The NBK RISE program, introduced by Shaikha Al-Bahar in 2022, represents a concerted effort to consolidate initiatives aimed at empowering women to realize their full potential. The bank underscores its belief in the pivotal role of diversity and inclusion as crucial elements for ensuring the enduring success of institutions in the future.

The program spanned over the course of a year, featuring training sessions conducted in Kuwait and Spain at prominent business schools. It included mentorship opportunities provided by industry leaders, networking events, and comprehensive administrative support from the bank. Additionally, the participants engaged in group workshops aimed at crystallizing ideas and proposals, involving a total of 21 trainees.

The program is an inspiring initiative, going beyond the boundaries of NBK’s efforts. It extends its impact to involve several notable institutions in Kuwait. These organizations collectively demonstrated their commitment by signing a pledge focused on enhancing the representation of women in leadership roles. This shared commitment underscored their determination to collaborate seamlessly in the pursuit of the goals outlined in this global program.

In 2017, NBK Group was one of the first private sector institutions in the region to endorse UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a collaborative initiative by UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact. NBK has achieved a women participation rate of 44 percent and increased the number of women in management to 29.6 percent as of 2022. Furthermore, the bank takes pride in ensuring pay equity between male and female employees in these positions.

Collaborating with leading universities and training institution around the world, NBK consistently offers specialized programs and workshops aimed at cultivating women leaders. These initiatives also focus on raising awareness about gender diversity and exploring how to leverage these distinctions to enhance productivity and foster innovation. Furthermore, the Bank is broadening its dedication to diversity and inclusion, extending to clients. It has introduced products and services specifically designed for female clients and entrepreneurs, with a commitment to further developing these efforts as part of the ongoing commitment to enhance financial inclusion.

NBK is dedicated to promoting a culture that empowers women at all levels of the organization. This commitment includes efforts to enhance women’s representation in leadership roles through the provision of guidance and appropriate career advancement opportunities.