The Financial Academy Forum
Where ambition becomes a plan, vision turns into reality, and growth defines the phase…
Here’s the third edition of the Forum of Expertise and Decision Makers!
Ghaida and Nouf present you with a report on the Financial Academy Forum 2024
In its third edition, the forum shines with ambitious ideas that resonate in every corner.
Here, dreams are crafted, inspiration is drawn, and visionary minds unite under the theme of Sustainable Talent Growth, offering us all the opportunity to achieve the future we aspire to.
The Financial Academy started as a specialized institute for training banking employees in 1965, but it didn’t stop there! Since then, it has expanded to cover all sectors of the financial industry, including banking, insurance, and securities.
In 2020, the academy became an independent entity dedicated to providing the latest and most advanced professional training and development programs.
The 2024 Financial Academy Forum is a strategic event that fosters collaboration within the financial sector, bringing together officials and institutional leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities.
The forum aims to support financial sustainability by developing human capital and increasing efficiency through innovation and technology.
The forum’s also a unique platform for exclusive, specialized discussions that address key topics within the financial sector. It features a distinguished lineup of local and international speakers, gathering thought leaders from various financial sectors to exchange their insights and expertise.
Each edition of the Financial Academy Forum continues to promote innovation in the financial sector! The first edition in 2022 was held under the theme “Together We Make an Impact”, followed by the 2023 edition titled “Skills for the Future”. The third edition in 2024 was themed Sustainable Talent Growth.
In his speech, Mr. Mohammed Al-Quwaiz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Academy, highlighted that the Financial Academy Forum 2024 showcases the academy’s leading initiatives. He emphasized that the forum serves as a dialogue platform facilitating the exchange of expertise and ideas among participants, which contributes to enhancing collaboration and unifying efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The forum aims to enhance efficiency and innovation in the financial sector, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, with the following objectives:
- Empower leaders to leverage technology and drive innovation.
- Integrate continuous learning into career journeys.
- Improve training effectiveness using AI for continuous evaluation and improvement.
- Support sustainability through training and development.
The forum targets a diverse range of groups to foster dialogue and collaboration within the financial sector, including:
- Senior government officials
- Financial sector leaders
- Heads of authorities and institutions
- Employees in financial institutions
- Researchers and academics
- Experts and practitioners
The journey begins with the opening session, focusing on leadership in the age of technology and innovation.
Speakers share their experiences in developing leadership skills to adapt to digital transformations and discuss strategies for building a culture of innovation, making technology a strategic partner in decision-making.
In the first session, titled Excelling in Times of Rapid Change, the discussion centered on the importance of adopting a culture of continuous learning within organizations. Experts explored how technology can enhance the learning experience and how innovation can boost competitiveness. They presented methodologies for integrating learning into organizational goals and developing human capital.
The second session focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving the work environment and increasing productivity. The session also highlighted the best AI-supported techniques for developing employee skills, with an emphasis on measuring impact through smart analytics.
The final session was titled The Role of Training and Talent Development in Achieving Sustainability.
It focused on incorporating sustainability into talent training by showcasing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies to promote a sustainability culture within organizations. The session provided tools for addressing ongoing environmental and social challenges.
In the Financial Academy Forum 2024, the workshops stood out as inspiring platforms, blending thought and vision, knowledge and expertise, and ambition and creativity. Each workshop offered a unique exploration of new strategies and methods for enhancing individual and organizational competencies, as well as developing talents.
As part of its strategy to enhance partnerships with leading international, regional, and local entities specializing in human capital development, several partnerships were announced during the forum.
1- The Financial Academy and the CFA Institute launched an initiative to elevate holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification in Saudi Arabia.
2- The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) accredited the Financial Academy as an official professional development center
3- The Financial Academy became a global educational partner with the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) at the University of California, Berkeley, granting Saudis exclusive access to the world’s top programs in entrepreneurship and technology!
4- The Financial Academy and Swiss Re Institute launched an executive leadership initiative to train 150 leaders in the insurance sector.
5- A unique alliance was formed between the Financial Academy, Academy of Excellence, New York University (NYU), HEC Paris, and the CFA Institute, introducing the initiative titled 21st Century Executive Financial Managers.
Behind every exceptional success, there’s strong support. The sponsors and strategic partners of Financial Academy Forum 2024 were key contributors to this achievement.
In conclusion, we’re filled with pride in what has been accomplished and excited for what’s ahead. Thanks to the Financial Academy and all those who made this forum possible. We look forward to future meetings!
Prepared By:
Ghaida Aljeraiwi
Nouf Alrajhi
Sources:
-Argaam