Leadership challenge edition designed to inspire, engage, and help leaders develop modern skills

KUWAIT: To further solidify its position as a dynamic financial powerhouse, Burgan Bank recently hosted three master facilitators of "The Leadership Challenge" in a one-day conference titled "Burgan Bank Leadership Conference - The Leadership Challenge Edition" at Salwa Al-Sabah ballroom. Continuing to invest in its employees for long term growth, the conference incorporated the use of several resources and tools, designed to help leaders develop the skills needed to meet current leadership challenges.

Organized by the Learning and Development department at Burgan Bank under the Human Resources Group leadership and Burgan Kuwait CEO, the conference was held in collaboration with Vigor events, a first-class innovative platform in the Middle East and North Africa. The intense conference brought together leaders and managers from Burgan and KIPCO Group to discuss modern leadership trends and valuable insights about "The Leadership Challenge" practices. The conference was designed to give attendees a tangible method on how to practice, experience and put in use five key practices: 'Model the Way', 'Inspire a Shared Vision', 'Challenge the Process', 'Enable Others to Act' and 'Encourage the Heart'.

The Speakers included 3 Leadership Challenge Master Facilitators namely Graham Moore, Chris Nel and Debbie Nicol; international speakers and highly experienced leaders along with the Burgan Bank team. Encompassing a highly interactive facilitation experience, the conference provided 3 interactive keynotes, two panel discussions, and three workshops. In addition to the panel discussion with the three master facilitators moderated by Senior L&D Manager Ghada El-Kadi, another panel discussion was held involving Leaders from KIPCO Group, mainly Vice Chairman and CEO KHC Fawzi Al-Musallam, Vice Chairman and CEO Gulf Sat Mohammed Al-Haj, Burgan Bank CEO- Kuwait Raed Al-Haqhaq, Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer Venkat Menon and moderated by Group Chief Human Resources and Development Officer Halah El Sherbini. These panel discussions led the 250 attendees through a leadership exemplary journey and highlighted the leadership challenges in the region.

Raed Al-Haqhaq, Chief Executive Officer of Burgan Bank- Kuwait said, "The initiative was meant to create synergy in our corporate community by implementing a common modern leadership language. Internally, we manage a successful leadership model that creates a solid platform for us to strengthen each other through a shared vision and cascade our strong culture across management layers. Burgan owes its success to its unique culture and inspiring values of Progression, Excellence, Commitment and Trust."

Group Chief Human Resources and Development Officer Halah El Sherbini reiterated "It is our continuous commitment to progression and excellence that has made us who we are today as Burgan. This unique initiative, The Burgan leadership conference is a clear reflection of our level of investment in the growth and development of our leaders across all levels. One of our strategic initiatives as Burgan HR is to build group synergies and higher collective capabilities for sustainability in today's modern complex environment and we are equipping our leaders with modern organizational skills that are essential for our success."

Senior Manager Learning and Development Ghada El-Kadi said, "we are going through transformation and we are all playing a strong part in implementing the strategic direction of Burgan Bank. This conference comes from the L&D-HR team as a response to this objective by growing leadership potential in the bank and making sure employee levels of engagement develop and by that positively impacting our performance results and our community."

The speakers addressed many questions in different fields under the 'Current Leadership Challenges' wherein the Burgan Bank leaders shared best methods and exercises to face and overcome daily obstacles that might recur in the region as a result of the mistaken understanding of the leader's role or the cultural barriers that may deter the leadership spirit within an organization.