Spotlight

Women’s Perspective on Hybrid Work: Juggling Work, Family, and Fueling Productivity!

Published

4 months ago

March 21, 2024

The hybrid work model has been instrumental in fostering and maintaining a healthy work-life balance for me as a female professional. It allows me to manage my activities with my children and family in a much better way by offering flexibility in scheduling. What’s particularly rewarding is that my daughter, now intrigued by business and technology, is eager to learn from me, enhancing our familial connection and inspiring future generations.

Moreover, it reduces commuting time, providing me with more quality time to spend with loved ones or engage in personal hobbies. Working from home part-time enables me to handle household responsibilities more efficiently. This integration of professional and personal life leads to reduced stress and increased well-being.” – Meriam El Ouazzani, Regional Director (META), SentinelOne

COVID-19 – gave rise to a WFH culture, wherein it was expected for employees to be available 24/7. Technologies evolved to provide a seamless experience. Today, we live in a connected world, wherein we carry our work on our devices.

We don’t really need to be behind our laptops or in the office all the time. While WFH had its perks, it also had its disadvantages. One cannot take away the benefits of being in office. The work environment plays a big role, and nothing can replace face-to-face interactions and bonding. Having a hybrid work model is good, as it provides a fine balance wherein employees can manage their home as well as work, and employers can still maintain their core culture/ethos and ensure high productivity. – Nimisha Iyer, Director-Marketing, MESA, Frost & Sullivan

I believe the hybrid work model has helped a lot of people better balance work with spending time with family and taking care of themselves.

In a full-time in-person position, spending 8+ hours in the office plus the time it takes to commute can leave little time for a person to dedicate time to themselves, especially if they have a family and children to take care of before and after work. A hybrid or remote work model helps save money and time by cutting out the commute and gives back a few hours for people to spend on themselves and with their loved ones. – Morgan Demboski, Threat intelligence analyst, Sophos.

Competencies, knowledge, experience, and confidence are all pillars and prerequisites of any successful manager, but women’s diverse views, attitudes,

and mindsets can be an added value when creating a heterogeneous team. A STEM career for women often means being ‘one of the few,’ but this is not a barrier or a limit if we are not afraid to be ourselves and to define our own management style. We can succeed and drive more inclusion and social innovation. Make diversity your strength, your plus. – Flora Cavinato, Global Service Product Portfolio Director, EMEA, Vertiv

A woman generally has a very diverse set of roles and responsibilities within the span of 24 hours, and sometimes it can get a little overwhelming. Flexibility in some areas, especially when it comes to your job, can make a significant difference.

When it comes to me, embracing a hybrid working model has been transformative, providing the freedom to accomplish tasks precisely when needed. Whether it’s juggling various responsibilities or meeting deadlines, the flexibility allows me to navigate professional and personal commitments seamlessly. This flexibility fosters work-life balance, helps me prioritize my tasks more efficiently throughout the day, and boosts overall productivity and efficiency, creating a conducive environment for optimal task completion. Embracing a flexible approach has significantly contributed to my professional growth and well-being. – Sulochana Betwala, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of TOTL

I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of executive women around the world on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The leadership, vision and resilience of all women leading the tech sector inspire all of us to break barriers, challenge norms, and strive for excellence in every aspect of our lives.

As we reflect on the progress made towards gender equality, let us also reaffirm our determination to creating inclusive workplaces where women can thrive and reach their full potential.

Together, we can continue to empower future generations, drive positive change, and build a more equitable and prosperous world for all. – Alia Alsabt, Head of Marketing & Public Relations – Commercial Affairs Department, Professional Communication Corporation – Nedaa

Financial

Ajman Bank Among the First in the UAE to Accept Jaywan Cards Across its ATM Network

Published

1 week ago

June 26, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Ajman Bank is among the first banks in the UAE to successfully integrate Jaywan card acceptance across its ATM network, facilitating seamless cash withdrawals for Jaywan cardholders.

The Jaywan card, launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, is designed to boost efficiency and sovereignty in the national payment landscape by promoting digital transactions in the local currency.

Mr. Mustafa Al Khalfawi, CEO of Ajman Bank said, “We are proud to be one of the first banks in the UAE to accept Jaywan cards on our ATMs. This initiative reflects our dedication to innovation and our commitment to contributing to the UAE’s domestic payments agenda. We are confident that this will enhance the payment experience for Jaywan cardholders while supporting the broader economic goals of the nation.”

Jan Pilbauer, CEO, Al Etihad Payments, said, “Jaywan has been launched in line with a vision to expand the national financial market infrastructure in the UAE. Jaywan cards are designed to offer convenience for customers of UAE’s Licensed Financial Institutions, being progressively accepted across all payment channels – ATMs, Point of Sale, and eCommerce. Our partnership with Ajman Bank, along with other financial institutions in the UAE, marks a significant step towards enhancing convenience and accessibility for users throughout the UAE.”

Financial

Wio Bank Redefines SME Banking with New Embedded Finance

Published

1 week ago

June 24, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Wio Bank PJSC is introducing a new embedded finance service designed especially for the UAE’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative includes strategic partnerships with leading accounting software platforms Zoho Books, Fiskl and Wafeq, aiming to embed banking services into daily business operations and simplify financial management.

Wio Business, the bank’s first digital banking application, caters to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as freelancers and entrepreneurs. By directly integrating with accounting and financial management systems through APIs, Wio Business facilitates seamless financial workflows, enhancing management and eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries. This integration automates bookkeeping, significantly reducing manual labor and allowing businesses to concentrate on their core activities.

Jayesh Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Wio Bank PJSC, shares his vision for the new service: “By adopting Embedded Finance, we are transforming how businesses manage their finances. Our direct integration initiative simplifies how financial services are delivered and managed, making it easier and more transparent for SMEs.”

With over 94% of UAE businesses categorized as SMEs and significant contributors to employment, Wio Bank’s new service is tailored to meet a vital market need. This initiative, along with its strategic partners, is designed to simplify business operations, allowing them to thrive by focusing on growth rather than administrative financial tasks.

A New Era of Financial Management

Through Wio Business, companies can now link their accounts with selected software platforms such as Zoho Books, Fiskl, and Wafeq, offering a holistic view of their financial health. This integration eliminates the dependency on third-party intermediaries, simplifies financial workflows, ensures real-time financial insights with automatic updates, and streamlines accounting tasks with features like auto-reconciliation of bank statement. Additionally, integrating Wio Business APIs into Corporate ERPs and payment platforms facilitates automated account payables and instant transaction reconciliation, thus reducing manual labor and errors, and enhancing cost efficiency and operational gains.

Wio Bank was established to redefine banking in the UAE for both businesses and consumers. Its second digital offering, Wio Personal, is a day-to-day banking platform that changes how individuals see, manage, and grow their money. It provides users with unprecedented financial visibility and flexibility, serving as a foundation for achieving personal financial goals with an engaging experience that includes smart cards and exciting rewards.

Financial

KIBS contributes to human capital development for Kuwait Vision 2035 through the LIBF Risk Management Leaders Programme

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

The Institute of Banking Studies Kuwait (KIBS) and The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) are proud to announce the successful completion of the Risk Management Leaders Programme held in London. This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in enhancing the capabilities of banking and financial professionals, in line with Kuwait Vision 2035.

The programme, designed to provide comprehensive training on the multifaceted risk environment, included an interactive series of sessions focusing on post-pandemic risks, cyber and digital threats, geopolitical challenges, ESG, and climate-related risks. Over a two-week period, participants engaged in trainer-led workshops, role play, case studies, guest speaker sessions, and site visits, including notable visits to Moody’s and Starling Bank.

Eng. Rana AlNibarai, Director General at the Institute of Banking Studies Kuwait, commented, “This programme represents a pivotal step towards realising Kuwait Vision 2035 by investing in our human capital and fostering a culture of excellence in risk management. Our collaboration with LIBF has empowered our professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern financial landscape.”

Ehsan Razavizadeh, Managing Director of MENA and Asia at LIBF, added, “We are delighted to partner with IBS Kuwait in delivering this essential training programme. By equipping participants with practical skills and insights, we are helping to cultivate a new generation of agile leaders who can drive innovation and maintain stability in the banking and financial sectors.”

A highlight of the programme was the visit to Moody’s, to learn more about how they enable individuals and organisations to decode complexity and unlock opportunities through their extensive data capabilities, tools and technologies which span credit ratings research and insights, information services and decision solutions.

The programme also featured a visit to Starling Bank, where participants delved into the Starling story, gaining an overview of Engine, the technology underpinning Starling’s operations. They also witnessed demonstrations of key processes such as onboarding and explored how Starling manages risk through these processes.

Kuwait Vision 2035 places a strong emphasis on improving education institutions as part of its commitment to human capital development. By raising educational standards and fostering creativity and research, Kuwait aims to nurture a highly skilled workforce capable of driving national progress. The Risk Management Leaders Programme aligns perfectly with this vision, ensuring that Kuwaiti professionals are well-prepared to tackle future challenges and opportunities in the financial sector.

Risk management has become increasingly critical in recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Risk Management Leaders Programme equips participants with the practical skills needed to evaluate and enhance risk management approaches, thereby fostering a more intuitive and perceptive leadership style.