Senior leaders explore AI, leadership and uncertainty at the second SELF event

WIBF was delighted to welcome 25 senior leaders from across financial services to the second meeting of the Senior Executive Leaders Forum (SELF), kindly hosted by Cynergy Bank on Wednesday 3 June.

The discussion brought together senior executives to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the role of leadership in driving meaningful adoption and change.

Thank you to Brian Jobling, Director of Engineering, Cynergy Bank; Konstantina Kapetanidi, VP, Global Data Solutions & Head of Data Science, Europe, Visa and Melanie McGrory, Director, EMEA Tech, AGS, Amazon Web Services for sharing their insights and experiences in a candid and thought-provoking conversation.  The panel was expertly led and moderated by SELF lead, Neeta Mundra. While AI provided the backdrop for the discussion, the evening quickly evolved into a broader exploration of leadership, decision-making and navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing environment.

A recurring theme throughout the evening was the increasing need for leaders to operate effectively without having all the answers. As technology continues to evolve at pace, organisations are facing new questions around implementation, accountability, risk and culture. Discussions explored how leaders can build confidence, move beyond experimentation to practical application, and support their teams through periods of significant change.

Attendees also reflected on the importance of creating environments where people feel able to learn, adapt and embrace ambiguity. While the technology itself is advancing rapidly, many agreed that the biggest challenge is often not the technology, but how organisations and leaders respond to it.

One of the strengths of SELF is the opportunity it provides for senior leaders to share experiences openly with peers facing similar challenges. The discussion highlighted the value of learning from one another’s successes, lessons learned and differing perspectives, with conversations continuing well beyond the formal close of the event.

The evening also provided an opportunity to hear from Ras Gohil, WIBF Management Board member and lead for the WIBF Mentoring Programme. Ras shared an update on the impact of the programme and encouraged those in attendance to consider becoming mentors. With hundreds of mentoring relationships supported each year, the programme plays an important role in developing future talent across financial services while providing valuable opportunities for senior leaders to share their experience and support the next generation.

SELF is an invitation-only network for senior leaders with an All Access WIBF membership. Designed for Managing Directors, Partners and C-suite executives (or equivalent), the forum provides a trusted space for senior decision-makers to connect, share insights and explore the issues shaping the future of financial services. Through thought leadership discussions, strategic networking and open peer-to-peer conversations held under Chatham House Rules, SELF supports leaders who want to drive meaningful change within their organisations and across the industry.

If you are interested in joining SELF and would like to register your interest, click here.

Thank you again to Cynergy Bank for hosting and to all those who joined us for another engaging and insightful SELF discussion.