09/11/2026 05:09 AST
National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) participated with the winning team from its NBK Ebtakir program in the Silicon Valley Summit, held in Sunnyvale, California, from November 3 to 5. This participation reflects the Bank's commitment to developing its human talent, fostering a culture of corporate innovation, and enabling its workforce to engage directly with leading global innovation ecosystems while gaining insight into the latest trends and technologies that shape the future of business and financial services.
This participation builds upon the success of the NBK Ebtakir program, which was launched by the Bank in collaboration with the global innovation platform Plug and Play. As the first program of its kind in Kuwait, it focuses on empowering employees to develop innovative solutions and transform ideas into viable projects, further embedding innovation as an integral part of the Bank's corporate culture.
The summit attracted a wide range of entrepreneurs, investors, innovation leaders, and representatives from global companies and institutions. It offered the NBK team an opportunity to explore the latest innovations and technological solutions through live demonstrations and practical models presented by over 300 startups across more than 20 specialized programs, showcasing emerging technologies and trends that are shaping the future across various sectors.
The team also participated in specialized panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions that addressed key global trends in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and corporate innovation. Additionally, they engaged with a select group of entrepreneurs, investors, and global experts, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and gain insight into global best practices in business development and innovation management. NBK's participation contributed to enriching the expertise and innovative capabilities of the team through direct engagement with leading institutions and companies in the fields of innovation and technology, and it also provided them with exposure to the latest technologies and emerging models, alongside opportunities to connect with a select group of international entrepreneurs, experts, and investors. Moreover, the experience strengthened their ability to transform ideas into practical, scalable solutions and to leverage global best practices in devising initiatives that boost operational efficiency, elevate the customer experience, and align with the Bank's digital transformation ambitions.
The team members returned with fresh insights and ideas drawn from the global experiences they encountered during the summit. They are currently evaluating opportunities to leverage these insights within future initiatives and projects aimed at enhancing services, boosting operational efficiency, and elevating customer experience.
This participation reflects the high value NBK places in investing in its human capital by providing world-class learning experiences. These opportunities broaden employees' horizons and strengthen their leadership and innovation skills, enabling them to implement global best practices in the development of banking services and solutions.
On this occasion, Najla Al-Sager, SVP - Head of Talent Management & Learning at NBK, stated: "This participation marks a significant milestone in the NBK Ebtakir program, as it reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our employees with high-quality opportunities to explore the latest global practices in innovation and entrepreneurship, and we firmly believe that investing in talent and fostering creative capabilities is fundamental to supporting the Bank's progress and enhancing its readiness to keep pace with the rapid changes in the banking sector".
Al-Sager added: "This global event provided NBK's team with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the global innovation ecosystem and gain insight into business models and emerging technologies poised to significantly impact the future of various sectors, and we look forward to leveraging this experience by translating the knowledge and expertise gained into practical initiatives and solutions that support the Bank's strategic goals and contribute to enhancing the customer experience".
Finally, Al-Sager emphasized that the NBK Ebtakir program continues to achieve its goals of fostering a generation of talent capable of creative thinking and driving change, noting that it goes beyond merely developing ideas to focusing on cultivating an innovative mindset capable of anticipating the future and addressing challenges in innovative, sustainable ways.
Building on its solid foundation of talent development, NBK continues to invest in comprehensive programs designed to enhance the skills of its workforce, improve technical expertise, and foster a culture of continuous learning. These initiatives include the NBK Academy, which equips recent graduates with essential banking skills, and the NBK Tech Academy, which elevates the digital capabilities of young professionals, alongside specialized training and leadership programs that enable employees to keep pace with rapid market changes and contribute to achieving the Bank's strategic objectives.
The NBK Ebtakir program continues to build upon this rich legacy, and the Bank's participation in the Silicon Valley Innovation Summit embodies its commitment to investing in its human capital and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning. This initiative enhances employee readiness to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the financial sector and supports the Bank's vision of building a banking model based on knowledge and innovation that shapes the future of financial services in Kuwait and the region.
Kuwait Times
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