Developing Asia’s global banking leaders
In 2016, Asian Banking School (ABS) was looking to create an innovative leadership development programme for the banking industry in Southeast Asia. In their search for an international business school to partner with, they were looking for world-leading experts on leadership and strong links to industry.
ABS chose to partner with Bayes Business School (then known as Cass Business School) to create the flagship Global Banking Leaders Programme, which has since supported the development of many of the region’s new CEOs and senior leaders.
The programme attracts a diverse cohort of senior banking leaders, from global and regional banks, both corporate and retail. Participants learn how to build a resilient and adaptable leadership brand, how to develop agile teams, and how to lead strategic change in their organisations, among other topics.
December 2025 sees the eighth edition of the programme hosted in Kuala Lumpur and London.
Professor Dr. Manivanan Saman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Banking School. Commenting on the long-term relationship between ABS and Bayes, he said:
We are delighted to be partnering with Bayes Business School again to deliver the renowned Global Banking Leaders Programme. Over the last decade we have welcomed some of Asia’s foremost banking leaders and delivered a curriculum which has evolved to keep pace with the rapid change we are seeing in the global banking sector. Participants leave the course with the knowledge, skills and insight needed to successfully lead their departments and organisations through whatever challenges lie ahead.
Mark Carberry, Director of Bayes Executive Education, said:
Since the first edition in 2016, the global banking sector has undergone significant transformation. The leadership skills needed by senior professionals are constantly tested and need to evolve in response to new external pressures – such as AI, cybersecurity and unpredictable geopolitics. The strength of our long-standing partnership with ABS is built on the ability to customise the content each year to address the specific needs of the banking and finance industry in the region.
Learning at the heart of two international financial centres
The two-week programme is split between Kuala Lumpur and London and delivered through a mix of lectures, interactive debates, topical case studies and networking events.
Week one sees leading academics from Bayes Business School travel to Kuala Lumpur to teach at ABS’s state-of-the-art facilities. Professor Cliff Oswick, Professor of Organisation Theory, is the academic lead for the programme. Cliff and Professor Steve Thomas, Professor of Finance, deliver multiple sessions on leadership and stakeholder management, as well as how to build a conducive corporate culture in organisations.
At the end of the first week, the cohort travels to London to study at Bayes’ new Executive Education campus located at Finsbury Square, in the heart of the capital’s financial district. Spending time in the UK offers participants an opportunity to network, gain unique perspectives, and separate learning from their working lives.
The second week considers emerging trends and new technology in banking, including topics such as fintech, machine learning and cryptocurrencies. Delivered by Bayes academics and leading practitioners from industry, it offers expert insight and practical guidance on how to apply the learning within participants’ organisations.
Each year of the programme has also included site visits to some of London’s most prestigious financial institutions, such as the Bank of England, Barclays and Lloyds of London. Participants have also visited innovative fintech start-ups who are pioneering new approaches to disrupt traditional banking practices. The site visits allow participants to embed their learning in context and ask questions to leading practitioners.
Putting learning into action
A new development for this year, is that the course will conclude with personal action planning, led by Professor Oswick. Participants get the chance to reflect on their learning, set goals, think about active experimentation, identify personal development opportunities and develop a focused action plan. Once the programme has concluded, Professor Oswick will lead small group sessions online, several months after the programme. This is an opportunity to follow up on personal action plans and see how the learning is being embedded.
“A refreshing programme”.
Each year feedback is sought, so that the curriculum remains current and content can be tailored to the issues which matter most to participants. Recent feedback has included:
Very enjoyable and I would recommend. I think the content was fantastic and offered useful insights for further exploration. The organisations, administration and facilities were excellent.
The programme challenged my previous thinking and broadened my views. It has given context to so many issues that I had struggled to piece together. Magnificent work ABS and Bayes.
It is a refreshing programme from both a leadership development perspective, and for giving attention to specific areas required for leading and sustaining the bank into the future.
The banking industry is undergoing very robust and rigorous changes as technology evolves. New risks are emerging, and banks need to be ahead of the curve to ensure they survive and stay resilient against any challenges, not just amongst banks but with non-banks and challenger banks.
The programme gave insight and knowledge on new developments in the banking sector. Overall, a very enjoyable programme.
Learn more about the Global Banking Leaders Programme.
