HKAWL supports Mini-MBA Program for young leaders

What happens when you trust teenagers with a problem worth billions of dollars? We partnered with DBS Bank to create a 5-day Mini-MBA Program for students aged 14 to 19. Young, curious, and ambitious, they represent the generation that will inherit both the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. They were challenged to answer a question that DBS Private Bank itself is asking: How will technology along with evolving lifestyles and mindsets of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, reshape private banking in the next 5 to 10 years? Across the week, they immersed themselves in experiences that connected business with the world around us: ↳ Mentorship and workshops with DBS Private Bank, Google, Manulife, Cartier, Sotheby’s, Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, Charlotte Travel, Swire Institute of Marine Sciences, Invisible Company, PRJCT ↳ Exposure to investment strategies from traditional portfolios to impact investing ↳ Insights into craftsmanship, brand storytelling, luxury travel, biodiversity and social enterprise ↳ Hands-on problem-solving using consulting frameworks and design thinking principles At the end of the program, they pitched their solutions to a panel of DBS Private Bank and industry leaders. But here’s what moved us most: it wasn’t the polish of the presentations. It was the transformation in the students themselves. Teenagers who arrived hesitant and unsure of their place left with: ✨ New confidence in their voices ✨ Friendships forged through collaboration ✨ A clearer sense of the impact they can make in the world This, to us, is the future of education. Not memorizing theories, but learning by doing. Not waiting until adulthood to lead, but trusting young people to lead now. The next generation is already asking the questions that matter. Our role as educators, parents, and industry leaders is to create spaces where they can explore, experiment, and be heard. Because when you trust young people with real responsibility, they do more than meet expectations. They redefine them. We are deeply grateful to Carol Shuyen Wu for her leadership and vision in making this collaboration possible. Thank you also to the DBS team, Kitty Wong and Pattie Shi for your incredible support throughout the program. Huge cheers to our CEO & Founder Natalie Chan and our Director of Operations Billy Tam for pulling everything together and making the program run like magic! 🌟 With appreciation to all our amazing industry coaches, collaborators and mentors: Angel Chia, Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, Mikkel Hansen, Rhea Karia, Mark Cheng, Sudesh T, Shirley Fong , Marine CHARVET, Phil Thompson from The Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS), Devana Ng, Florence Ho , Sylvia Cheung and Jessica Liu from Sotheby's, Joyce Leung, Charlotte Harris, Rishi N. — ♻️ Repost if you trust young people to lead and innovate today #MiniMBA #FutureLeaders #OWNAcademy #DBSPrivateBank #NextGen

Meet Christopher Pang from Global Financial Markets – from surviving financial crises to navigating digital shifts, he knows a thing or two about resilience. Today, he’s channeling these hard-won lessons into mentoring, showing students from Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education that success lies in how you weather life’s storms. --- In his early years of trading, the trading floor buzzed with frenetic energy. Phones rang constantly, voices overlapped and every decision carried a profit-and-loss consequence. “Imagine getting a report card on your performance every day,” laughs DBS Credit Trader Christopher Pang. It was this high-octane environment that Christopher, who joined the bank 15 years ago, forged his resilience. And while the dealing room is quieter today thanks to technological improvements, it’s no less intense as digital tools have redefined speed and enquiry volumes surge. Christopher, however, believes resilience isn’t just about surviving tough markets. It’s about sharing that strength with others. That’s why he became a mentor in the DBS x ITE Mentorship Programme. Launched in 2019, the six-month initiative has seen over 300 employees guiding students from all three ITE campuses through their career and personal goals. Instead of prescribing success, he shares his own ups and downs. Prior to joining the bank, he was unemployed for a year and went through two financial crises while at other financial institutions. He even invites mentees into the trading room for a rare behind-the-scenes look. “Many of these students face antiquated stereotypes that ITE is the only option for students who don’t do well academically,” he shares. “Everyone goes through challenges in life – whether it’s breaking stereotypes or overcoming our limited personal beliefs. It’s how we rise against them that matters.” And in the same way he collaborates with young traders, who share their digital fluency while he shares his decades of experience, Christopher sees mutual learning as the heart of mentoring. “I learn as much from them as they do from me. Younger generations bring fresh skills and perspectives. I bring experience. Together, that mutual respect builds bridges.” One of his proudest moments? Seeing a shy mentee overcome mental health struggles, land an internship, and eventually enrol in polytechnic. “That’s when you realise how much mentoring can change lives,” Christopher reflects. Beyond mentoring, Christopher also rallies his team to give back through volunteering. In 2024, their department earned the bank’s award for the highest volunteering participation among Business Units in Singapore. While his career taught him that resilience is forged in the headwinds of the financial markets, mentoring has shown Christopher something more – that resilience, when shared, can shape futures. And this investment in people is perhaps his greatest trade yet.

Private capital is quietly reshaping how education is financed in Asia. With Asia’s private credit AUM growing from near zero in 2000 to over $60 billion by 2024, the retreat of traditional banks — and the region’s underdeveloped public debt markets — is giving rise to a new financing playbook. Historically, education groups in Southeast Asia relied on family-office and sponsor funding, with banks offering only property-backed or project lending. Now, private credit and private equity appear to be stepping in to bridge that gap — funding scalable platforms rather than individual campuses. - Apollo & Deutsche Bank’s $400M hybrid facility for XCL Education shows how blended structures can balance equity incentives with disciplined leverage. - Hillhouse Capital’s acquisition of Education in Motion (EiM) signals the arrival of long-horizon institutional investors building diversified education platforms across Asia and Europe. Across Asia, rising private capital investment in both premium and mid-market education platforms is driving consolidation, creating larger, more scalable operators that can attract flexible capital while delivering stable returns and long-term impact. #Privateequity #EducationInvestment #SoutheastAsia #HybridFinance #MergersAndAcquisitions https://lnkd.in/ewmuRh9e

The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph is about to take finance education to new heights! Thanks to a generous $1.4 million gift from Fidelity Investments Canada, the school will establish the Fidelity Chair in Finance and expand experiential learning opportunities for students. This investment highlights Fidelity's commitment to innovation in finance education, preparing future leaders for a rapidly changing financial landscape shaped by technology and global priorities. Dr. Nikola Gradojevic has been appointed as the inaugural Fidelity Chair in Finance, focusing on impactful research and engaging student experiences. The funding also supports mentorship programs for student-led groups, allowing them to manage investment portfolios with cutting-edge tools. With this partnership, U of G continues to lead in responsible business education, ensuring graduates are equipped not only with skills but also ethical awareness for their careers ahead! https://lnkd.in/ejMu-8Cw #finance #financenews #usa #moneynews #news

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Commissions State-of-the-Art Training Hall at LASUSTECH: A Milestone in Academia-Industry Collaboration - Alexa News Nigeria (Alexa.ng) - Investigative News Report, Research And Analysis To Inform Readers #News #PopularNews #ViralNews #TrendingNews #FeaturedNews #Trending   In a landmark event that underscores the growing synergy between academia and industry in Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has officially commissioned a 160-seater training hall at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) in Ikorodu, Lagos. Named “The CIBN Bankers Hall,” this cutting-edge facility is poised to serve as a pivotal hub for grooming the next generation of chartered bankers while fostering robust collaboration between the banking industry and academic institutions. The inauguration, which took place on Tuesday, October 2025, marks a significant step in advancing educational infrastructure and aligning tertiary education with the practical demands of the financial sector. A Vision for Educational and Professional Excellence The commissioning ceremony was graced by prominent figures from government, academia, and the banking industry, reflecting the event’s importance to both Lagos State and the nation at large. Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, delivered a compelling address that highlighted the critical role of partnerships between professional bodies, academic institutions, and the government in shaping a competitive and forward-thinking educational landscape. In his speech, Mr. Sule emphasized that the newly commissioned CIBN Bankers Hall is more than just a physical structure; it is a beacon of hope for the future of Nigeria’s financial sector. He described the facility as a transformative space designed to host academic discourses, professional seminars, and training programs that will equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the global financial industry. “This hall represents a bold step toward nurturing a new generation of globally competitive financial professionals,” he stated, commending the CIBN for its foresight and commitment to educational development. The governor’s representative further noted that the project aligns seamlessly with the Sanwo-Olu administration’s vision to redefine tertiary education in Lagos State. By fostering collaborations that bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, the state government aims to position its institutions as global leaders in innovation and professional training. The CIBN Bankers Hall, according to Sule, is a shining example of impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) that serves as a model for other professional bodies and organizations to emulate. CIBN’s Commitment to Bridging Theory and Practice The CIBN, a leading professional body for bankers in...

“What if we taught investing in schools—not just to build wealth, but to build wisdom?” As wealth managers, we often meet brilliant professionals—doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs—who’ve mastered their fields but never got the chance to learn the basics of investing. The truth? We don’t have a financial literacy problem. We have a financial philosophy gap. Because no one taught us how to think about money. Not as a number. But as a tool to live intentionally. Here are 10 timeless investing lessons we wish were taught in school—and that we now pass on to our clients: 1. Fear is the first financial hurdle. Most people don’t start investing because they’re afraid—of losing money or making a mistake. But fear fades when understanding grows. 2. Stocks aren’t speculation—they’re ownership. You’re not just buying a “ticker.” You’re buying a slice of a real business. This mindset changes everything. 3. Values should guide your portfolio. Your money should reflect you. Whether it’s healthcare, innovation, or clean energy—invest where your heart aligns. 4. Learn the language of wealth, step by step. No jargon. Just one financial concept at a time. That’s how confidence compounds. 5. Patience isn’t passive—it’s power. Short-term hype fades. Long-term focus wins. 6. Margin of safety = breathing room. Only invest when the price is right. In life and finance, buffers build resilience. 7. Lifelong learners become long-term earners. Markets evolve. Stay curious. Keep upgrading. 8. Emotions are expensive. Systems save money. Create rules. Follow checklists. Let discipline do the heavy lifting. 9. Money is not the goal—freedom is. The real ROI? Peace of mind, time with family, and the power to say no. 10. Start small, start now. Every journey begins with the first ₹500 or $10. Don’t wait for “enough.” 💡 If schools taught this early, we’d raise a generation that knows how to build wealth with clarity, compassion, and conviction. But it’s never too late. At UpperCrust Wealth Pvt.Ltd. , this is the mindset we cultivate. Because investing isn’t just about returns—it’s about reclaiming control of your future. Let’s make wealth wise again. #WealthManagement #FinancialLiteracy #InvestingWisely #MoneyMindset #PurposefulWealth #FinancialFreedom #MissionDrivenMoney #GenerationalWealth #ValuesBasedInvesting #LongTermThinking

App State’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in finance and banking has been recognized by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute — a global association of investment professionals — as a CFA affiliated program. The affiliation verifies that App State’s program curriculum aligns closely with that of the CFA Program, which prepares students to earn CFA certification, a globally recognized credential in investment management.https://https://lnkd.in/eX6EaR9K

Latest from FE News: Milton Keynes College Group and Santander join forces to boost the city’s green workforce: Banking giant, Santander, is teaming up with Milton Keynes College Group to provide free training in vital green skills. The bank is generously providing £50,000… Milton Keynes College Group and Santander join forces to boost the city’s green workforce was published on FE News by Milton Keynes College #GreenSkills Read more here:

Exploring Futures at Lloyds Banking Group – Holland Park School Visit On 25th September, we had the pleasure of joining Lloyds Banking Group for an inspiring session with students from Holland Park School. The day was packed with insight, reflection, and real-world advice from apprentices and professionals alike. On the day, two Lloyds apprentices shared their journeys - one straight from school, the other from university. One reflected on the surprising level of responsibility she was given early on, including work directly linked to the CEO. Her advice to students: “You don’t need to have it all figured out when you’re at school. Instead, approach every experience with your best effort—this attitude will set you apart in the application process.” Quotes from the day: “What we do builds the connection between education and the workplace. These sessions help young people become more curious about the finance sector and support them in preparing for the world of work.” — Dave Bartholomew, Lloyds Banking Group “Today was insightful and informative. The main takeaway for our students was exploring future options beyond university and understanding the importance of financial literacy.” — SEND Teacher, Holland Park School “Students benefited from learning about the skills employers actually want—communication, teamwork, problem solving, and confidence in presenting.” — Head of Careers, Holland Park School “I learnt a lot about the finance industry, what the workplace looks like, and the importance of logical thinking and problem solving.” — Student, Holland Park School Thanks to Lloyds Banking Group for hosting such a meaningful and empowering event. These experiences truly help bridge the gap between education and employment.