Twenty-two participants graduated from the 8th edition of the GABV Leadership Academy in June 2023. The cohort included senior leaders in different areas of thirteen organisations in ten different countries (USA, Belgium, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Zambia, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Spain and Denmark).
The GABV Leadership Academy is a transformative learning experience for bankers in values-based financial institutions offered by the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Co-Lab and Presencing Institute.
“I am excited to see another cohort of senior bankers from our membership graduate from this important GABV programme. Leadership and culture are key ingredients for our members to prosper and progress as values-based banks,” said Martin Rohner, Executive Director at the GABV.
The programme, which runs annually, brings long-lasting value to the leaders and supports network building and innovation among values-based banks.
“We will not be able to address the pressing issues of our time without the financial institutions. GABV banks are innovators, but they are small actors in the sector. Creating a community, learning from each other is really important. This year’s Academy was an inspiration. The commonalities of questions, ideas and challenges across the globe for values-based banks are so similar and a rich source of learning and innovation. And finding a common voice!” said Dr Katrin Käufer, GABV Leadership Academy Director.
New blended online/in person format
This year’s edition was hosted in a new format for the first time, including both virtual and in-person modules from March to June 2023. The two online modules were held in a global classroom to ensure peer learning, while the 4-day in-person meeting ran in parallel with the 2023 GABV Annual Meeting in New York in April 2023. Alongside three modules, participants engaged in peer coaching sessions and three individual coaching sessions, and they also had the possibility to receive a mentor from the GABV Alumni group.
Sonia Reinhardt, GABV Leadership Academy Programme Coordinator:
“After three years of Covid, we were able to meet in person during the GABV Annual Meeting, kindly hosted by Amalgamated Bank in New York City. The in-person meeting was profound in the way that it helped to establish strong bonds between participants of the GABV Leadership Academy – you can literally feel that the fabric of the relationships has deepened. And I am very confident that these relationships will last beyond the duration of the programme.”
What participants said: two testimonials and a poem
Deborah Colby, CMO, Clearwater Credit Union (USA):
“Participating in the GABV Leadership Academy has been an eye-opening experience. My objective was to strengthen my skills at being a mission- and values-driven leader. From that perspective, Katrin, Martin and Sonia delivered. They created a safe and engaging space for values-driven people from many countries to share, collaborate, explore triumphs and hardships, and to form friendships. I walked away with fresh insights, applicable tools, and an energized mindset that I can apply daily. Most importantly, I am dedicated to making the time and space needed for innovation and creativity to flourish within my team and organization. Honestly, this has likely been the best leadership training I’ve ever received!”
Beatriz Yañez, Risks and Compliance Director, Triodos Bank Spain:
“The most extraordinary thing about this programme for me has been the markedly international character of bringing together people from different contexts, different cultures, under the same umbrella of values. And to be aware in these forums that the realities of others have nothing to do with ours. For example, I was very struck by how in Europe we are so focused on climate change, when in other regions they are very far from tackling that issue.”
Jazmine Kilpatrick, Executive Director of Civic Local Foundation (USA), shared this poem during the Graduation reflection:
“In a world full of chaos
Unjust and unrest
I know and I trust
That within my center
There is faith and hope
In which the yoke
of the good becomes the disruption
Sunsetting an old function
Sunrising a new venture
In which the mission driven actions
of me and you
Eventually Become True.”
The GABV Leadership Academy is meant for senior leaders of values-based financial institutions who are passionate about creating impact and helping to deepen the impact of their organisation. This includes executives, senior leaders and leaders from values-based banks – who are committed to growth, creating impact and leading with purpose, mindfulness and compassion.
