The session will explore some of the integrated services offered by those NFS platforms such as financial and business management tools as well as networking. 

Agenda:

• Introduction from SMEFF on NFS – 7 minutes
• Fintech – Strands – 7 minutes
• Commercial bank – Akbank – 7 minutes

• DFI – ICT – 7 minutes
• Commercial bank – Absa Bank – 7 minutes

• Business Consulting Firm - Silver Lining – 7 minutes
• Commercial Bank - Banque Saudi Fransi – 7 minutes

• Q&A via the Webex chat, embedded within the presentations – 10 minutes
• Wrap-up – 2 minutes

Line up and Speakers:

Strands – Europe:

Business Management Tools offered to SMEs through banks.

Case study: working with Akbank in Turkey.

Luis Rodriguez: Bridging Business and Technology for Innovation, Strands

Luis Rodriguez’s journey is marked by a passion for innovation, a commitment to technological advancement, and a keen focus on the strategic application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. His extensive experience in digital transformation projects at major international banks and his leadership roles at prominent companies underscore his dedication to driving positive change at the intersection of business and technology. In his current role as a Product Evangelist at Strands, Luis continues his journey of advocating for the strategic use of technology in business. He plays a crucial role in promoting Strands' products and technologies while emphasizing the integration of ML and AI in the financial services and digital marketing industries.

Silver Lining – Middle East:

Business Management Tools offered to SMEs through banks.

Case study: working with Saudi Fransi in Saudi Arabia.

         Carissa Reiniger, CEO, Silver Lining Ltd, USA

Carissa Reiniger is the Founder & CEO of Silver Lining, a company with a mission to change the global economy, one small business at a time. She started the company in 2005 and designed the Silver Lining Action Plan (SLAP™) methodology based on interviews with 400 Small Business Owners. The SLAP™ platform is tech-enabled, data-driven and based in behavior change science. 14,000+ Small Business Owners in 76+ countries have used the structure and support of SLAP to set and hit their growth goals.
Silver Lining is an advocate for economic justice and believes that small business is a fundamental element of creating a more just global economy. They work with Small Business Owners from all backgrounds and have the data to prove that when you give anyone, regardless of their demographic details, equal access and opportunity, they can succeed. Silver Lining’s goal is to create a reality where any Small Business Owner can get access to everything that they need to create a profitable, sustainable business. Carissa regularly campaigns for corporations to spend their money differently in order to catalyze small business growth. She has worked with many organizations including The White House, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Spotify, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Origin Energy to bring resources to small business owners globally. She speaks and writes on small business and the economy and has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, TechCrunch, and The National Post. She is the Creator of Thank You Small Business, a global movement that celebrates, supports, and thanks small business owners for all that they do for their families, teams, communities, and the economy. She is currently writing her next book, titled Striving for Silver: Celebrating Small, Creating Real Change and Using Business as a Tool for Justice.

        Bahaa Khashogji, Head of MSME, Banque Saudi Fransi

Bahaa has over 20 years of experience in corporate banking at multinational banks in Saudi Arabia

BSF, a Joint Stock Company established by Royal Decree No. M/23 dated June 1977, is one of the leading banks in Saudi Arabia. It has its head office in Riyadh and regional offices in Jeddah, Al-Riyadh and Al-Khobar. Through its 85 branches/self-service centers, 520 ATMs and over 28,000 points of sale, BSF is committed to providing innovative and excellent services to its clients. BSF offers a wide range of financial services in Corporate Banking and Retail Banking. The Bank also provides investment banking, asset management and investment funds services, in addition to brokerage services through BSF Capital.

ITC SheTrades – Africa:

Women and trade program, the SheTrades Initiative, that provides access to key knowledge, resources, and networks.

Case study: working with Absa Bank in Kenya.

Lizbeth Becerra Garza, Associate Programme Officer at the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Initiative

Lizbeth leads the SheTrades Initiative’s efforts on access to finance through the flagship SheTrades Invest project, which aims to unlock financing for women entrepreneurs. She spearheads strategic partnerships with financial institutions and development agencies to co-design and implement programmes that facilitate access to finance for women-led SMEs across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Elizabeth Wasunna, Director of Business Banking at Absa Bank Kenya Plc.

Wasunna joined Absa in 2018 and was tasked with developing and executing a workable growth strategy. Within a year, she was able to identify opportunities of growth and areas that required re-organization and re-building. One of her key initiatives was to make Absa (formerly Barclays) more friendly to small local businesses. As such, she led the review of lending policies and introduction of new unsecured products. This new proposition was anchored on a campaign dubbed “Wezesha Biashara.” Elizabeth is a key supporter of women entrepreneurs and a key believer in women’s economic empowerment.

About our Virtual SME Marketplace