1. You’ve worked extensively across financial journalism, asset management, and now digital learning. Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired your focus on financial education and capability?

I began my career as a financial journalist when the media in general was beginning to understand that finance was absolutely core to just about every aspect of people's lives and therefore newspapers began devoting more and more pages to the subject (it was mostly paper pages back then!). 

The centrality of finance, socially and politically - and associated risks - has only grown over time and the crisis of 2008, the effects of which still resound, demonstrated that emphatically. So my focus on financial education and capability has the objective of promoting competence in the financial sector as guardians of stability and growth. On the consumer side the objective is to empower them to make the best decisions for their financial well-being. Digital learning solutions have the power to deliver these outcomes with tremendous efficiency, hence I decided to take the opportunity to be part of that.

Through Intuition Know-How, you support learning for over two million professionals worldwide. How would you describe the culture and mission that drives the organization’s success?

2. Having collaborated closely with HR and L&D leaders, what do you see as the most pressing learning and development needs within the financial services sector today — particularly in the Middle East?

The Middle East is in the fortunate position of having not just the motive and inclination to invest in the future but the means also. We're seeing extraordinary commitment across the region to take advantage of latest technologies that will position Middle East at the very apex in terms of the sophistication and efficiency of its banking and financial services sector. So, on the professional side, education needs to be extremely cognisant of risk in all its manifestations - credit, market, liquidity, operational - the lot. On the customer side, the first step is to build digital financial literacy and from there take the path towards building a retail investment culture that secures a long term foundation for enduring prosperity.

3. You’ve written extensively on financial literacy and inclusion. How do you see the role of education evolving in empowering both professionals and customers across emerging markets?

On the customer side I believe that institutions increasingly realise that an educated, empowered customer is one that is capable of progressing faster up the ladder of product sophistication. This has positive implications for both consumer and provider. On the professional side, education opens up the infinite possibilities that financial innovation provides. This enables emerging markets to capitalise on the immense potential and advantages they possess relative to the developed world (having been overlooked for far too long).

4. From your experience leading projects in the Middle East, how does the region’s appetite for knowledge and innovation compare to global markets?

Extremely favourably and I would say unrivalled anywhere in the world. There is an appetite and energy that comes with knowing that the three critical ingredients -resources, technology and motivation - are  aligned in pursuit of a common goal.

5. Finally, what continues to motivate you in your work — and what impact do you hope to make on the next generation of learners in finance and beyond?

I would like to think that the people we educate in banking and asset management around the world can take pride in their mission. Banking and finance regularly gets bad press, often justifiably, but in the right hands banking and finance holds the keys to economic prosperity and financial liberation. The people involved, and ideally the wider public, should see this as a high calling.

Peter Kinahan is a Senior Consultant with Intuition in Dubai.  Peter is a senior adviser and contributor to Intuition Know-How, the world’s leading library of e-Learning for the global banking and financial services industry. Know-How is used by the world’s largest investment and commercial banks, leading asset managers, insurance firms, regulatory bodies and professional services firms, with over 2 million users in 140+ countries worldwide with an extensive client base in the Middle East. Peter has also acted as Lead Consultant on financial literacy projects commissioned by major banks in the Middle East.

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