All of you, probably, have it on your minds that I am talking about speaking to their P.A.s, and if not, probably through their facebook fan pages. If this is what you think I did, then my dear reader you are dead wrong. This is so because I truly had a one-on-one conversation with an actual CEO just today. Do you know how I did this? I did this through a chat service that is dedicated to the Kenyan Bankers association website.
The project called “15 min CEO Chat” is a month-long Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) event during which the Chief Executive Officer of a bank hosts on-line chat sessions. During these sessions, the bank’s chief engages other users who are logged in where they gives his/her’s views and also seeks and gives advise on various aspects of banking. Some of the topics that have featured in the group chat include interest rates and why banks charge interest the way they do, SME opportunities and challenges, and how banks can support financial inclusion and employment creation among many others. Since its inception late last year, the event has attracted a lot of public attendance and media coverage but the best part of it is that you will get to talk to that CEO on an one-on-one level.
During today’s chat, the topic of discussion was on agency banking models that took place between Mr. Peter Munyiri, Managing Director and CEO, Family Bank, and users logged in on the forum at the time scheduled. I was certainly impressed at the level of maturity on the group, and the intense nature of handling items on the table. You really get the feeling that you are part of something good, and something that builds value for the country. I immediately went ahead to create an account, and subscribed to their on-line newsletter as well, so that I would never again miss the opportunity to come face to face with a bank CEO.
My message to all those young people out there fixated on social chat sites to catch up and keep in touch with their friends, to also bookmark this group bankers’ group chat, and in the process be a part of the process of spreading ideas worth sharing, and learning a lot from experts in the industry.
