ICONIC Leaders Awards 2024
ICONIC Leaders Awards 2024
An iconic leader in the context of banking would typically be someone who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, innovation, and influence within the industry. This could include individuals who have significantly contributed to shaping banking policies, driving organizational growth, pioneering new technologies or methodologies, or advocating for positive change within the sector. Iconic leaders often inspire others through their vision, dedication, and ability to navigate complex challenges successfully.
Awards Process Partner: KPMG International Ltd.
- Outstanding Bank & FinTech Collaboration
- Outstanding Embedded Finance Initiative
- Top Mobile Initiative for Consumers
- Top Mobile Initiative for Business
- Excellence in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
- Outstanding use of Cloud
- Outstanding achievement in RegTech
- Leading Tech Innovation in Fraud Prevention
- Outstanding Technological Implementation in Corporate Banking
- Outstanding Technological Implementation in Retail Banking
- Tech Leadership (CIO, CTO, CISO, CDO, CPO)
- Tech Team of the Year
- Woman in Technology (W.I.T)
- Business Leadership (Chairman, Vice Chairman, CEO)
- Bank of the Year
- Innovative Bank of the Year
- Digital Banking Innovation Award
- Customer Experience Excellence Award
- Innovation Treasury & Transaction Banking Award
- Best Marketing Campaign Award
- Best HR Practice Award
- Best Employee Engagement & Retention Strategies Award
For Awards Nomination Form: Please click on Nomination Form Here.
Why you should nominate: Bankers should nominate for iconic banking leaders awards to recognize and celebrate outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the banking industry. By nominating deserving leaders, bankers can honour their achievements, innovative ideas, and impactful leadership styles. This not only acknowledges their hard work and dedication but also inspires others in the industry to strive for excellence and contribute positively to the banking sector. Additionally, receiving such awards can help elevate the profile and reputation of the individual, their institution, and the banking industry as a whole.
Nominations Category Descriptions
Banking Tech Project Awards –
For Banks to participate. Securing a Banking Tech Award is a testament to a bank’s successful investment in technology, demonstrating their expertise, dedication, creativity, and ability to execute effectively.
- This award is presented to bank that has effectively utilized technology within the consumer banking.
- The undertaking must be extensive and show measurable success – delivering tangible improvements and fulfilling the established goals.
- Judges seek a detailed presentation of the project – its purpose, key achievements, obstacles encountered and overcome, results, and the advantages realized.
- A winning submission will be concise, supported by factual evidence and statistics, avoiding jargon. Submissions should be free from press releases, promotional articles, and marketing materials.
- This award is presented to bank that has effectively utilized technology within the corporate banking.
- The undertaking must be extensive and show measurable success – delivering tangible improvements and fulfilling the established goals.
- Judges seek a detailed presentation of the project – its purpose, key achievements, obstacles encountered and overcome, results, and the advantages realized.
- A winning submission will be concise, supported by factual evidence and statistics, avoiding jargon. Submissions should be free from press releases, promotional articles, and marketing materials.
- This accolade is given to bank for a retail consumer banking project that is technology-led, with a focus on digital/mobile offerings.
- The digital or mobile banking product or service must be operational and able to show its effectiveness and success in real-world applications, not just theoretically. Therefore, judges are in search of solid evidence and statistics for support.
- The evaluation will consider a thorough overview of the project – its nature, the rationale behind its introduction, the efforts made to develop it, the technology utilized, and the outcomes achieved.
- A winning entry will be concise, backed by factual data and evidence, avoiding vague terms. Submissions should steer clear of press releases, promotional content, and marketing pamphlets.
- This accolade is given to bank for a business consumer banking project that is technology-led, with a focus on digital/mobile offerings.
- The digital or mobile banking product or service must be operational and able to show its effectiveness and success in real-world applications, not just theoretically. Therefore, judges are in search of solid evidence and statistics for support.
- The evaluation will consider a thorough overview of the project – its nature, the rationale behind its introduction, the efforts made to develop it, the technology utilized, and the outcomes achieved.
- A winning entry will be concise, backed by factual data and evidence, avoiding vague terms. Submissions should steer clear of press releases, promotional content, and marketing pamphlets.
- This award celebrates pioneering project within the burgeoning field of embedded finance, marking a collaborative venture between banks/financial institutions and entities from other sectors to deliver a smooth, beneficial user experience.
- The project must showcase advantages for all stakeholders involved while providing a practical and effective product or service to consumers.
- It is essential that the initiative is active, with results that are concrete and measurable. Judges will look for evidence of success through innovation, influence, and the ability to scale.
- Entries should provide a detailed description of the project, including its purpose, the effort invested in its development, the technology used, the collaboration process, and the achieved results.
- Winning submissions must be concise, supported by concrete evidence, and free of jargon. Avoid including press releases, promotional articles, or marketing materials.
- This recognition is given to bank that centers a project around the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML).
- The project must be active, with clear, measurable outcomes and benefits derived from its implementation.
- Judges seek an in-depth presentation of the project – its essence, the motivation for its launch, the effort required to develop it, the technologies applied, and the final results.
- The spotlight is on the AI/ML technology, highlighting its impact on the organization and its commercial success.
- A winning entry should be concise and factual, supported by evidence rather than filled with technical jargon. Submissions should avoid press releases, promotional pieces, and marketing content.
- This accolade is presented to bank spearheading a project with a focus on technology designed to prevent fraud.
- The project must be active and demonstrate significant, quantifiable improvements and advantages.
- Judges will evaluate a thorough overview of the initiative, including its purpose, the motivation behind its creation, the efforts involved in its execution, the technologies employed, and the outcomes achieved.
- The emphasis of this project is on fraud prevention solutions and methods, aiming to showcase the technological benefits to the organization and its operations.
- Winning submissions should be concise, evidence-based, and devoid of jargon. Entries should not include press releases, promotional articles, or marketing materials.
- This award recognizes bank for a project deeply rooted in regulatory and compliance technologies, such as anti-money laundering (AML), know your customer (KYC), and combating terrorist financing (CFT), among others.
- The initiative must be active, with the improvements and benefits it brings forth being both significant and quantifiable.
- Judges seek a detailed narrative of the project, including its essence, the reasons for its launch, the dedication and work required to develop it, the technology implemented, and the outcomes.
- The focus is on compliance solutions and methodologies, aiming to delve into how this technology has advanced the organization and its business operations.
- A winning entry will be concise and substantiated by evidence, steering clear of technical jargon. Entries should not include press releases, promotional content, or marketing materials.
- This award is given to bank that has utilized cloud technologies to drive significant transformation in its operational processes and service delivery.
- The project must be in action, with clear, measurable benefits and improvements.
- Judges are in search of a detailed exploration of the project, including its nature, the rationale behind its inception, the efforts put into its realization, the technology employed, and the outcomes.
- Given the central role of cloud technology in this submission, we aim to comprehend how this technology has positively impacted the organization and its commercial activities.
- A winning submission should be concise, supported by concrete evidence, and free from technical jargon. Submissions should avoid press releases, promotional articles, or marketing materials.
- This is awarded to bank and fintech collaboration that has demonstrated measurable achievements in terms of impact and the ability to scale.
- The partnership must showcase mutual benefits for all entities involved and offer a practical product/service to consumers.
- The collaboration must be active, with quantifiable outcomes.
- Judges are interested in a detailed overview of the collaboration, including its purpose, the efforts to make it a reality, the synergy between the partners, the technology used, and the achievements.
- A winning entry will be concise, backed by solid evidence, and devoid of jargon. Entries should not contain press releases, promotional content, or marketing materials.
Banking Leadership Awards
For individual or team to participate. This recognition celebrates the displayed skills, leadership, vision, inspiration, and commitment towards enhancing the industry.
- This award honors an exceptional woman for her exemplary leadership and motivational work within the banking sector, and her significant contribution to the broader financial services industry.
- Judges are seeking a detailed account of the nominee’s activities and achievements that surpass the routine responsibilities of her role.
- The focus is on the nominee’s individual efforts and their direct impact on the success of their organization, project, or business – highlighting what they, personally, have accomplished rather than the collective achievements of their company.
- Additionally, judges will consider the nominee’s commitment to improving the industry, such as through mentorship programs, charitable work, initiatives for diversity and inclusion, and other contributions.
- A winning nomination will be concise, supported by tangible evidence, and free from generic terms. Submissions should avoid press releases, promotional articles, or marketing flyers.
- This accolade is aimed at recognizing the achievements of one individual, so the nomination should clearly articulate why she stands out and merits this award.
- This award recognizes an individual, regardless of gender, who has played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing the technology strategy within a bank, far exceeding the responsibilities of their designated role.
- The focus is on identifying a leader whose influence extends significantly within the financial services sector, contributing to its overall advancement.
- Judges are seeking detailed stories of the nominee’s initiatives and achievements that transcend the normal scope of their job functions.
- The evaluation will emphasize the nominee’s own contributions to their organization, project, or business’s success – specifically what they have accomplished individually, beyond the collective success of their organization.
- Moreover, the judges are interested in learning about the nominee’s efforts to improve the industry, such as involvement in mentorship programs, contributions to charitable activities, and efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion.
- A compelling nomination will be concise, evidence-backed, and devoid of clichés. Entries should not include press releases, promotional pieces, or marketing materials.
- This distinction is aimed at celebrating the achievements of a single individual, hence the nomination should clearly explain why they stand out and are deserving of this honor.
- This accolade celebrates a team within a bank that has distinguished itself through exceptional teamwork, efficiency, and a collaborative ethos, surpassing expectations in accomplishing objectives and contributing value to the project or organization.
- We seek a team exemplifying unity in pursuit of a shared goal, achieving remarkable outcomes.
- The judges anticipate a detailed account of the team’s ventures and successes.
- A thorough presentation of the team’s identity and its role in driving the success of their organization, project, or business is desired – highlighting their collective actions and contributions, distinct from the broader company achievements.
- Judges are keen to grasp how the team functions and collaborates, detailing their tasks, problem-solving approaches, challenge navigation, and the tangible results of their efforts.
- A compelling nomination should be concise, factual, and supported by evidence, steering clear of generic phrases. Submissions should avoid press releases, promotional content, or marketing documents.
- This recognition is intended for a group, thus the nomination should focus on their collective merit and the reasons they stand out as deserving of the award.
- This award recognizes an individual, regardless of gender, who has significantly influenced the business strategy and decision-making process within a bank, exceeding the expectations of their role.
- The search is on for a leader who has made a meaningful impact within the financial services sector and contributed to its advancement.
- Judges are interested in a detailed depiction of the nominee’s initiatives and achievements beyond their routine responsibilities.
- It’s important to showcase the nominee’s direct contributions to the success of their organization, project, or business, emphasizing their personal efforts rather than the company’s overall accomplishments.
- Additionally, judges want insights into the nominee’s efforts to improve the industry, such as through mentorship programs, philanthropic activities, and diversity & inclusion efforts.
- A strong nomination will be concise and backed by solid evidence, avoiding vague terminology. Entries should not include press releases, advertising content, or marketing materials.
- This accolade is intended to honor the achievements of an individual, so nominations should clearly articulate why they are deserving of this recognition.
The Visionary Leaders Awards are designed to honor individuals who have demonstrated exceptional foresight, innovation, and leadership in their respective fields. These awards recognize leaders who have made significant contributions to the cooperative banking eco-system, driven transformative change, and inspired others through their visionary thinking and achievements.
Key Criteria for the Visionary Leaders Awards:
- Innovation: Recognizes leaders who have introduced groundbreaking ideas, products, or processes that have significantly impacted their industry.
- Leadership: Celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, guiding their organizations towards growth and success.
- Impact: Highlights leaders whose work has had a profound and positive effect on their industry, community, or society at large.
- Inspiration: Honors those who have inspired others through their vision, dedication, and achievements, setting a benchmark for future leaders.
- Sustainability: Acknowledges leaders who have integrated sustainable practices into their business strategies, promoting long-term environmental and social benefits.
- By recognizing these extraordinary leaders, the Visionary Leaders Awards aim to encourage and motivate others to pursue innovation, excellence, and positive change in their endeavour’s.
Banking Awards
For Banks to participate. A significant acknowledgment and support from the industry.
- Bank of the Year (2 nos.)
- Innovative Bank of the Year (2 nos.)
- The “Financial Inclusion Champion” award recognizes a financial institution that has made significant strides in promoting financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services for underserved and unbanked populations. This award celebrates a bank that has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to essential financial services.
- Access to Services: Initiatives that have successfully extended banking services to underserved or unbanked communities, including rural areas, low-income populations, and marginalized groups.
- Innovative Solutions: Implementation of innovative financial products and services designed to meet the specific needs of underserved populations, such as microfinance, mobile banking, and digital wallets.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Effective collaboration with NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote financial inclusion and build sustainable financial ecosystems.
- Financial Literacy: Programs aimed at improving financial literacy and education among underserved communities to empower them to make informed financial decisions.
- Social Impact: Demonstrable positive social impact, including improved financial stability, increased economic opportunities, and enhanced quality of life for beneficiaries.
- Sustainable Practices: Commitment to sustainable and responsible banking practices that ensure long-term benefits for underserved populations.
- This accolade honors bank that stands out for disrupting the market and delivering truly beneficial solutions to its clientele.
- Judges are in search of a comprehensive exploration of the initiative, including its motivation, key project phases, the team involved, the technology used, objectives and obstacles, and the outcomes achieved.
- A winning submission should be concise, supported by concrete evidence and statistics, steering clear of jargon. Submissions should avoid press releases, promotional articles, or marketing materials.
- This recognition is designated for bank that excels in leveraging cutting-edge technologies, implementing novel ideas, and transforming processes and customer experiences to shape the future of banking and finance.
- With innovation and visionary thinking being central to this nomination, we aim to grasp what distinguishes the nominated bank and how it advantages its clients.
- Judges are on the lookout for a detailed presentation of the bank’s innovations – encompassing their range and functionality, the technologies employed, unique attributes, and relevant applications.
- A compelling nomination should be concise, bolstered by tangible evidence and data, avoiding generic language. Entries should not include press releases, promotional content, or marketing flyers.
These categories aim to recognize the diverse skills and achievements of finance and accounting leaders and their contributions to the financial success and sustainability of their organizations.
- Digital Banking Innovation Awards
- Customer Experience Excellence Awards
- Financial Inclusion Champion Awards
- Innovation in Product Developments Awards
- Innovation in Product Development Awards
- Best NPA Management Bank Awards
The “Digital Banking Innovation Award” recognizes a financial institution that has excelled in the digital transformation of banking services. This award honours a bank that has successfully leveraged digital technologies to provide seamless, efficient, and user-friendly banking experiences, significantly enhancing the customer journey and operational efficiency.
- User Experience: Creation of a superior digital user experience through intuitive interfaces, personalized services, and seamless integration across digital platforms.
- Technology Integration: Effective implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, blockchain, or mobile solutions that enhance digital banking services.
- Security and Compliance: Adoption of robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with regulatory standards to ensure the safety and privacy of customer data.
- Innovative Digital Products: Introduction of innovative digital financial products or services that address customer needs and market trends.
- Customer Engagement: Strategies and tools that enhance customer interaction and engagement through digital channels, including apps, online platforms, and social media.
- Operational Efficiency: Improvements in operational processes and cost-effectiveness through the use of digital technologies.
- Accessibility and Inclusion: Initiatives that ensure digital banking services are accessible to a diverse range of customers, including underserved or unbanked populations.
The “Customer Experience Excellence Award” celebrates a financial institution that has achieved exceptional levels of customer satisfaction through innovative and effective customer experience strategies. This award recognizes a bank that has put the customer at the center of its operations, delivering superior service, personalized interactions, and a seamless banking experience across all touchpoints.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Demonstrated commitment to understanding and addressing customer needs, preferences, and pain points.
- Personalization: Implementation of personalized services and solutions tailored to individual customer profiles.
- Service Excellence: Consistent delivery of high-quality service across all channels, including branch, online, mobile, and customer support.
- Innovation in Customer Interaction: Use of innovative technologies and practices to enhance customer engagement and interaction, such as chatbots, AI-driven recommendations, and omni-channel integration.
- Customer Feedback and Improvement: Effective mechanisms for gathering customer feedback and using it to drive continuous improvement in products and services.
- Employee Engagement: Training and empowering employees to deliver exceptional customer service and foster a customer-centric culture.
- Measurable Impact: Demonstrable improvements in customer satisfaction metrics, retention rates, and loyalty scores.
The “Financial Inclusion Champion” award recognizes a financial institution that has made significant strides in promoting financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services for underserved and unbanked populations. This award celebrates a bank that has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to essential financial services.
- Access to Services: Initiatives that have successfully extended banking services to underserved or unbanked communities, including rural areas, low-income populations, and marginalized groups.
- Innovative Solutions: Implementation of innovative financial products and services designed to meet the specific needs of underserved populations, such as microfinance, mobile banking, and digital wallets.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Effective collaboration with NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote financial inclusion and build sustainable financial ecosystems.
- Financial Literacy: Programs aimed at improving financial literacy and education among underserved communities to empower them to make informed financial decisions.
- Social Impact: Demonstrable positive social impact, including improved financial stability, increased economic opportunities, and enhanced quality of life for beneficiaries.
- Sustainable Practices: Commitment to sustainable and responsible banking practices that ensure long-term benefits for underserved populations.
The “Risk Management and Compliance Excellence Award” honors a financial institution that has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in managing risks and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. This award recognizes a bank that has effectively mitigated risks, maintained regulatory compliance, and safeguarded the institution and its customers through robust risk management frameworks and practices.
- Risk Identification and Assessment: Effective processes for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks across the organization.
- Risk Mitigation Strategies: Implementation of innovative and effective risk mitigation strategies and controls to address identified risks.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to regulatory requirements and standards, including timely and accurate reporting, and proactive management of compliance obligations.
- Technology and Innovation: Use of advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and data analytics to enhance risk management and compliance functions.
- Governance and Culture: Establishment of a strong risk management culture and governance framework that promotes accountability and transparency at all levels of the organization.
- Crisis Management: Demonstrated ability to manage and respond to crises effectively, including robust contingency planning and crisis communication strategies.
- Training and Awareness: Comprehensive training programs and initiatives to raise awareness and build competencies in risk management and compliance among employees.
The “Innovation in Product Development” award celebrates outstanding achievements and groundbreaking advancements in the creation and enhancement of products. This award recognizes individuals or teams who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, ingenuity, and dedication in developing products that significantly impact their industry and meet the evolving needs of consumers.
- Innovative Thinking: The nominee must have introduced new ideas, methodologies, or technologies that have led to the successful development of innovative products.
- Impact: The product must have made a notable impact on the market, showing measurable success in terms of sales, customer satisfaction, or market share.
- Sustainability: Preference will be given to products that promote sustainability and address environmental concerns.
- Problem-Solving: The product should solve a significant problem or address a critical need in the market.
- Collaboration and Leadership: The nominee should exhibit strong leadership and collaborative skills, effectively leading a team or working across departments to achieve the product development goals.
The “Financial Inclusion Champion” award recognizes a financial institution that has made significant strides in promoting financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services for underserved and unbanked populations. This award celebrates a bank that has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to essential financial services.
- Access to Services: Initiatives that have successfully extended banking services to underserved or unbanked communities, including rural areas, low-income populations, and marginalized groups.
- Innovative Solutions: Implementation of innovative financial products and services designed to meet the specific needs of underserved populations, such as microfinance, mobile banking, and digital wallets.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Effective collaboration with NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote financial inclusion and build sustainable financial ecosystems.
- Financial Literacy: Programs aimed at improving financial literacy and education among underserved communities to empower them to make informed financial decisions.
- Social Impact: Demonstrable positive social impact, including improved financial stability, increased economic opportunities, and enhanced quality of life for beneficiaries.
- Sustainable Practices: Commitment to sustainable and responsible banking practices that ensure long-term benefits for underserved populations.
The “Best NPA Management” award recognizes exceptional achievements in managing Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) within the banking and financial services industry. This award honors individuals or teams who have demonstrated outstanding strategies, innovative approaches, and effective measures to minimize NPAs, thereby enhancing the financial stability and performance of their organization.
- Effectiveness: The nominee must have successfully implemented strategies that resulted in a significant reduction of NPAs.
- Innovation: Demonstration of innovative methods and practices in managing and resolving NPAs.
- Sustainability: Long-term impact and sustainability of the NPA management practices.
- Risk Management: Effective risk management strategies that prevent the occurrence of new NPAs.
- Leadership and Collaboration: Strong leadership and collaboration skills, showing the ability to lead teams and work across departments to achieve NPA management goals.