Future of Work, DEIB and AI: How Absa Is Shaping Africa’s Next Generation of Banking Talent

Talent, culture, and the future of work take centre stage in this episode of Talking Success, recorded with Absa Group at the heart of Africa’s fintech ecosystem. Host Darren Franks sits down with KG Bako, Managing Executive for Talent Management & Transitions in Absa’s Human Capital leadership team, to explore how a leading Pan-African bank is innovating in talent management, AI readiness, and culture transformation to thrive in a rapidly evolving market.

They unpack the ‘skills of the future’ – from AI fluency, data, cyber and digital capabilities to critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration and why skills have become the new currency for financial services across Africa.

The conversation highlights Absa’s DEI+B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) agenda, flexible work models, and how ‘come as you are’ and a sense of belonging are embedded in Absa’s employee value proposition.

You’ll also hear how banks and fintech’s are collaborating to build Africa’s talent pipeline, and why partnerships across industries and governments are essential to future-proof the continent’s workforce. If you’re a fintech founder, HR leader, banker or parent thinking about where the next generation should focus, this episode offers practical insights into where work, skills and opportunity are heading in African financial services.