AN INTERVIEW ON BAHRAIN FINTECH BAY

Khalid Saad gives an opening keynote on Day 2 of the Art + FinTech summit at ArtBAB 2019 © Fadi Farhat Photography

Etienne Verbist, an authority in the field of crowd sourcing, disruptive business modelling and disruptive art, as well as a columnist for ArtDependence Magazine spoke with Khalid Saad, CEO Bahrain FinTech Bay.

EVB WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

My name is Khalid Saad and I am the CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB).BFB is Bahrain’s first dedicated FinTech hub and the largest in the MENA region with over 50 partners. BFB aims’s to be catalyst to drive the development of Bahrain’s FinTech ecosystem further and by extension, that of the region.

EVB WHAT’S YOUR GOAL?

My goal is to ensure that the future-proofing of Bahrain’s financial services sector coupled with positioning the country as an innovative and digitally driven economy. Additionally, we want to develop a pipeline of local talent that will assume future leadership roles and ensure that the FinTech ecosystem continues to grow and by extension, the economy.

EVB WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT?

My dream project is to develop a platform in Bahrain which goes global and is seen as a progressive example of what can come out of Bahrain.

EVB WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

Most importantly, I want to make a difference to my country even if in a small way. I love building things and in this case, we are building a global platform from Bahrain and it is an experiment in FinTech that did not exist before this.

EVB WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Don’t wish things were better, wish you were better. This has always stuck with me and drives me on a daily basis.

EVB WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

Working on Bahrain FinTech Bay, given it is a unique platform, I have learned a lot from this experience and would not have done things differently.We reached the stage that we are at given everything that we have done and it was a journey were we have had to re-pivot and restrategize.

EVB: ETIENNE VERBIST I KHALID SAAD

Source: UNFOLD BRICS