Barbara Biro

Background, Coaching & Training Experience

Award-winning digital banker, AI, DeFi, and Digital Transformation expert with over 17 years of experience in the Middle East and Africa region, working across 22 countries. With a strong background in Digital Banking Innovation, Ecosystem Strategy, Fintech, and Open Banking, Recognized leader in Real-Time Payments and Ecosystem Banking Business Models and CBDC and Digital ID infrastructure development. She is a seasoned technologist, futurist, public speaker, and publicist on The Financial Brand, the #1 digital banking portal in the US. Held several leadership roles over the past decade in digital transformation, change management, digital factory, and special projects across retail, SME, and corporate banking segments at major institutions such as Mashreq Bank, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, and RAKBANK. She was also a founding member of Bank Clearly, a pioneering neo-bank in 2015-2016. Recognized with multiple industry awards, including the prestigious Global Finance Award for Mobile Banking Solution in 2018.
As a highly sought-after trainer with Kaplan International, amongst the highest-rated trainers, specializing in high-demand areas critical for financial professionals and organizations today. Offers training in:

Approach & Benefits

Training with Barbara Biro offers a distinct advantage—the opportunity to learn directly from a hands-on practitioner expert who not only understands technology but also its broader economic impact. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, applying the right use cases on top of business models, especially in the face of new technology, is incredibly challenging.
The problem often lies in the skills gap, lack of tech expertise, and a limited understanding of the economic impact of these technologies. Many companies fail at digital transformation because they try to implement outdated use cases that are no longer relevant in today’s fast-changing business environment. Without a deep understanding of both the macro and micro economy and the capabilities of emerging technologies, businesses are prone to implementing technology blindly, simply to check off a box in their digital transformation initiative.
Barbara’s approach is to guide students through transformative and revolutionary use cases, not just standard solutions. Her training ensures that participants understand the root causes of problems so they can solve them holistically, rather than resorting to quick fixes. This knowledge empowers organizations to create fundamentally different and scalable business models that can thrive in the digital age.
Barbara’s training goes beyond just technology implementation—she teaches critical thinking and the integration of innovative technologies with real-world business problems. Students gain a strategic advantage by learning how to connect the dots between technology, the economy, and business use cases, ensuring they are ready to lead digital transformation with insight and foresight.
By learning from someone who has practical experience and an in-depth understanding of both the technological and economic aspects of transformation, students are equipped with the skills and vision to drive impactful change in their organizations.

Selected Testimonials

“I’m pleased to share my recent experience attending an advanced training on hashtag#Decentralized Finance (DeFi), hosted by the hashtag#EIF. While EIF trainings are always valuable, this session was particularly insightful for me, offering a deep dive into the latest trends and developments in this fast-evolving space. With my solid foundation in DeFi and commitment to actively engage in the latest learnings, the expert insights and nuanced discussions provided fresh perspectives and expanded the horizons. I’d like to extend a special thanks to “Barbara Biro” for her exceptional presentation. Her ability to distill complex topics, share the latest updates, and incorporate real-world experiences made the session highly engaging and enriching. The discussions reinforced my ongoing interest in hashtag#DeFi, hashtag#Blockchain, hashtag#Fintech, and hashtag#CBDCs —areas that are reshaping the future of finance. Barbara’s depth of knowledge and passion for the subject not only enhanced the learning experience but also highlighted the critical role of DeFi in driving financial innovation. It was a privilege and a pleasure to participate, and I am excited for what lies ahead!” Sara Jabrane Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

 “I had the pleasure to work with Barbara on Digital transformation project at RAKBANK. She is a great leader and amazing human to work with. Always holding her team together. Inspirational ideas in digital space is her forte. All the best to you. You have been a amazing boss.” – Vartika Gupta VP at RAKBANK Dhabi University

“I had the pleasure to work with Barbara on Digital transformation project at RAKBANK. She is a great leader and amazing human to work with. Always holding her team together. Inspirational ideas in digital space is her forte. All the best to you. You have been a amazing boss.” – Vartika Gupta VP at RAKBANK Dhabi University

“I had the pleasure of working with Barbara almost as soon as she joined RAKBank. She was tasked to pull together and lead a team to work on a series of transformational workstreams, to which my name had been given by several of our colleagues. I found she was able to drive key initiatives with tenacity, provide sufficient autonomy for experts to flourish and ultimately, lay the crucial foundations for RAKBanks future success. Barbara is a future-facing, erudite and almost pollyanna in the work environment. She is skillfully able to navigate the GCC patriarchy, possibly due to her high EQ; something that makes her refreshingly human in a world of Execs & leaders who massively lack this underrated facet. I wish her all the best and would welcome the opportunity to work with her again.”  Client Anthony H RAKbank

Publications and Appearances

Barbara Biro is widely regarded as a thought leader in digital banking and fintech, contributing extensively to industry discussions and showcasing her expertise at leading global conferences. Key publications and appearances include:

• The Financial Brand (USA): Regular contributor and publicist for one of the leading platforms in digital banking, Barbara shares her expertise on emerging trends in AI, blockchain, digital banking innovations, and their transformative impacts on the financial industry.
• Annual Global Digital Banking Report (USA): Contributed to the report, published annually, offering deep insights into the future of digital banking, AI-driven solutions, and strategic innovations in financial services.
• Women Business Circle (WBC): Active member, championing women’s leadership in technology and business, especially in the fintech, blockchain, and digital transformation sectors.
• Seamless Middle East: Speaker at this major event, discussing the intersection of digital banking, AI, and fintech in the rapidly changing financial services ecosystem across the Middle East region.
• Seamless Africa: Keynote speaker, sharing expertise on digital transformation trends and how fintech innovation can help financial institutions in Africa leapfrog traditional banking models.
• QFBA – Navigating Regulatory Finance in the Digital Age: Panelist at this premier event, offering valuable insights on the regulatory challenges and opportunities in the digital finance sector, focusing on blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and AI-driven financial solutions.

Education, Certificates, Memberships

• Member of  Women Business Circle (WBC) and Women in Tech
• Extensive expertise in Project Management & Agile Delivery, Metaverse Ecosystems, and Blockchain Development, CBDCs & Crypto Currencies and AI use case development.
• MBA in IT and Data Analytics | Certified Blockchain Expert | Agile Project Management Certified