First Citizens CEO, Karen Darbasie: Prioritising employees and customers key to effective leadership!

Press Release

The Annual International Finance and Accounting Conference (AIFAC) organized by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago, lived up to its reputation as a gathering place for esteemed leaders in the finance and accounting industry. The conference, held on November 16th and 17th at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, focused on exploring the latest trends, challenges, and innovations with the theme “Charting a Resilient Future.”

Encouraging finance professionals and business leaders to adopt a proactive mindset towards continuous improvement and creating sustainable value, as well as fostering a proactive approach to innovation, and address global challenges to build resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges were some of the main goals of the conference, which brought together notable figures from the accounting and finance industries.

During the discussion on ethical dilemmas, First Citizens CEO and panellist Karen Darbasie, underscored the Bank’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements stating, “In any decision-making process, it’s essential to prioritize the satisfaction of as many stakeholders as possible. While it’s not always possible to achieve a unanimous consensus, our objective should be to treat everyone fairly. Ultimately, finding a balance among different groupings is very critical, and as leaders, we have the responsibility to make difficult decisions, but we can do so in a way that is respectful and considerate of all stakeholders involved.”

Participation in events such as AIFAC provides a platform for industry experts to share ideas and contribute to innovative strategies for navigating the changing landscape, shaping the global sustainability agenda for the accountancy profession. First Citizens’ commitment to thought leadership and staying abreast of the latest developments in the industry is reinforced by its participation in such forums.

The panel of Ethical Dilemmas – A Leadership Discussion ((l-r) Ian Chinapoo – Group CEO, Guardian Group, Karen Darbasie – Group CEO, First Citizens, Glenn Hamel-Smith – Partner, Head – Banking and Finance, Hamel-Smith Law Firm and moderator Nigel Romano – Senior Director, Business Strategy and Consultancy Moore.
(l-r) Dwayne Rodriquez- Seijas– President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad & Tobago (ICATT), Glenn Hamel-Smith – Partner, Head – Banking and Finance, Hamel-Smith Law Firm, Ian Chinapoo – Group CEO, Guardian Group, Karen Darbasie – Group CEO, First Citizens, Nigel Romano – Senior Director, Business Strategy $ Consultancy Moore and Marissa Quashie, Associate Partner at Ernest and Young
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