Bader Sater, FinTech Bay: Dives into MENA Innovation Academy
Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren't mere interviews; they're windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose.
The MENA Innovation Academy was born out of a need we could not ignore. As the region accelerates its digital transformation, we saw a clear gap in access to world-class, practical fintech and innovation education tailored to our context. Governments are investing heavily in digital infrastructure, regulators are adapting at pace, and private sector players are on the run to stay competitive. But there has been a missing link: the talent that bridges vision with execution. That's where the MENA Innovation Academy comes into play. The academy is an initiative powered by Bahrain FinTech Bay in partnership with Reboot01. Our goal is to cultivate the next wave of fintech talent, up skill our region's professionals not just with theory, but with global-calibre, hands-on learning that is aligned with the MENA region's economic goals. We partner with world-renowned universities such as Georgetown University, UC Berkeley, etc, to provide participants with quality education that can help them lead transformation within their sectors, and equip the ecosystem to scale in a way that is sustainable and regionally grounded.
The MENA Innovation Academy's courses target decision-makers, rising leaders, and technical professionals who are actively navigating change and need to stay ahead of it. These are people who are already making an impact, but want to deepen their expertise and align with international standards. The structure of our programs is modular, high-level, and in partnership with some of the leading global organisations and universities to ensure high-quality quality effective training and education.
We are not offering generic certificates or passive learning.T he Academy is outcome-driven; every course is developed through a unique collaboration between top-tier institutions and industry stakeholders here in the region. That means our learners gain insights that are academically sound but also grounded in real-world challenges, particularly in fintech, AI, cybersecurity, and innovation strategy. What sets us apart is that we understand the cultural and regulatory context of the MENA region, and we have built a learning model that keeps that in consideration.
BFB has always operated with a broader vision in mind; we are here as an ecosystem builder. Bringing the full spectrum of market participants together. With initiatives like the MENA Innovation Academy, which is an initiative between Bahrain FintechBay and Reboot Coding Institute, this allows us to address a long-standing gap in high-level up skilling and position Bahrain as a regional anchor for fintech and tech-forward learning. By partnering with organisations, universities, and private sector players, we are creating a pipeline of future-ready leaders who understand both global dynamics and regional intricacies.
From the very beginning, we anchored BFB in three main roles: agility, collaboration, and credibility.We were interested in building deep partnerships with our regulator, the Central Bank of Bahrain, working closely with the Economic Development Board(EDB), and supporting other financial institutions in Bahrain. This approach allowed us to align with government priorities and created open channels for global and local fintechs to co-exist and attract foreign direct investment in Bahrain. We focused on building trust and delivering impact through partnerships and acceleration programs, education and training, research, and comprehensive ecosystem support. That long game is what positioned BFB as a leading fintech hub in the region.
The pace of change in fintech and innovation is continuous, so what we focus on is creating a culture that adapts quickly to these changes. I personally rely on three things: staying deeply connected to the ecosystem, seeking diverse perspectives, and always planning for the long term while being agile in the short term. I don't believe in reacting but rather being ready and proactive. This kind of mindset helps us absorb change and not be disrupted by it.
Bahrain has already proven that geographical size does not limit ambition. In the next five years, I see Bahrain doubling down on its role in the fintech space, a place where we continue progressing in regulations, attracting foreign direct investments, and nurturing talent. I can also see more strategic cross-border partnerships come into place. We are uniquely positioned through our strategic location, which makes us a gateway to the GCC with a pro-business ecosystem and strong regulatory infrastructure.
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