Creating Value with AI and Data for Banking and Finance Leaders

* Fee includes all training activities and materials, lunches during training days, special dinners, social programme and accommodation (from 14 – 20 July 2025) based on single occupancy. It is not inclusive of any applicable taxes.

This programme is an approved HRD Corp claimable course.
The programme fee and roundtrip airfare is STF credit claimable by qualifying Malaysian banks.

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Finance functions are rapidly and profoundly changing given the recent developments in AI and data usage. We are faced with new technologies the potential of which must be well understood by leaders of the banking and finance industry.

This sentiment was emphatically reflected in the results of the L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2023 (https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/insight/gss2023-results/). Participated by 3,996 people from 100 countries including Malaysia, the survey showed that 2023 is the year that L&D returns to a focus on data, AI and systems after a temporary departure due to changing learning and development needs arising from the pandemic. The survey further concluded that we are back to where we thought we would be in 2019, when Artificial Intelligence ranked #2, or in 2020, when Learning Analytics was #1. In the intervening years, the power of AI and the ability to handle data, have grown hugely more sophisticated. ChatGPT is only the latest, public expression of decades of work that have been taking place in the background.

The ESSEC Business School is one of the leading and pioneering business schools in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Digital Transformation. Rated one of the top business schools in the world and the 3rd best in Executive Education - Custom Programmes (the Financial Times 2020 global rankings), the Asian Banking School is pleased to be collaborating with ESSEC to develop and deliver the Creating Value with AI and Data for Banking and Finance Leaders Programme.

This week-long international residential programme was designed especially for banking and finance senior executives and will provide participants with the necessary and latest insights, frameworks and tools to elevate and accelerate strategic decisions in AI and Data usage and adjust their organisations to the realities of this new era. They will gain first-hand exposure to global banking and finance trends through interactive lectures and case studies at ESSEC’s Paris campus located in the heart of the financial district, company visits and industry talks.

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Programme Outline

Sunday

14 July 2025

Monday

15 July 2025

Tuesday

16 July 2025

Wednesday

17 July 2025

Thursday

18 July 2025

Friday

19 July 2025

training Methodology

ESSEC’s qualitative approach to learning

Metalab - Powering the ai & data ecosystem at ESSEC
ESSEC created Metalab in 2020 to bring focus to the conditions, impacts and consequences of broad AI and data technologies adoption on businesses and society in three key areas: education, research, and the public conversation. It consists of a pluradisciplinary team of academics, AI practitioners and AI scientists, and an active community of academics, students and staff. With its industry and public partners, the Metalab produces and takes part in impactful research projects, develops innovative educational programmes for its students and executive education participants, as well as animate the public conversation about the adoption of data and AI technologies.
The ESSEC & Accenture strategic business analytics chair
Accenture and ESSEC with the Strategic Business Analytics Chair (SBA) are committed to train the next generation of data leaders. The dynamic teaching methods, designed for the Chair, ensure a rigorous, immersive and impactful learning experience. They shape future executives to attain the right mind-set, with interpersonal and analytical skills to create business value. Finally, it is also their priority to cultivate creativity and to build capacity to change.
The ESSEC digital disruption chair
The ESSEC Digital Disruption Chair prepares students to become all-around digital managers, fit to work in and lead digital projects and teams within traditional organisations, pure tech players, digital transformation consultancies, startups, scale-ups, or vc funds. The Chair focuses on digital strategy, transformation, and business models. Strategy is also studied through marketing, operations, finance, ethics, sustainability, and geopolitics.

Programme Faculty

Programme Director

Professor Jeroen Rombouts

Director, ESSEC-Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair

Professor Julien Malaurent

Director, Online Executive Master in Digital Transformation

Professor Elise Gourier

Associate Professor in Finance, ESSEC Business School

Professor Thomas Huber

Associate Professor of Information Systems

ESSEC Business School is a highly regarded institution of higher education located in France with its main campus in Cergy-Pontoise and three others in Paris La Défense, Singapore, and Morocco.

Founded in 1907, ESSEC has a reputation for academic excellence and is consistently ranked among the top business schools in Europe and the world at large. It is triple accredited (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS), placing ESSEC in the top 1% of business schools in the world and is a grande école, an elite French academic institution that admits students through an extremely competitive process comparable to Ivy League schools and Oxbridge.

ESSEC’s distinctiveness stems from the pioneering spirit of the members of its community and its core values – humanism, responsibility, innovation and openness - that shape its scientific ambitions and pedagogical approach. Their mission is to infuse leadership with meaning in order to prepare leaders ready to address contemporary economic, environmental and social challenges. It produces innovative and relevant knowledge to equip its students with the skills, know-how and savoir-être that will make them truly responsible, inclusive and respectful of the environment.

Convinced that knowledge provides a path to freedom - Per scientiam ad libertatem - ESSEC inculcates in its students critical thinking and creativity skills that prepare them to anticipate and address the challenges of an increasingly uncertain world. It also seeks to enlighten the actions of businesses and organisations in a world transformed by the new industrial revolution, the environmental crisis, a new world balance and other major societal changes.

By emphasizing individualisation when designing its programmes, ESSEC prioritises the cultivation of personal responsibility and an entrepreneurial spirit amongst its diverse community members, and offers them a unique experience that will guide them throughout their lives.

The ESSEC Paris La Défense campus is dedicated exclusively to Executive Education and will be the venue for the programme. Located in the historical CNIT building in the heart of Europe’s largest purpose built business district, it is 10 minutes from the centre of Paris and welcomes more than 5,000 senior executives and leaders annually. On-site catering will be provided by the world-renowned award-winning Sodexo Prestige and menus will be suited to meet the different dietary requirements of participants.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided based on single occupancy from Sunday 10th until Saturday 16th September 2023 at the 4-star Hilton Paris La Défense Hotel. The hotel is also located in the CNIT Building, which has a shopping mall, restaurants and an open air museum. It is just a 3-minute walk to the ESSEC campus and 30-40 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport by car/taxi. It is well connected to public transportation including metro links to major spots like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs Elysées.

Hilton Paris La Defense

2 Pl. de la Défense, 92800 Puteaux, France
www.hilton.com/en/hotels/parldhi-hilton-paris-la-defense/

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Note: All information on this page is correct but may be subject to change.

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Programme Director

Professor Jeroen Rombouts

Director, ESSEC-Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair

Jeroen Rombouts has been a Professor at ESSEC Business School since 2013. He obtained a PhD in Econometrics in 2004, and as a full Professor of Statistics and Econometrics, he teaches Big Data Analytics and Data Science courses for the MBA, Master and Executive Programmes at ESSEC in Paris and Singapore. His research topic is predictive analytics, in particular time series analysis and forecasting. He has published numerous scientific articles, organises workshops frequently and is an Associate editor of several quantitative scientific journals. His research is funded by the European Commission and the French national research agency. Prior to joining ESSEC Business School, Jeroen was Associate Professor at HEC Montreal (2004-2012).

Professor Julien Malaurent

Director, Online Executive Master in Digital Transformation

Julien Malaurent is Associate Professor in the IDS department, and serves as Academic Director for the (online) Executive Master in Digital Transformation. He is also in charge, jointly with Prof. Guillaume Chevillon, of the Metalab. Julien’s research projects are based on qualitative approaches (case study and action research), and address issues related to the work practices of users embedded in multi-cultural context, digital ubiquity, digital transformation at both the organisational and societal levels. In terms of methodology and epistemology, Julien’s research projects stress the importance of reflexivity toward the use of theoretical framework and interpretation of empirical datasets.

Professor Elise Gourier

Associate Professor in Finance, ESSEC Business School

Elise Gourier received her PhD in Finance in 2013 at the University of Zurich (part of the Swiss Finance Institute). Prior to joining ESSEC in 2018, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University and as an Assistant Professor at Queen Mary University of London. She teaches Machine Learning courses to Master's and PhD students at ESSEC and EPFL. Her research investigates risk premia of listed and private equity, with applications to quantitative risk management and dynamic portfolio optimisation. In her current work, Elise uses Machine Learning algorithms to investigate the effect of climate risks on financial markets and prices. Her work was published in the top 3 finance journals and presented at top international conferences. Her paper on factors in private equity received the 2018 Jack Treynor Prize, sponsored by the Q-Group. Her research is funded by the French National Research Agency.

Professor Thomas Huber

Associate Professor of Information Systems

Thomas Huber is passionate about the managerial and societal oportunities and challenges related to modern information technology. He is particularly interested in understanding dynamics over time with many of his projects taking a process-theoretic stance. He explores his interest in IT-related change processes in three broad research areas:

Managing Digital Transformation Processes: Platform Ecosystems / Management of Large-Scale System Implementation Projects / Management of AI projects
Governance Dynamics in Software Development: Dynamics of Contracts & Controls / Managing Pardoxes & Contradictions
Digital Collaboration: Prototype Use / Distributed Agile Software Development

Monday, 14 July 2025

Programme at a glance

Arrival in Paris

Lunch

CULTURAL IMMERSION DAY

Guided Tour: Visit to Chateau De Versailles

Evening Break

Welcome Dinner at the Le Ciel de Paris

Programme OUTLINE

Pre-Programme Guided Tour:

Visit to Chateau De Versailles followed by Welcome Dinner at the Le Ciel de Paris

On Sunday afternoon, participants have the option of joining us on a priority access guided tour of the Louvre Museum. It is the world's largest museum and houses one of the most impressive art collections in history including the famous Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. With priority access, participants will follow the guide straight into the museum without needing to stand in line.

After the tour, a Welcome Drinks session will be held.

Evening Session:

Welcome Dinner

It is customary for ABS to have a Welcome Dinner for participants of all its International Executive Education programmes on the first day. The venue for this Welcome Dinner will be at the elegant Le Ciel de Paris. Located on the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower, this restaurant offers the most beautiful and panaromic view of Paris. With 58 floors, Montparnasse Tower is the highest building in the capital and the second most in France.

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Programme at a glance

Kick-off Session Welcome Speech by ESSEC & ABS

AI Strategies & Ethical Implications

Lunch

AI Strategies & Ethical Implications

INDUSTRY KEY SPEAKERS

Evening Break

Free Time

Programme OUTLINE

Morning Session:

Kick-off Session Welcome Speech by ESSEC & ABS

The first session will be an introduction to the Programme and what to expect in the week.

AI Strategies & Ethical Implications

The rise of generative AI has accelerated AI adoption across industries, reshaping how businesses operate and compete. In the financial services industry, AI has the potential to drive efficiency, boost innovation, and change business models. This course provides an in-depth understanding of AI, distinguishing it from human intelligence and tracing its evolution to today’s frontier: machine learning. With a strong focus on value creation, participants will explore how AI can enhance and automate decision-making in financial services. Using the AI Canvas as a strategic tool, participants will learn to analyse and manage AI-driven digital transformation processes, uncover and leverage AI’s value potential, and identify opportunities for AI-based innovation in banking and finance. Additionally, the course equips participants to recognize potential risks and challenges related to AI.

Afternoon Session:

AI Strategies & Ethical Implication + Industry Key Speakers

A continuation from this morning’s topic by extending into how to implement strategies to mitigate these risks within their organization’s AI system. Industry speakers will provide real-world insights into the evolving financial landscape, sharing their experiences, best practices, and emerging trends in leveraging AI, big data, and innovative financial technologies to drive decision-making and business growth

Key speakers for panel discussion:

Capucine Marteau, Product Manager for Alerting / Monitoring Posture at Datadog
Mung Ki Woo, COO – Group Financial Service Vertical
Marine Lecomte, Head of Offers and Innovation – Group Financial Services Vertical

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Programme at a glance

Successful Data-Driven Company Roadmaps

Lunch

Data Value Creation in Action

Evening Break

Free Time

Programme OUTLINE

Morning and Afternoon Session:

Successful Data Driven Company Roadmaps

This course will explore how a data driven company can benefit from data and the challenges in the banking industry. The course will break down the key steps to building a successful data roadmap across four dimensions:

Strategy and business alignment – ensuring AI and data initiatives create measurable value
Data culture and literacy – embedding data-driven decision-making across teams
Use case prioritization and value – focusing on high-impact AI applications such as fraud detection and risk modelling
Scaling with organization and technology – leveraging cloud, automation, and AI to operationalize data

A banking case study will illustrate the full journey from strategy to execution.

Thursday, 17 July 2025

Programme at a glance

Company Visit: QUANTCUBE

Lunch

AI Literacy, experimentation, value

Evening Break

Free Time

Programme OUTLINE

Morning Session:

Company visits to QUANTCUBE Technology

QUANTCUBE Technology creates value from all types of data, while being at the forefront of innovation and advocating for an ethical use of the data. They will provide a demo to participants on how Real-Time Macro Insights are gathered through AI & Big Data, Analysed & Merged Real-Time Alternative Data, and produce Cutting-Edge AI & Proprietary Algorithms. Macro Insights for Financial Institutions: For Hedge Funds, leverage real-time macroeconomic intelligence to identify arbitrage opportunities and stay ahead of market inefficiencies. For Asset Managers, enhance portfolio strategies with relative performance insights powered by QuantCube’s alternative data.

Afternoon Session:

AI Literacy, Experimentation and Value Metrics

A major challenge in developing valuable AI solutions is the lack of a common language regarding data and AI. With the rise of large language models (LLM) like ChatGPT, clear communication and stat literacy have become even more critical. This topic provides the necessary elements to bridge this gap, enabling strategi decision-making based on data-driven experimentation. Participants will learn to define and use value metrics to quantify the impact of AI-driven decisions, improve their data language skills, and implement A/B testing in practice – leveraging the latest advancements in AI and LLM-powered analytics.

Friday, 18 July 2025

Programme at a glance

Company Visit: BNP PARIBAS

Lunch

Navigating AI in banking: Regulations, use cases, and the road ahead

Evening Break

Farewell Dinner at Bateaux Parisiens on a Paris Seine boat

Programme OUTLINE

Morning Session:

Company visits to BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas was awarded by Euromoney as the Best Private Bank in France in 2024, Best Wealth Management Institution in France 2024, Best Digital Private Banking Solutions in France 2024, Best Private Bank in France for Discretionary Management 2024, Best positioning in sustainable finance in France 2024. They will share with participants on some of the successful products and challenges.

Afternoon Session:

Navigating AI in Banking: Regulations, Use Cases and the Road Ahead

This topic will explore the transformative impact of AI in banking, combining a compliance perspective with real-world business applications. Participants will first focus on how banks navigate AI regulation in Europe, covering the AI Act, compliance strategies, and a hands-on workshop on best practices for AI governance. Then participants will delve into AI deployment across European banks, drawing insights from Sopra Steria’s FEB 2025 GenAI study. Participants will examine key AI use cases, implementation challenges, market differences, and future trends. The session will conclude with a practical workshop to assess the feasibility of real-world GenAI applications in their organizations.

Evening Session:

Farewell Dinner

The farewell dinner is also an ABS tradition for its Executive Education programmes and this one will be held on the Bateaux Parisiens, where partipants will get to enjoy a wonderful evening on a Paris Seine boat. From the boat's large bay windows, you will see the Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, and the Conciergerie located on the Ile de la Cité, as well as the Louvre. This exceptional view will also include a chance to observe the illuminated Eiffel Tower as the boat passes by. While admiring the view, an elegant dinner will be served on the boat.

Saturday, 19 July 2025

Programme at a glance

AI governance and the global AI race

Lunch

How AI and data analytics impact ESG developments

Certificate Ceremony

Evening Break

Free Time

Programme OUTLINE

Morning Session:

AI Governance and Global AI Race

This topic will explore AI governance and the global race, highlighting its impact on innovation, regulation and competitiveness. Participants will learn about key AI governance frameworks and the importance of data governance. Participants will examine the geopolitical stakes of leading in AI, including economic, security and ethical implications.

Afternoon Session:

How AI and Data Analytics impact ESG Developments

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, Artificial Intelligence and data-driven decision-making are transforming how organizations generate, analyse and use environmental, social and governance (ESG) data. The learning goals are exploring how AI and data analytics are transforming ESG data collection, standardization, reporting and leveraging on AI for ESG Data Analytics and Decision-Making.

Certificate Ceremony

This ceremony will see participants receiving their certificates and officially mark the end of the one-week programme.