May 2025 | Manama, Bahrain
In today’s rapidly shifting world of work, a simple but urgent question is rising to the surface:
What does it really mean to be AI-ready — and who’s leading the way?
This was the core focus of an executive session hosted by CFTE in collaboration with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF). Held behind closed doors in the heart of Manama, the gathering brought together 50+ senior leaders from Bahrain’s financial ecosystem for a bold, honest discussion on AI transformation, not as a technology trend, but as a leadership imperative.
Rather than offering a checklist of tools, the session explored something deeper: what it takes for organisations to rewire how they think about talent, performance, and long-term resilience in an AI-powered economy.
From Tools to Talent: Rethinking the AI Conversation
The session was led by Huy Nguyen Trieu, CFTE co-founder and author of The Great Transition: The Future of Work in the Age of AI. His message was clear:
“The biggest shift AI creates isn’t technical. It’s human. It challenges how we define performance, contribution, and adaptability.”
Instead of asking how many people are trained on AI tools, organisations must ask a tougher question: Are our people ready to think differently?
To help answer that, leaders were introduced to a new talent framework — the Performance Integral. It categorises talent not by job title, but by how individuals create value:
Task Robots – high executors, low autonomy
Problem Solvers – adaptable, independent thinkers
System Thinkers – cross-functional, collaborative minds
Superstars – those who define new problems entirely
Each of these roles has value. But in a world shaped by AI, not all are equally future-proof.
The real question for institutions is this: Are we building teams optimised for efficiency — or for adaptability and creative thinking?
Next came the CDE Innovation Prism, a strategic model for understanding how AI is transforming jobs and systems:
Cheaper / better/ faster – Automating routine tasks
Different – Creating new capabilities and business models
Enhancing – Amplifying human creativity and decision-making
Most organisations are experiencing all three patterns at once. The key is knowing where your workforce sits on this spectrum — and what that means for future roles.
The takeaway? AI readiness isn’t a single metric. It’s a multi-dimensional map. And forward-looking leaders need to understand where they -and their people- stand today.
Beyond Upskilling: This Is a Cultural Shift
While many conversations around AI readiness focus on upskilling, the Bahrain session surfaced a more profound insight:
It’s not just about learning new tools. It’s about learning to lead in complexity.
Becoming AI-ready means rethinking:
What “good” performance looks like
How teams operate across silos
What kind of thinking drives value in dynamic environments
The leaders in the room agreed: AI can supercharge performance — but only if your people are already switched on.
A Starting Point, Not a One-Off
This session wasn’t the end of the conversation. It was the beginning of a larger movement, and a clear signal that Bahrain is ready to lead.
CFTE is proud to continue this work alongside BIBF and other local partners. Together, we’ll be shaping:
Executive education programmes for AI-era leadership
Capability frameworks that map value beyond technical skills
Talent strategies designed for agility and scale
Because AI isn’t a future issue. It’s a now issue. And the question is no longer whether it will reshape work, but whether we’re ready for the shift.
Special thanks to the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance and the visionary leaders who joined us.
CFTE remains committed to helping professionals, institutions, and governments define what AI readiness looks like — and turn strategy into action.
Want to learn more?
➡️ Explore the Executive AI Certification – Level 1
➡️ Read The AI-Fication of Talents Whitepaper
