Fostering an Inclusive Society & Workplace
At KBZ Bank, we believe in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and accepted.
We are committed to providing equal opportunities and an enabling environment for all individuals to fully participate and reach their full potential. By promoting a culture of inclusion and respect, we aim to create a positive and inclusive experience for the community in which we operate in.
Why it matters
Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is an integral part of our core values. Our DE&I journey is guided by the principle of Metta – loving kindness, which is at the heart of our efforts to create an inclusive society and workplace.
We understand the importance of DE&I and actively promoting conversations and practices around gender equality, women empowerment, and inclusivity inside-out through various partnerships with key players locally and internationally. Our commitment to creating an inclusive society and workplace is deeply rooted in our DNA, and we are dedicated to embracing and fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and equality.
KBZ Bank is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on any protected class. With over 57% of our employees and 63% of our leadership team comprised of females, our commitment to gender equality is evident. We create opportunities for all genders to lead and value diverse experiences and backgrounds, which helps us better understand and respond to our customers’ needs.
At KBZ Bank, we believe that promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace is not just the right thing to do – it’s essential for driving innovation, building stronger teams, and creating a better future for all. We are committed to continuing our efforts toward promoting DE&I in our workplace and beyond, and we encourage others to join us in this important mission. Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive society where everyone can thrive.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Workplace
At KBZ Bank, we understand that promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion starts with our own workplace. We are committed to embracing and fostering an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported. Here are some of the initiatives we have implemented to promote DE&I in our workplace …
Bridging Boundaries Towards an Inclusive Society
We are committed to using our resources and expertise to promote DE&I in society. We believe that by working together with our communities and partners, we can create positive change and a more inclusive world. Here are some of the initiatives we have implemented to promote DE&I in society…
Impacting Change
Our DE&I journey started from the very beginning when we founded the bank. Creating an inclusive workplace and society has always been in our DNA.
Our commitment to DE&I has been reflected in our various partnerships and initiatives.
In 2014, we partnered with the Women’s Forum for ASEAN meetings in Naypyitaw and Yangon, recognizing the importance of gender equity in the business sector. In 2017, we hosted Women’s Week. The event included empowering activities and panel discussions on women in business, culminating in the adoption of UN Women’s Empowerment Principles by KBZ Bank and other participants in the private sector.
In the same year, KBZ Bank became one of the founding members of the Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE). BCGE’s expertise played a vital role in helping us create inclusive workplace policies and practices.
We successfully completed a rigorous assessment to measure our representation, pay equity, the effectiveness of policies, career flows, and the inclusiveness of our culture. This led to us being one of the first companies in Myanmar to receive the globally-recognized Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) certification in 2018-2020.
In 2023, KBZ Bank underwent a comprehensive GEARS Assessment. The regional GEARS assessment helps to understand the current status of the organization’s strategic workplace gender equality journey in which gender proportion of employees at five levels of responsibility, movements of talents, reflection on practices and procedures on 10 WGE areas including the insights and recommendations that will inform the development of the organization’s overarching workplace gender equality strategy.
KBZ Bank is the 6th GEARS assessed organisation in Myanmar, and the 40th regionally as of March 2023. We are proud of the progress we have made and will continue to invest in initiatives and programs that promote gender equity and ensure equal employment opportunities for all members of our community.
Breaking Barriers Together
At KBZ Bank, we recognize that true progress towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) requires collaboration and partnerships with like-minded organizations. That’s why we are proud to work together with leading DE&I organizations such as the Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE), the Valuable 500, and the Asia Gender Network.
Through our collaborations & partnerships, we leverage expertise and resources to advance our DE&I initiatives, share best practices, and create a more inclusive society and workplace. BCGE has been instrumental in helping us develop inclusive workplace policies and practices, while the Valuable 500 has allowed us to focus on disability inclusion through business leadership and opportunity. The Asia Gender Network provides us with a platform to connect with regional DE&I leaders and share our learnings and successes.
Our commitment to DE&I extends beyond our own organization, and we are proud to work together with these organizations to drive meaningful change in the wider community. Together, we can build a more equitable and inclusive world.