The company wants to create a digital mindset among its employees.
Singapore-based financial company, DBS, has incorporated hackathons into its talent development programme, with employees creating prototypes alongside startups.
Last week, the bank brought together 150 DBS employees and startups from around the Southeast Asia region to tackle business and societal challenges.
DBS wants to create a more digital mindset among its employees. The hackathon serves as a sandbox for employees to experiment like a startup, utilising lean startup methodology and human-centred design to identify and act on opportunities quickly.
It also provides startups with the opportunity to interact with like-minded peers, understand business realities and showcase their capabilities.
Dave Gledhill, head of group technology and operations at DBS, says, “Such events can benefit both the employees and startups by sharing each other’s knowledge and expertise, as well as through a cultural exchange.”
This fresh approach to hackathons has generated a number of viable working prototypes for the bank.
By making innovation a key focus of its talent development programme, DBS is also equipping its employees with skills and knowledge to shape the future of banking.
Lee Yan Hong, head of group human resources, DBS, says, “It is essential for us to innovate and find new ways to groom the next generation of digital-minded leaders through exposure, education and experiential learning.”