What makes bKash one of the most desirable fintech destinations to work in
A rigorous recruitment process combined with a fantastic learning environment that allows employees to innovate is the key to bKash’s unprecedented growth from 37 employees to 2,400 in just eleven years
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Photo: Courtesy
In 2018, Mozammel Haque, a technology expert working in the heart of Silicon Valley, thought about how he could help businesses in Bangladesh harness technology and create breakthroughs. He was looking for a platform where he could implement the learning he acquired there. He found bKash as a perfect platform where he could not only use that knowledge but also take the technology-driven solutions to the masses through innovation.
His dream to use technology and create positive change for the people of Bangladesh inspired him to join bKash. Currently, he heads the Software Research & Engineering department in the Product & Technology department of bKash.
Eleven years ago, bKash started its journey with only 37 employees. Fast forward to 2023, the mobile financial services platform has become a second home for more than 2,400 employees.
Although it can be a difficult job to serve a robust base of 65 million customers, it is a lot of fun to work here – says Intekhab Sadekin, head of solution architecture and planning of bKash.
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Photo: Noor-A-Alam
He started in a different role a few years back, but later bKash recognized his expertise and brought him to his current role. Many like him now count bKash as one of the most desirable destinations to kick-start their career in the fintech space.
The company’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, Azmal Huda, also believes that the very thought of the opportunity to create solutions for millions of customers led him here. He is one of the few members with whom bKash started from scratch. Working in a local company of global standards lured him more than 12 years ago. Azmal still feels that every day at bKash starts with the same excitement he had as a newcomer.
What makes bKash so exciting for tech talent?
At bKash, every employee gets an idea of how a top brand creates a service-oriented product to ease the pain of millions of customers – Azmal believes.
He believes that bKash thrives on training human resources in a way that makes them equipped to deal with the most advanced and sophisticated technology the company works with. It also ensures an atmosphere of positive reinforcement with growth opportunities.
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For example, if a recruit shows more potential in a field than where the person has joined, bKash keeps its platform open to shift into a new role and flourish the individual’s full potential. This intuitive talent management helps the hired talent to grow strongly.
bKash allows its employees to innovate almost every day and be a part of serving a large customer base. With the blend of technological innovation and the right infrastructure, the workforce is empowered to think outside the box, come up with new ideas and implement them. Intekhab says – “When we have a powerful idea, bKash lets us try it.”
New carpenters at bKash go through an induction process that helps them get to know the bKash DNA better. They get a glimpse of all the divisions and their functionality. They get the same exposure as those who work for many years.
Getting the horizontal and vertical knowledge to learn from the past, overcome challenges, understand industry perspectives and develop new solutions is a great advantage. Anyone with a good idea gets the opportunity to experiment with a new solution and pilot it among a few hundred, thousands or even millions of customers – which is a unique opportunity here.
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Create and nurture a talented workforce
bKash thrives on creating a dynamic workforce that is ready to take on any challenge that comes their way. For those looking for a world-class organization dealing with the latest technology and impacting the lives of millions – bKash’s flagship program ‘bTechWhiz’ can be a perfect choice.
This program aims to find the most potential technical talent from top universities through a rigorous process. Students who pass the campus recruitment test for this program go through a few more stages before they start working on the product and technology team.
They are then exposed to first-hand learning opportunities. Each of them gets to enhance and enhance their talents under the supervision of an assigned mentor.
Apart from technology, bKash is a commendable workplace for employees from different backgrounds. To find the perfect fit for bKash, it conducts talent hunt programs like ‘bNext’ and ‘GenNEXT Leader’. These programs aim to recruit future leaders, nurture their abilities and provide them with a fantastic platform where their ideas can flourish.
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Photo: Noor-A-Alam
bNext offers paid internships where students go through an enriching learning experience at Fintech by participating in impactful projects. While Bangladeshi students generally seek opportunities abroad, students from a number of foreign universities have done internships at bKash to learn how a world-class MFS provider works.
During the internship, the interns go through a comprehensive development program, starting from induction to customized learning modules, mentorship and monthly catch-up with the HR Business Partner and project managers. This development journey gets the interns ready to kick-start their careers.
“I wanted to do an internship in a company where I could learn and grow, and bNext gave me just that. There is a perception in Bangladesh that much cannot be learned during an internship, and they cannot be given much responsibility. But at bKash, not only did I learn a lot, I got to work hands-on on projects,” said Sheikh Samit Muhaimin, who is now working as an engineer in the Service Operations department of the Product and Technology Division after completing his internship.
The biggest difference between this flagship internship program and a regular one is the learning opportunities. Not only do they get hands-on experience by engaging in real projects, but they also get training in soft skills like presentation, public speaking, workplace etiquette, etc. They are even taught how to face interviews.
bKash also offers Management Trainee (MT) programs at various universities. bKash’s MT program “GenNEXT Leader” offers excellent career growth and is one of the best MT programs in the country. In addition, bKash arranges training, care and knowledge sharing for students on relevant topics.
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What is it for regular employees at bKash
bKash has introduced ‘bAcademy’, a comprehensive 360° solution to cater to all development needs of bKash employees. It aims to develop the skills of employees and make them future-ready.
In the first phase of this programme, employees received training in innovation, presentation, project management, communication and data analysis from local and foreign trainers. “We believe that bAcademy will continue to increase the skills of its employees to maintain our position in the coming days,” said Md. Ferdous Yusuf, Chief Human Resources Officer at bKash.
Learn from the best
A world-class ownership model that includes BRAC Bank Ltd, US-based Money in Motion LLC, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ant Group and SoftBank Vision Fund makes the company stand out from the crowd. The addition of each partner in the ownership structure has benefited bKash to learn and implement industry standard practices such as culture of inclusion, market dynamics and guidelines, effective governance system, good corporate governance, state-of-the-art technologies in the Fintech arena, and so on. Thus, bKash employees get the opportunity to see the best global practices and make themselves future-ready by becoming skilled, goal-oriented and fearless to take on any challenge.
bKash is one of those rare brands that has transitioned from a noun to a verb. This home-spun brand is now almost ubiquitous with Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in Bangladesh. Back in 2011, bKash started its journey as a joint venture of BRAC Bank Ltd and US-based Money in Motion LLC.
Along the way, the company found shareholders such as IFC in 2013, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014, Alibaba concern Ant Group in 2018 and SoftBank Vision Fund in 2021.
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Photo: Noor-A-Alam
bKash is not only adored by its 65 million customers, but its employees – both current and potential – love bKash too. The company has retained its top position as “Employer of Choice” consecutively for 3 years from 2020 to 2022 among multinational and local companies across all sectors of the Campus Track Survey of NielsenIQ, a globally recognized research organization. NielsenIQ conducted the surveys based on these parameters: i) Industry preference, ii) Jobs, salary and campus activities, and iii) Aspirational factors. In terms of Campus Recruitment Index (CRI) across all organizations, bKash excelled every time on all parameters of its campus activities, student preferences, attractive salary range, work environment, organizational culture and values, growth opportunities and job security.
As far as graduates are concerned, bKash is very accommodating. There is no discrimination based on public or private universities, gender or religion.
“I look for a person who has the curiosity to learn and the ambition to do something. In short, they must be a doer,” said Azmal Huda.
“Knowledge sharing, team spirit, always updated. If anyone has these qualities, they are welcome to work in bKash,” says Azmal.
So if someone who is already working in the industry wants to join bKash, they should have a positive attitude to go through a learning and sharing journey. bKash is always looking for the right person with the right attitude, hunger and motivation to learn every day and a proactive problem solver.
