Women in Islamic Finance: A Rare and Powerful Conversation on Inclusion and Opportunity

Written by Myra Maloba on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.

I was honored to be invited to an exclusive roundtable conversation on Women in Islamic Finance, hosted by Barbara Barungi, Board Chair of National Bank of Kenya and Access Bank Kenya.

The roundtable was intimate, intentional, and deeply insightful, bringing together bank executives from both National Bank of Kenya and Access Bank Kenya, as well as businesswomen spanning multiple sectors … from beauticians and creatives to developers and medical professionals. It was a powerful reminder that women’s financial needs are not one-dimensional, and neither should the solutions be.

During our one-on-one interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsHmHy0-to&t=3s, Barbara Barungi had earlier expressed the importance of engaging women from all walks of life in order to design and tailor financial products that genuinely meet their needs. True to her word, she moved swiftly from vision to action, convening these roundtable discussions immediately following the launch of the W Initiative. It is rare, and in many cases unheard of, for a Board Chairperson to personally hold such spaces for dialogue, listening, and co-creation.

Key Highlights from the Roundtable

Discussions during the session focused on several critical areas shaping the future of women in Islamic finance:

• A strong drive and strategic focus towards Shariah-compliant banking
• The growth and strengthening of Amana Banking
• Mentorship programs, training, capacity building, and financial literacy
• Expanded asset financing options to support women-led enterprises
• A deliberate effort to understand, empower, and expand banking solutions into diverse communities
• A clear commitment to sustainability, with Barbara expressing her personal passion for community-based environmental initiatives, including clean-up activities carried out in partnership with local communities

What stood out most was the honesty in the room. Women spoke candidly about access to finance, cultural considerations, leadership barriers, and the need for trust-based financial ecosystems. This was not a symbolic engagement, it was a working session designed to inform real change.

We left the meeting feeling heard, empowered, enlightened, and hopeful for a more inclusive and responsive financial future.

This conversation strongly reflects the vision behind Women Par Excellence — a platform dedicated to spotlighting women who are leading with purpose, breaking barriers, and shaping systems that create impact beyond themselves. As we look ahead to 2026, I am particularly excited about continuing to highlight stories of women in leadership who are influencing finance, policy, innovation, and community transformation across Kenya and beyond.

As Kenya deepens its Islamic finance offerings and accelerates financial inclusion, this roundtable set a powerful precedent for what intentional leadership looks like.

I extend my sincere appreciation to Barbara Barungi for her commitment to women’s financing, empowerment, and inclusion. When leadership listens, acts, and includes women, communities and economies rise.

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