Binod Shankar

Binod Shankar is a powerhouse keynote speaker, executive coach, and former finance leader who doesn’t believe in fluff. Known for his direct delivery, razor-sharp insights, and entertaining storytelling, Binod brings a unique blend of corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and adventure to the stage. As the CEO of Elevation FZE, his biggest achievement to date is co-founding and scaling Genesis Institute, the region’s leading CFA training provider, which he successfully sold to the global education giant Kaplan Inc. His talks are high-voltage, thought-provoking experiences grounded in decades of real-world wisdom and sharp humour, aimed at helping professionals break through barriers and take meaningful action.

Binod’s early career wasn’t paved with gold. After a string of academic rejections and early failures, he found his footing when he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992. He began his career in industrial banking in India, working on project appraisal for SMEs and reporting directly to the CEO as Deputy Manager. Determined to go further, Binod later joined a Big Four firm, earning two rapid promotions in a single year to become Audit Supervisor. His relentless drive and hunger for growth led him to clear all levels of the CFA programme on his first attempt, earning the title of CFA Charterholder in 2005 - a significant turning point in his career.

What followed was an impressive ascent through leadership roles. Binod became Finance Director of one of the MENASA region’s largest property developers, where he played a key role in raising the world’s largest convertible Islamic bond. He later became Executive Director, overseeing a staggering $10 billion property portfolio. In 2009, he took the entrepreneurial leap, launching Genesis Institute, which became the top CFA prep provider across the Middle East and Africa. After its acquisition in 2017, Binod earned the ILM Level 7 Coaching & Mentoring Qualification, joined the Board of CFA Emirates Society in 2019, and was appointed to the Advisory Board of Heriot-Watt University in 2022. He’s also a regular guest on CNBC and Bloomberg, with over 230 live interviews.

People book Binod because he delivers substance. He speaks on topics including leadership, organisational culture, personal branding, risk management, and the future of work - each infused with practical takeaways and gripping adventure tales. His sessions go beyond inspiration; they incite transformation. With his deep expertise, hard-earned credibility, and disarming humour, Binod equips audiences to think harder, act faster, and grow deeper. If you’re looking for a speaker who combines corporate grit with real human insight, Binod is the name to know.