Viewpoint: Executive Banking School prepares future for industry leaders.

The Consumer Bankers Association recently concluded our Executive Banking School in Greenville. Established more than 70 years ago, this year's program was the first to be held in-person since 2019, welcoming more than 300 students from 39 banks back to the campus of Furman University.

CBA's Executive Banking School is a three-year immersive advanced banking education program that provides future bank leaders with the comprehensive, holistic perspective of retail banking required to lead and evolve effectively with industry shifts.

Our society has changed dramatically over the past three years, but the important role EBS plays in preparing the next generation of diverse bankers has not. Here are some of the key takeaways from our time in Greenville this year.

America's leading banks are committed to building a robust and diverse talent pipeline.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced banks, like so many other industries, to reimagine how to retain and attract the best and brightest employees. This drive for the top talent also led banks to redouble their efforts to build diverse teams that better reflect the communities they serve.

Through their participation in the program, banks are demonstrating a tangible commitment to building a diverse and robust talent pipeline while also signaling to rising stars within the bank that their employer is invested in their future success.

In-person programs support complex learning and networking two key ingredients to preparing future leaders.

The pandemic has also challenged each of our member banks to reimagine the future of the workplace. As an industry, we need to navigate the shift to having more people work from home, and perhaps more often than we used to allow. However, this year's EBS session convinced me beyond a doubt that at least two things are best done in the same room complex learning and networking.

As a faculty of mostly practitioners 93% of whom are full-time bankers we pride ourselves on delivering a rigorous curriculum that is enhanced by simulations and breakout exercises while also incorporating real-life examples. This approach challenges the students, making them uncomfortable in the moment and ultimately helping them learn how to tackle the complex issues they may face as a future industry leader.

The learning that takes place during impromptu one-on-one conversations with faculty in the classroom or with other students in the hallways simply cannot be replicated. Our objective is...