PEOPLE


Professional Standards SAMAR MANAGES FOUR TEAMS ACROSS THE CISI BUSINESS AREAS OF MEMBERSHIP, EVENTS, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, INTEGRITY, AND ETHICS. BY LORA BENSON MCIPR, CISI HEAD OF MEDIA


improving financial literacy skills and the experience and outcomes of financial learning, through the provision of grants, is another highlight. So, too, is strengthening our hybrid


events, offering our members flexibility to join either in person or virtually. For example, over 1,000 members from 50 countries attended our 2022 Annual Integrity Event online, with just under 200 joining in person. But for me, leading the development


Since joining the CISI in 2021, Samar Yanni has led on several key CISI initiatives, including the establishment of our Future Foundation, our Mentoring Scheme, and the launch of our Chartered Firm™ status. Samar is well placed to do this, having


experienced membership of the CISI as part of the continuing professional development requirements of a previous role as vice president, marketing manager at Gatehouse Bank, UK in 2017. And her talent for languages means she can communicate with members in English, French, Italian, and Arabic. She applied for the position because of


the CISI’s “excellent global reputation in setting high standards”, she says.


What are your highlights and achievements over the past year? One of the team’s main achievements is the launch of the designation Chartered Fellow (Financial Planning), which we are very proud of, as Chartership is perceived as the pinnacle of professionalism. We have also launched CISI Chartered firms. This has been in the making for a while, and we are delighted to finally be able to offer this designation to firms that meet the criteria. The establishment of the CISI Future Foundation, a charity with the aim of


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of our Mentoring Scheme, in response to member requests, is a highlight because I am passionate about empowering young people through coaching and mentoring. It was great to see an impressive uptake as soon as the scheme was launched.


Have you had personal experience of being mentored or mentoring someone? I loved supporting young people when I lectured at universities, and I have mentored junior colleagues and taken on interns in the past, which I found very rewarding. What a feeling when you contribute, even if slightly, to someone else’s learning, performance, or professional development! I have also been a mentee and, even


We have also launched a campaign


highlighting the importance of the CISI Code of Conduct and the changes made to it in 2021. We are specifically looking at our


offer for our younger members and those at the beginning of their career, or changing career. This includes our Young Professionals’ Network (cisi.org/ypn). We are exploring ways to support this community even further.


I am passionate about empowering young people


Briefly, where have you worked and what did you do before joining CISI? I worked for the Insolvency Practitioners Association, a regulator and professional membership body, as head of external affairs and member services. Before that, I worked at Gatehouse Bank, and prior to Gatehouse I was a consultant in marketing, branding, and presentation for about 16 years. Consulting gave me the opportunity to work for some very well-established financial services institutions and international advertising agencies. With the


flexibility offered by


though this didn’t follow a formal structure at the time, I found it so helpful. The ability to look at situations from someone else’s point of view is an eye- opener and allows you to find alternative ways to doing things or solving problems.


Any further developments that members should know about? MyCISI Rewards, which launched in January 2023, replaces our member discount platform with one that offers a wider range of discounts and benefits as well as a wellness section.


consulting, I also lectured part-time during the same period at different universities in the UK. These included Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London, Syracuse University London, and HULT International Business School London.


Is there anyone either in your professional or personal life, over time, who has inspired you in some way? If so, who and why? Thinking back at the different people who inspired me throughout my life, they all have dedication and inner strength, and keep going to reach their goals, no matter the difficulties they face. In that respect, my sister is probably my biggest inspiration.


THE REVIEW MARCH 2023


Meet Samar Yanni, assistant director and head of CISI Membership &


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