Omar Shaikh

Doer
DISC Type : sd

Managing Director at Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI)

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Overview

Omar is the Managing Director of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), specializing in ESG, sustainable, and Islamic finance. A Chartered Accountant formerly with EY, he advises governments and the UN on financial policy and ecosystem building. He holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow and an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University.

Omar is a passionate advocate for his community, championing his Scottish-Asian heritage by supporting organizations like Colourful Heritage that work to preserve its history. He is actively involved in interfaith dialogue, particularly around environmental protection and shared values, as shown by his engagement with faith-based initiatives surrounding climate action.

He co-founded the Islamic Finance Council UK and worked with the UN to develop and launch the pioneering SDG Financial Products Platform.

Personality Overview

Long-term Focused

Deliberate Doer

Results Focused

They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily.  They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together. They exhibit a rare combination of being result-oriented but patient at the same time.

Topics They Care About

Ethical Finance
As Managing Director of GEFI, he is dedicated to building the ecosystem for sustainable and responsible finance to deliver positive change.
Islamic Finance
A leading expert who has advised governments on policy and regulatory frameworks, he also co-founded the Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC).
Climate Action
Engages in global climate discussions like COP30 and supports faith-based initiatives from groups like Ummah4Earth and Greenpeace to protect the planet.

Media Appearances

Omar has no verified media appearances

Work History

Managing Director at Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI)
Board Member & Director at Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC)
3-2023
Advisory Board, OxFAIF at University of Oxford
Audit, Private Equity & Head of Islamic Finance at EY

Education

Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD from University of Glasgow

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : N/A Location : Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Managing Director at Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI)
URL has been copied!

Insights For Selling To Omar

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Let them know of potential risks but suggest mitigation methods alongside
  • Ask them at the end if they see a strong value prop in your product; expect an honest answer
  • Focus on the results that your product produces, expect some strategic questions in return

DONT's

  • Don't get into pricing discussions early on, steer conversation towards proven results
  • Don't take their patience for granted, avoid long-winding sermons
  • Don't shy away from asking hard questions, but be extra polite

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Omar is

  • Strong proof of impact and their conviction will matter the most, but they wouldn't want to act unilaterally either
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Omar

  • They will say no if they are not convinced but you will have to prompt them.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Omar move?

  • They will want to understand things well but can move fast once they have a clear picture.
  • Can Omar take some risk or not?

  • They have good risk tolerance but are likely to think it through once or twice.

You And Omar

Personality Compatibility


More Profiles

Discover additional public profiles from our index.

Search more profiles

Looking for someone else? Search here for anyone.

Or visit Humantic AI to know more.