Achiever's Success Story
“Zahid Zoebbhai Kalolwala, Advisor, Digital & Payments Group, Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Arabia”
‘Zahid Kalolwala’, aka ZK, is a known and respected brand name in the Remittance & Payments spaceglobally. With over two decades of domain experience, he is a seasoned C-level cool headed and pragmatic business leader with expertise in remittances, payments, digitization, fintech, financial inclusion and BFS. He is passionate about transforming businesses, disrupting status quo, bringing new ideas to fruition and shaping future leaders.
Post completion of his BBA and MBA from India in 1998, he moved to Dubai to explore greener pastures and has been an NRI since. He has lived and worked in UAE, UK, Hong Kong, Kuwait and most recently in Saudi Arabia . He has shuttled to over 70 countries,managing multi-country P&Ls and leading global teams, including for big conglomerates and MNCs like MoneyGram, Travelex, WallStreet, Al Ghurair and Al Rajhi Bank. Zahid is currently based in the modern and cosmopolitan capital city of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia along with his beautiful and caring wife Ensiya, equally considerate and widowed mother Farida and two lovely teen kids, Hamzah & Zainab.
An advocate of continuous learning, he leads by example. An alumnus of IIMA, he has attended several physical and virtual workshops, courses and discussions at premier global institutes like Oxford, Harvard, MIT, IIMB, Said Business School, Google, LinkedIn, IBM, RCA, UNODC, GHPIBM,HKU, ACC and CFTE. For his valuable and continuous contribution to the society and the industry at large, Zahid has been conferred with several Honorary Doctorates from global and reputed institutes and universities.At the start of 2021, his professional journey was featured in the ‘Inspiring Icons’ book published by Global Triumph Foundation, a leading global, insight driven Market Research Company.His mantra for success is ‘Don’t wish for it, Work for it.’
Born a Gemini on 19th June 1975 in Bombay and raised in a modest and middle class family, he has fond memories of his childhood days. Despite humble and meagre finances, his parents supported him and his younger sister Farzana with the best of upbringing.He idolizes his late father Zoeb Kalolwala and is heavily inspired by him,he misses and remembers his dad every day. He completed his schooling at St Xavier’s High School (Fort) and thereafter pursued junior college at HR College, one of the best commerce college in Bombay. To pursue higher and quality education,he moved to Gujarat and lived hostel life for 5 years. He reminisces his college and hostel life and misses his friends and batch mates many of whom have moved abroad and excelled in their respective careers.
Zahid diligently maintains a stress free and healthy work life balance and strongly believes in the ‘Work while you work, Play while you play’ rhyme. He loves travelling and hates imperfection and procrastination. He owes his personal and professional successes to his wonderful and lovely family and appreciates their compassion, strength and unconditional love and support.Aspiring to retire early, he has focused plans to have his son and daughter well settled in their respective careers and lives.