Interview With Khalid Ferdous Howladar
Khalid Ferdous Howladar, Managing Director & Founder Of Acreditus
WHAT WAS YOUR EARLIEST AMBITION?
Actually, it was to be an Architect. I was good at Art & Design as well as Physics & Maths – this career would in theory combine the two, but when I found out it took seven years to become a Chartere Architect and even longer (if ever) before you could really apply your imagination – I realised it wasn’t for me.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?
Learning, travelling and meeting new smart people who have nothing to do with finance.
WHY ARE YOU INTO ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE?
It began in 2006 when an inspirational Moody’s MD called Michel Madelaine (now Vice Chairman of Moody’s) asked me to investigate the Nakheel sukuk in 2006 – then the world’s largest at around $3.5 billion. Back then nobody had anyidea what these things were… after looking through several hundred pages of legal documentation, I told him it was a very complex senior unsecured bond (unfortunately not much has changed). He then asked I cover this market (and the Middle East) for Moody’s until I become the first ever Global Head of Islamic Finance in 2014 as we set up a global team to cover the growth.
More recently however since the global financial crisis and Brexit I have taken an interest in inclusive capitalism and this is a natural fit with Islamic finance. The underlying economic principles have value beyond Muslims for all society and I sincerely believe it can help reduce the increasing inequality that we see globally. It is this view of Islamic or participation finance that I like to share/promote.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Nowadays since setting my own advisory I have very little spare time! I have discovered Podcasts and love the TEDtalks, LSE lectures and Bloomberg episodes. Aside from that I like writing but invariably my book takes second place to the topical research I write on the things I learn – the latest being blockchain and cryptocurrency. I watch a LOT of movies and if I am really trying to disconnect then xbox and/or house music!
WHICH MOVIE IS YOUR ALLTIME FAVOURITE?
That’s not possible! As a genre SciFi has to be the favourite with movies like Cloud Atlas and The Matrix series but I love movies that are more intricately character driven from Woody Allen to Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Pedro Almodovar.
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST MENTOR?
I’ve never, unfortunately, had a career mentor as such… although I think I could have used one many times. My father however is the biggest influence. He instilled a deep appreciation for education and hard work that has served me well in life. Also, the fictional character Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek! His creator Gene Roddenberry was a true visionary and diversity, ethics, responsibility and integrity were always key themes of his writing that impressed on me as a child.
WHERE ARE YOU THE HAPPIEST?
Laughing with friends and family mixed with good weather and food.
IF YOUR 15 YEARS OLD SEES YOU TODAY WHAT WOULD HE SAY?
What happened to your hair?
IN A FEW SENTENCES DESCRIBE YOUR 65 YEARS OLD.
Hopefully a happy, healthy and successful family man, inshaaAllah.
ANY DISAPPOINTMENT IN LIFE?
A few minor ones… but we only really learn through adversity.
“Nowadays since set ting my own advisory I have very little spare time.”
