Daniel Okafor

Head of Client Briefings

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In banking, the briefing is where trust is either built or lost.

Key takeaway

Agree on what must not be said as carefully as what should be, then let the conversation breathe.

01 / How did you come to run an executive briefing program?

I spent years in client coverage teams, preparing senior bankers for big meetings. When the bank created a client briefing function, it felt like a natural step: the same preparation, but for a whole room of senior people at once.

02 / What does a typical briefing look like at your company?

Our briefings usually run two to three hours with a client’s leadership team. We cover market views, a few tailored sessions from product specialists and plenty of time for questions. Confidentiality shapes everything, from the room we use to the materials we share.

03 / How do you secure time from executives and subject-matter experts?

Senior bankers are generous with their time when the relationship is strategic. My job is to make the case clearly and the preparation easy, with a short brief and a fifteen-minute prep call the day before.

04 / Tell us about one briefing that changed how you work.

Early on, we ran a briefing that was technically perfect but felt like a sales pitch. The client was polite and nothing followed. Now every session has to answer a question the client has actually asked us.

05 / How do you measure whether a briefing worked?

We track follow-up meetings, new mandates and client feedback. The clearest signal is when the client asks for a second session with the same people.

06 / What tools and processes keep your program running smoothly?

A strict compliance review step, a client profile template and a debrief note within forty-eight hours. Consistency protects the bank and the client.

07 / What will change about executive briefings in the next few years?

Clients want fewer, more focused conversations with real expertise. I expect smaller groups, more specialists in the room and more briefings held at the client’s own offices.