Please provide a short bio, which will be used on the official web page.

Ara Chalabyan is a distinguished professional in finance, corporate governance, and internal auditing. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee at ARARATBANK OJSC and is the President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Armenia. With over two decades of experience, he has held pivotal roles, including Chief Audit Executive at the Central Bank of Armenia (2010-2020) and Director of Corporate Services and Development (2020-2022) in addition to private sector roles (CFO, CEO). He has been advising a banking software company and has done research on financial technologies.

Beyond his corporate and public roles, Ara is passionate about education and knowledge sharing. He is the host of the Armenian-language podcast In Simple Terms, where he simplifies complex topics in finance, fintech, blockchain, AI, business, and leadership, to name a few. He is also an adjunct lecturer at the American University of Armenia, mentoring the next generation of finance and audit professionals.

Ara holds multiple prestigious qualifications, including FCCA (Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CRMA (Certification in Risk Management Assurance), and CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control).

Describe a time when you helped someone improve their skills or knowledge significantly. What was your strategy?

I have mentored many students and team members to become better versions of themselves. My strategy is simple - leading by example, showing what one can achive with positive thinking.

What methods do you use to stay updated with the latest trends in business and consulting?

I teach updating the materials frequently, I read books and articles from McKinsey, Harvard, IIA, ACCA, ISACA to name a few, I write articles, I do podcast where I have interesting guests from business and other areas.