Leila Benali

Islamic finance specialist and former VP at Dubai Islamic Bank who now consults for central banks and fintech startups on Sharia-compliant financial products. MBA from INSEAD, CFA charterholder. Born in Casablanca, raised between Morocco and the UAE. Has structured over B in sukuk issuances and helped launch the first Islamic digital bank in Southeast Asia. Writes about Islamic finance, ethical banking, why interest-free finance isn't just a religious concept but a structural alternative to debt-based economies, ESG investing, and what conventional finance can learn from a 1,400-year-old financial framework. Known for a piece comparing Islamic finance risk-sharing principles to Y Combinator's equity model that got shared widely in both Muslim and startup circles. Thinks the next financial crisis will make people take interest-free alternatives seriously. Plays competitive chess and says it trains the same risk assessment skills as finance.