The CIMB Gen AI Hackathon, held on April 19, 2025, at AWS Malaysia’s 35th-floor headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, offered a fresh take on how banks can discover and engage with emerging AI talent.

Rather than a marathon of coding for its own sake, this initiative was a thoughtful step in CIMB’s broader Forward30 transformation strategy, designed to support its ambitions of becoming an AI-first bank.

The theme, “Hack-to-Hire,” reflected CIMB’s interest in using real-time challenges to better understand potential candidates’ capabilities. It also provided a valuable environment where participants and CIMB teams could interact meaningfully and explore mutual fit.

This wasn’t your average tech competition. As Pedro Uria-Recio, CIMB’s Chief Data and AI Officer, explained:

“The hackathon was part of the plan,” he said. “It was a step to implement part of those plans … and we will do more.”

Rather than relying solely on traditional interviews, CIMB spent a full day engaging participants in hands-on challenges and team interactions.

“A hackathon is much better than an interview,” Pedro said. “You’re spending a whole day with the candidates… and they’re spending a whole day with us.”

Out of more than 570 registrants, only 88 were selected (57 in the technical track and 31 in the non-technical track). Candidates were chosen based on a combination of hands-on experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and a visible passion for learning.

“We looked for hands-on experience in data, but also a sense of entrepreneurship,” Pedro shared. “And most of all, we looked for excitement.”

Passion Matters More Than Perfection

Some of the most promising candidates weren’t necessarily those with the highest test scores. Instead, it was often their enthusiasm, curiosity, and drive that stood out.

“The people who can make the difference are not those who know everything,” Pedro emphasised. “It’s the ones who are so excited, they keep learning.”

He mentioned participants who organised developer meetups or ran weekend startups.

“That kind of energy is what caught our attention. Not just the ability to code, but the drive to innovate and bring that spark into an established organisation.”

CIMB is building its Gen AI capabilities with practical use in mind. The bank is trying to form supporting relationship managers with smarter tools to help customer service agents and fraud investigators become more effective.

“Investigators look at evidence like detectives,” Pedro explained. “With generative AI, you can get a narrative alongside the data. That saves time and sharpens the outcome.”

A New Way to Attract the Right People

A unique element of the event was the inclusion of on-the-spot interviews. Thirteen panels (eight for tech, five for non-tech) gave CIMB teams the opportunity to connect directly with participants.

“It’s a bold move,” Pedro admitted, ” … but I want to hire people I would enjoy working with.”

According to him, technical capabilities are important, but so are personal presence and shared enthusiasm:

“Presence matters. Energy matters. Excitement matters,” Pedro was caught saying.

Some high-scoring candidates didn’t make the cut because they failed to connect on a human level. Meanwhile, others who engaged with CIMB ahead of the event (either via email or LinkedIn) left strong impressions, showing they were already thinking like insiders. 

Beyond skills, many participants brought inspiring stories. Some were managing full-time jobs while building startups. Others ran large-scale community events for developers.

“You have a life beyond employment … and that’s a good thing,” Pedro said. “We want people who are bringing that kind of momentum into CIMB.”

That’s a key part of CIMB’s mission, integrating dynamic, creative thinkers into its transformation journey.

The Future Belongs to the Curious

Pedro clarified that the hackathon was not a one-off experiment but a planned part of CIMB’s AI roadmap. Internal hackathons may follow to help employees get hands-on with Gen AI tools.

“Many employees still find AI unfamiliar,” he said. “Internal hackathons can be a fun way to teach them how to use these tools, build agents, and understand what’s possible … and what’s not.”

AI transformation, in Pedro’s view, is about enabling people, not replacing them. From enhancing customer service to streamlining operations, the focus is on smart augmentation.

The CIMB Gen AI Hackathon showed that recruitment can be more engaging and collaborative than the conventional approach. It opened doors for meaningful conversations and community-building.

“The kind of people we’re looking for are those who enjoy this,” Pedro said.

“Maybe they don’t get the job right away. But they meet people, form connections, and become part of a community. That can shape a career more than a job offer.”

As technology continues to evolve, CIMB’s approach is a reminder that behind every smart system are even smarter people.

Featured image by Pedro Uria-Recio on LinkedIn.