The 2026 Financial Industry Fiesta was hosted by SMU and aimed at highlighting the efforts made by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) and partners — which include financial institutions, the government, unions, and institutes of higher learning (IHL) — to strengthen the bridge between education and employment. The fireside chat was held between Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and several young talents, including current undergraduates from NTU and SMU, as well as recent successfully-employed fresh graduates working at UBS, JPMorganChase, and Prudential.