20 years in Banking- A story of Resilience, Determination and Excellence.

The story of why I decided to swap my lab coat for a career in banking and finance after my National Service as a Teaching assistant in the Chemical Engineering Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology will have to be told another day. While I had full conviction of my decision to pursue a different career path, much to the surprise of my parents and course mates and the disappointment of my faculty whose expectation was that I was either going to become a ‘proper’ engineer or pursue an academic career, there were no guarantees.

In September 2003, I began my foray in banking as an International Graduate with Standard Chartered Bank. As I reflect on the past 20 years, I am filled with gratitude as I count the many blessings on this career journey. I am grateful for the challenges as much as I am for the triumphs, the many great colleagues I have had the chance to meet and the opportunity to make an impact in various ways.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate. My exposure to a host of senior executives at the very beginning of my career not only helped me gain a holistic appreciation and understanding of the banking sector and the corporate world, but on a personal level, it helped me refine my 'why', how I wanted my career to be and look like, and what it would take to make it happen.

I owe a debt of gratitude to all the exceptional leaders who took a personal interest in me and have mentored me. Their belief in my potential and their willingness to challenge me have been instrumental in my journey. These experiences have not only contributed to my professional development but have also inspired a deep-seated passion for nurturing the next generation of leaders.

In my role as a line and hiring manager, recruiting and building talent, I have observed a disconnect between young graduates' expectations and the realities of the job market. To mark my 20th anniversary in banking, I have founded the Ripples Leadership Hub, an initiative designed to address the gap by equipping young professionals with the essential knowledge, skills and tools to lay a solid foundation for successful careers, be it in the corporate world or as entrepreneurs.

We are launching with the Start-Right Career Mentorship Program, targeting 100 young ladies, for our inaugural cohort. I have enlisted the support of 9 accomplished female colleagues from various sectors to form a team of ten mentors. Together, we will guide these young women at the outset of their careers by sharing our experiences and insights to inspire them, bringing home the realities of today’s world of work and helping them navigate potential pitfalls while they learn from the successes we have achieved.

Our goal is to foster a new wave of change, cultivating the right mindset, approach, and attitude in these young professionals. This is particularly crucial for increasing the representation of women in senior and board-level positions. When I began my career, I was the only female in the cohort of 5 graduates from Ghana. While I was made to feel comfortable and had amazing support it is still common to find oneself as one of the few, if not the only, woman or the youngest at the table.

By actively engaging in the development of future female leaders, we can ensure a more diverse and inclusive corporate landscape that benefits from the talent and contribution of all. Ultimately, this is the essence of my vision and the mission of the Ripples Leadership Hub. Now, I aim to give back through this vision, focusing on mentoring young professionals, especially women, to bridge the expectation gap and promote leadership diversity.

Please encourage any young, early career ladies you know to sign up at:

https://ripplesleadershiphub.com/ - Creating waves of change, Inspiring Leadership!