Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Marks International Women's Day With #GoalsGirls, An Empowerment Program For Female Tertiary Students.
Stanchart Ghana in collaboration with Vital Voices and Mentoring Women Ghana organised a mentorship for young women from various tertiary backgrounds during this year's International Women's Day. The #GoalsGirls mentorship program tied in with the year's international theme #PressForProgress and sought primarily to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women in the banking industry.
The students interacted with staff in the IT, HR, Operations, Client Service, Trade and other key departments of the bank. Majority of their questions centred around the career path of the staff and by the end of the floor by floor walk , the students had a better understanding of the back office operations of the bank.
" there were some many people who said I couldn't handle the role of a branch manager. I however knew I had the skills and knowledge to do the work" Angela Okai Head of Legal Counsel @StanChart Ghana. #GoalsGirls #IWD2018 #PressForProgress
— Naa Oyoo Kumodzi ✨ (@OyooQuartey) March 9, 2018
A mentoring durbar which was the main event was an inspirational journey-sharing session led by the key speaker Angela Okai, Company Secretary at StanChart Bank Ghana.
Angela Okai, Company Secretary at SCB Ghana
The students were highly impressed with her story of determination and courage during her initial career years at the bank. Her journey of being the youngest person to head the bank's branch and also being a young female was not an easy journey but one which she pressed on to progress up the corporate ladder despite the looming challenges. She reminded students to be determined to keep learning and how getting an education can lead them closer to their dreams.
The students asked questions regarding how she dealt with the negativity of people as she attempted to take up bigger and more challenging roles and her response was on surrounding herself with supportive persons who also encouraged her to press on. She also mentioned how she knew within herself of possessing the ability to operate a bank branch. She wasn't daunted by the discouragement.
The students were curious about how she maintained a healthy work-life balance to which she responded to as having great support from her family and other support groups such as her staff. Without this support, it would have been more challenging.
Brigette Dzogbenuku , founder of Mentoring Women Ghana and Vital Voices shared her closing remarks by strongly encouraging the young women to pursue their vision and look forward to a future where one day they would be on the same platform sharing their story to another generation of women leaders.
Brigette Dzogbenuku ( Photo Credit: Adom Yeboah)
She also thanked the bank for their immense support given over the years to the organisation's cause for women mentorship.
Some select students shared how inspired they were after listening to Madam Okai and having a better appreciation of banking operations. They were eager to complete their education and pursue a career in banking.
Photo Credit: Adom Yeboah
