I entered banking almost overnight. On a Thursday, I was contacted for an interview the following day, and by midday I had already been hired to officially start on Monday, 23 August 1999, at a BES branch. I barely knew how to fill in a cheque and was placed at the cashier desk, where I learned everything about branch operations: deposits, withdrawals, cash and cheque handling, and later treasury functions.

I consider myself a highly ambitious person, and that ambition is what drove my growth. I would stay after working hours to learn more and more, which eventually led me to move from the counter to a desk role. After four years, I went on to manage a client portfolio and their assets at the Bank for 13 years — all during the subprime crisis. I will never forget certain cases I witnessed, which made me think beyond the present and focus on safeguarding my clients’ future.

For this reason, I have remained in this sector for 26 years, committed to delivering an exemplary service to those who seek my support.