Reflecting on her journey within the organisation, Rola Abu Manneh, CEO of Standard Chartered UAE, shared insights into her experiences, challenges and strategies for success.
“In my journey at Standard Chartered, achieving key milestones like transforming the UAE franchise into one of the top three global markets for the group was incredibly rewarding,” she began. However, she highlighted championing diversity and inclusion as the standout milestone. “Pushing forward this agenda demanded unwavering determination and resilience,” Manneh noted, emphasising the challenges turned into fulfilling experiences.
Regarding strategies contributing to her success, she stressed a commitment to continuous learning, building a robust professional network, and actively seeking self-advancement opportunities. “Maintaining a forward-thinking mindset has been instrumental in propelling my career within Standard Chartered,” Manneh affirmed.
Addressing broader challenges for women in the finance sector, she identified overcoming self-doubt as crucial. “Confidence is key in navigating professional tasks, and self-advocacy is vital in communicating aspirations, accomplishments and concerns,” she advised. Manneh encouraged collaboration with like-minded individuals and advocated for systemic changes within organisations or industries.
“Don’t hesitate to advocate for systemic changes within your organisation or industry, serving as a catalyst for positive transformations in policies and practices,” she said. “This proactive approach not only overcomes obstacles but actively shapes a path for sustained success.”
Sharing profound insights into her career trajectory, Millicent Clarke, Regional Head of Human Resources for Standard Chartered Africa & Middle East, discussed the milestones and challenges she overcame and strategies for the organisation’s success.
“Coming from diverse industries endowed me with broad perspectives and experiences to draw upon,” Clarke reflected. Transitioning from education and the shipping industry to finance presented me with a rich tapestry of learning opportunities. She emphasised the importance of continuous learning and embracing a growth mindset in the dynamic and agile financial sector.
One of Clarke’s milestones was the privilege of working alongside diverse leaders who served as sources of inspiration, fuelling her passion for nurturing the next generation of leaders through mentorship and coaching initiatives.
Despite unconscious bias, Clarke emphasised the importance of embracing her unique perspective as a woman leader, leveraging it to provide thought leadership within the organisation. “Having a clear understanding of organisation goals has enabled me to lean in by implementing HR initiatives that drive positive outcomes,” Clarke said.
Addressing the challenges women face in advancing their careers in the finance sector, Clarke acknowledged the prevalence of gender stereotypes. She advocated combating stereotypes by refusing to conform, calling them out, and raising awareness.
Clarke stressed the importance of women being vocal about their successes to enhance visibility and recognition. Actively seeking mentorship, coaching, and networking opportunities were highlighted as crucial for career advancement. Additionally, she encouraged women to embrace risks and take charge of their careers by fully immersing themselves in every opportunity.
Bongiwe Gangeni, Regional Head of Consumer, Private & Business Banking at Standard Chartered Africa & Middle East, shared her insights into navigating the finance sector as a woman.
“While my journey at Standard Chartered is still relatively new, it has nonetheless been a very exciting one so far,” Gangeni reflected. “The bank is committed to supporting female talent to grow within the organisation and take on more complex roles over time.”
She emphasised leveraging diversity for success: “Against this backdrop, I have been able to focus my efforts on ensuring that we leverage the opportunities the diverse makeup of our Consumer, Private, and Business Banking (CPBB) presents to deliver positive commercial outcomes for the bank.”
Gangeni is aware of her role as a beacon of possibility for others, “As a female leader in the bank, I am keenly aware that my presence is a signifier of possibility for other women in the bank who may have otherwise not considered it possible for them to grow in their career journey.” She actively mentors junior colleagues to inspire their career paths.
Talking about the challenges for women in finance, Gangeni noted limited representation in senior leadership. “One of the biggest challenges women face in the finance sector is limited representation in senior leadership positions.” She advocated for fostering an inclusive culture and addressing unconscious biases in recruitment. Gangeni underscored supporting women who take career breaks and encourages sponsorship for career advancement.
Reflecting on her experience as a woman in finance, Khadija Hashimi, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered Africa & Middle East, said, “Women’s careers, irrespective of industry, are riddled with hurdles—some we set for ourselves and some set by external factors beyond our control”. She emphasised the importance of self-awareness and prioritisation in decision-making, steering one’s path forward.
“Opportunities always come knocking at the door—and it the realisation of the choices we make that help us steer our path ahead,” Hashimi highlighted. “Of course, not all decisions are the right ones, but as long as they make sense at that time, one should keep one’s head down and move forward.”
Her compass has always been staying true to herself, focusing on strengths, and building supportive relationships. She noted that setting aspirational goals and investing in oneself are key strategies, as are advocating against complacency and emphasising constant upskilling. “Complacency drags us down, and as leaders for tomorrow, we need to constantly upskill, reskill, and reinvent ourselves to be relevant for our business and people in the long run,” Hashimi explained.
Regarding challenges that women face when looking to advance their careers, she identified a lack of self-belief as a significant hurdle. Hashimi underscored the importance of a robust support system, including sponsors, mentors, or trusted individuals, to boost confidence and empower women to claim opportunities rightfully theirs.
Anshu Sharma Raja, Regional Chief Transformation Technology Operations Officer at Standard Chartered Africa & Middle East, looks back at her journey as a woman in finance.
“Reflecting on my tenure at Standard Chartered, it’s been a vibrant journey of leadership and innovation,” Raja shared. She highlighted key milestones, including leading significant tech initiatives and assuming roles such as Chief Information Officer for Consumer, Private, and Business Banking. Raja’s strategy for success revolves around simplification, productivity, and customer focus, navigating complex challenges across regions with a multifaceted skill set.
Raja embodies the bank’s commitment to empowering women, setting a precedent for aspiring women leaders in the financial sector. She advised seizing opportunities and forging paths for advancement.
Regarding challenges for women in finance, Raja noted the ‘double bind’ dilemma and a lack of equitable growth opportunities. She emphasised the importance of advocating for gender parity and implementing tangible policies to support women’s advancement. Standard Chartered’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, including mentorship and leadership programs tailored for women, are integral to addressing these challenges.
Raja underscored the role of supportive ecosystems and continuous learning in women’s advancement. “Women themselves play a crucial role, too. It’s essential to keep striving, leverage available resources, and act as role models, contributing to a cycle of success that benefits the entire organisation,” Raja stated.
With her “extraordinary journey in the dynamic terrain of banking and finance,” Mansa Nettey, CEO of Standard Chartered Ghana, West Africa Excluding Nigeria, highlighted her unwavering determination amidst challenges. Leading an organisation with over 100 years of heritage, she emphasised achievements in transformation and fostering innovation, creating a vibrant and engaged employee population.
Collaboration, inclusiveness and authenticity have been key strategies for Nettey’s success. She stressed the importance of harnessing collective potential and amplifying every voice for the greater good. Leading cross-generational and multi-cultural teams with diversity of thought is crucial for continued success.
“Leadership is about harnessing collective potential for the greater good; not about standing alone, but standing together, amplifying every voice, no matter how soft,” she stressed. “A key strategy for continued success will be the nimble approach to leading cross-generational and engaging multi-cultural teams with diversity of thought which I consider to be a powerful asset—enabling teams to innovate, adapt and unlock our purpose as an organisation.”
Nettey identified lack of self-confidence and self-limiting behaviour as key challenges for women in advancing their careers. She advocated for creating an enabling environment where women thrive and excel, emphasising the importance of professional support networks. In Ghana, initiatives like providing platforms for female leaders to share experiences with younger women have been very impactful.
Nettey advised women to be ambitious, articulate aspirations clearly and pursue their dreams without fear. Her insights illuminated the path forward for women in finance, emphasising empowerment and support for their career advancement.
Joining the bank in 2014 as a Senior Credit Officer, Kirsten Wilkinson, Regional Chief Risk Officer at Standard Chartered Africa & Middle East, said her career trajectory led her through various roles across different geographies and levels within the organisation. From South Africa to Asia and Southern Africa, she gained valuable insights into the bank’s diverse markets and clients, emphasising the power of the Standard Chartered franchise and the importance of building and leading diverse teams.
Wilkinson believed continuous learning, agility, mentorship and a change mindset were key strategies for her success. She highlighted the bank’s culture of openness, acceptance, diversity and inclusion, which allowed her to apply her capabilities and build resilience.
“Standard Chartered has enabled me to apply my capabilities and build resilience in a culture of openness and acceptance that fuels diversity and inclusion to mirror its values and geographic presence,” Wilkinson explained.
Regarding challenges for women in finance, Wilkinson underscored the importance of building confidence in one’s abilities and capabilities. She advocated for women to see themselves as qualified based on meritocracy, which naturally leads to opportunities and thought leadership. Additionally, she recommended continuous skill-building and openness to opportunities outside one’s expertise.
Wilkinson stressed the importance of advocating for removing obstacles caused by unconscious bias and structural barriers in the industry. Being a change agent for positive industry evolution and collaborating with like-minded individuals is crucial for driving sustainable success.
