Ask the executive
|
Pamela Shodipo
18 •
The Lion King
• October - December 2015
pressure, a detoxification of my mind
is critical.
What do I do? I pray by commit-
ting “All to God”, listen to music and
undergo constant beauty and fashion
therapy. Yes, it does work!
How has the current economic down-
turn changed the way you approach
your customers?
The downturn in the economy has
not changed the way I approach my
customers. Creativity, showing empa-
thy and being proactive are ways to
ensure that the customer feels your
presence. I always ensure my custom-
ers are well-informed of key changes
in the economy and how these are
likely to affect their businesses. This
puts them in an informed position to
make important decisions about their
businesses. Over time, this approach
has created loyalty from my custom-
ers and creates a win-win situation in
our business relationships.
How have you been able to meet your
sales targets over the years?
Achieving my sales targets over the
years has been made possible through
self-drive and team work. I believe the
best way to achieve targets is to tap
into the inherent qualities of all mem-
bers of my team, recognize that they
are important to the team and under-
stand what role they are required to
play to ensure we succeed together.
What’s your advice to young and
upcoming market-facing staff?
This cadre of staff tends to be too
much in a hurry without taking time
to learn and add value. They need to
see themselves as achievers that are
geared to meet their sales targets.
My advice is that they should be less
hasty, be self driven, result oriented,
and stay focused, determined and
passionate. They must have unending
hunger for knowledge and a willing
attitude to go the extra mile at all
times irrespective of obstacles in the
way or challenges faced.
Finally, they must have impeccable
integrity and the willingness to work
without being micromanaged. They
also need people to mentor and point
them in the right direction.
What three things would you like to
see happen in the banking sector in
2016?
•
Interest Rate Stability
•
Availability of foreign exchange
•
Stable and sustainable policies
from Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN).
Are there unique challenges faced by
women in a male dominated banking
environment?
Over time, men have dominated
key decision-making positions in the
Banking Industry. However, this is grad-
ually changing as more women are
now being appointed into leadership
positions and Boards of major banks
in the country. This is encouraging
and inspiring. Studies have shown that
women are more committed, loyal
and less distracted than their male
counterparts. Generally, I believe
women should be given more oppor-
tunities in leadership roles not just in
banks, but also in key sectors of the
