Emem Usoro
Regional Director, Lagos Bank 2
What do you do at UBA?
As a Group General Manager and Regional Director, I am
currently responsible for the supervision and co-ordination
of the overall Business Development of the Lagos 2 Island
Bank in the Lagos Directorate. My core deliverables include
Sustainable Revenue Growth, Profitability, Operational
Efficiency and Balance Sheet Growth.
What has it been like amongst men, especially as you rose
to the top?
Being amongst men has not posed any peculiar challenge
or conferred me any special benefit on the job. The bank
is an equal opportunity organization that doesn’t have any
bias or preference for gender, so opportunities are made
equally available to both male and female. This institutional
value has made it possible for me, and I believe most other
women with leadership role in the bank, to focus on what
needs to be done and do it well because the bank rewards
based on performance and loyalty.
To a very large extent, most men I have met with as I
progressed in my career in the bank have related with me
more on the basis of the job and position rather than my
gender. This has really helped.
What has helped you stand out the most?
To mention one quality I would say generally stands me out,
it will be my result-oriented nature anchored on team spirit.
As a naturally amiable and emotive person, I can work
well with people by persuading and encouraging them to
overcome their weaknesses without despising and ordering
34 •
The Lion King
• January - March 2017
Proudly amongst the pack
By Bola Atta
T
he month of March just past,
witnessed worldwide celebration
of women on International
women’s day as well as Mother’s day,
recognizing the role that women play
in all societies. We are familiar with
common expressions such as mother
land, mother tongue, mother earth…
women are natural nurturers but even
as far back as civilization begun, they
have also been providers of food
and sustenance for their families. In
ancient society, many cultures had
women going out in the morning to
work and bring food back to their
families. Working women are not a
modern phenomenon. The barriers
between men and women in the work
force today is fast breaking down and
the SDG’s have placed emphasis on
ensuring the world gets to a place of
equality between men and women.
We are proud to say that at UBA,
gender does not pose a barrier,
neither does being a woman
provide any advantages over male
counterparts. Women occupy a
decent percentage of the executive
management positions and the
board has representation of some of
the most experienced women in the
continent’s work force.
We speak to ten of our UBA lionesses
across the continent to find out
how they have navigated and how
they are navigating their careers
as women, inspiring other women
and letting them know that yes as a
woman, you can indeed have it all.
Feature
•
Emem Usoro
