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Rokia Kone Hacko, the new Do you think that reconciling time spent with family is far more
Managing Director and Chief professional and family life important than the quantity and
Executive Officer of UBA Mali can be a major difficulty for making every moment count. It
is one of the few women in Mali women leaders? takes good organisation and the
who have shattered the proverbial establishment of simple rules for
glass ceiling to rise the top I think that with a good harmonious articulation of private
against all odds in a field that is organisation and a good and professional time.
dominated by men. Rokia speaks prioritisation of tasks and subjects
on being a woman and a leader. it is quite possible to reconcile In addition, the COVID-19
the two. For me, being a woman pandemic has also shown
in itself prepares for leadership in us that teleworking works
How did you get started with a everyday life. As a mother, sister just as well and all these new
career in the banking sector? and wife, a woman in society forms of work can only allow
in general is always in great women to develop themselves
As far as I can remember, I have demand as well for the education professionally while being more
always dreamed of working in the of children, the maintenance of present in their homes. Indeed,
banking industry and I oriented the house, the cooking and the the continual physical presence
my studies very early in this assistance of the members of the in the company no longer seems
direction by doing a bachelor’s family and this didn’t start today. essential and is not necessarily a
and a master’s degree in applied Our mothers got there before us guarantee of efficiency.
economics, option monetary and without the assistance of the
and banking economics. All of new technologies that we have
the internships I have completed today and the emergence of You have more than 20 years
have been exclusively in banks in E-commerce which also helps us of experience in the banking
France and Mali. in everyday life with more women sector, what are the outlook
entrepreneurs who offer more for the employability of
I think it dates back to my high and more local semi-finished women in this sector?
school days. products and services to make
life easier for working women. Women are very present in all
New technologies also make it sectors of the Malian economy
As a woman at the head of possible to help children remotely and not only in the banks.
such a large institution, what with their homework to name
are your feelings? but a few via WhatsApp and In the banking sector in particular,
Facetime. All this time saving that women are more and more
Several feelings drive me at the new technologies bring us gives present if we refer to the latest
same time, pride, joy, recognition, us the possibility to stay longer at statistics from the association
enthusiasm and determination to work while remaining connected of professionals of banks and
take up this new challenge. with our family. financial institutions with a
rate of 38% of women in the
For a female leader, it is important overall workforce. In Mali, their
to understand that the quality of presence is not limited to low-

Jan - Mar 2021 | The Lion King | 21