One day I can do that

How can finance embolden young women to build global careers?

This is what I asked myself on a recent visit to Samoa and Fiji. As CEO of ANZ New Zealand, I also oversee our business in the Pacific.

Alongside meeting our local teams and visiting customers, a focus of the trip was to meet and talk with women in leadership.

In Samoa, I addressed young women from schools and female business leaders at the Taumeasina Island Resort. This was followed by an equally inspiring Women in Corporate Leadership breakfast in Suva, Fiji.

I cannot imagine the uniqueness of these women’s lived experience, but I can reflect on my own journey growing up in New Zealand and undertaking a career in finance. From London to Sydney to Budapest and then back to Auckland, initially as ANZ Financial Controller for New Zealand.

In places like Samoa, there is a lot to draw inspiration from. Our team in Apia has embraced the strength of diversity and benefited from the changing role women play in Samoan culture.

The business continues to focus on growing and developing female talent and removing barriers which have historically limited women from progressing into senior roles.

Currently, more than 80 per cent of our leaders in Samoa are women which is something we’re immensely proud of. ANZ operates in 29 countries and the Pacific is such as a strong part of our international network.

But ANZ’s role in the Pacific is wider than just providing financial services and I always find I learn so much from talking directly with local communities.

It also allows us to share our experiences with the region’s future business leaders – and this is what I decided to share with these impressive young women.

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The right people

The first thing I always focus on is purpose. Someone once asked me: "What gets you out of bed in the morning?".

It is an interesting question we should all ponder. For me it is the ability to make decisions impacting the financial wellbeing of customers and thousands of staff.

But the secret to unlocking that – when you reach a leadership position – is having the right people to help you execute. The biggest challenge and the best thing you can do is to have good, talented people working for you.

In Samoa I have Country Head Sucharu Tandon. He’s only been a year in his role and it already feels like he knows every person in the entire country.

In Fiji I have Country Head Rabih Yazbek who increasingly connects that vibrant country to global markets.

And in Sarah Stubbings, ANZ’s Regional Executive, I have a genuine and purpose-driven person running the Pacific operations for me.

Knowing I have such strong people is important. I know they can take command of day-to-day functions and keep the bank – with its vast footprint – operating well.

Someone once said to me leadership is executed through others. And I agree. Only when they have a real issue do they come to me for help.

One key message I have learned is the importance of having female leaders in senior positions to act as role models. We need to celebrate women being in positions where they can influence change in a positive way.

During these events there were so many young women on the brink of careers and other women who had started businesses. It was a pleasure to reinforce the possibilities of how high they can fly.

Being a visible leader as a woman allows others to say, "one day I can do that".

An indelible mark

But with my visit to Samoa and Fiji, it was an opportunity for me to learn as well.

When I arrived in Samoa we had an ava ceremony, songs, speeches and staff decorated the office with flowers from their gardens. It brought tears to our eyes. It was really humbling.

Our team in Fiji even came in early for a ‘talanoa’ (meeting) before they started their work for the day.

This is why the Pacific is so special and has so much to offer – spending time with our teams there is an opportunity to learn from each other.

And that’s another lesson, we only move forward when we allow ourselves to be humbled.

Antonia Watson is the Chief Executive Officer of ANZ New Zealand