Dr. Shivon Byamukama is Bank of Kigali's Company secretary and Head of Corporate Affairs. She spoke to The New Times, on the occasion to mark International Women's Day. Excerpts.

What’s the position of women in the banking industry today, do you see a good number of them in executive positions?

The story of women in executive positions is not a banking industry story but a Rwandan story; a story that starts from the country’s top leadership. You will find women in leadership positions in all sectors, not just the Banking sector. Bank of Kigali is an exemplary institution that is following this vision from the top.

Women represent 51percent of our total workforce, many of whom are in management positions. We are an organization where female employees have limitless opportunities. The myth that women can only go up to a particular level is demystified at Bank of Kigali. For instance, women make up 75 percent of Bank of Kigali’s executive management, and as you may be aware, the Chief Executive Officer at the helm of the largest financial institution in our country is a woman.

So I am glad to say that women in Rwanda are fortunate because the leadership at the top has cleared most of the barriers that used to stand in the way to success and Bank of Kigali in particular is a true reflection of that effort.

The number of women in top positions in Rwanda could easily blind us to the fact that globally, they just make up about 2 percent, in your view, how can we change this trend?

True, the trend in Rwanda is not reflected globally. We don’t have that many women in top executive positions globally but like I mentioned earlier, the tone can only start from the top, someone has to shape the discourse. In Rwanda, we are fortunate that the government has been at the vanguard of shaping that trend, right from the Parliament where women have a 64 percent representation, the highest percentage in the world.

Only in Rwanda will you find that 30 percent of all board members being women. Even in the developed world, this can only be a dream. CNN recently revealed that only 14.2 percent of the top five leadership positions at the companies in the S&P 500 are held by women and the figure in the United Kingdom is about 8.6 percent.

The place of women in Rwanda is unique, and it is unfortunate if we as women do not recognize this and take advantage of this great opportunity before us. It is very important for women especially young girls to know that they can achieve anything they want as long as they work towards it.

Opportunities aside, what are the key challenges that women in top executive positions and how do you deal with them?

One of the main challenges is culture and societal expectations.

We still have stereotypes where it is assumed that women shouldn’t be aggressive or even competitive (although this is changing in Rwanda). The irony is that, to compete at the same level as men, women have to be all those things that culture forbids them from being. Women should not give in to these stereotypes. It is ok to be competitive and pursue those goals that they have set their eyes on. The other problem I find is that we are taught from a young age to be humble.

In doing so, we sometimes undersell ourselves. I have had the privilege to be part of many meetings, and conferences, both local and international. And one thing is certain, while men are busy selling themselves in these meetings, talking about their achievements; women are busy expecting others to see their achievements. It doesn’t work that way. For example, it is only very recently that I have put a (PhD) after my name despite the fact that I acquired the honour in 2008.

And this was only because someone said to me recently; " you worked for it, its yours, own it.” I can guarantee you a male counterpart would have never had that problem. The third and final challenge I see is that women are the primary caretakers of the home and are mothers too. When you have children, you have to create time for them.

We are the mothers of the next generation and have to take that role very seriously. We have to get it right to "create” the next generation of Rwandan women-this calls for time and energy. We have to therefore delicately balance work and home affairs. But this is not a hindrance as such, it is an opportunity. If you get this delicate balance right, you are essentially acquiring management skills and are a manager, regardless of your title at work.

Our experience here at Bank of Kigali is that women make excellent managers. Perhaps it is because they acquire management experience at home even without realizing it.

What is your advice to young women out there, still in school and with these big dreams to make it big in careers such as banking and law?

My advice to any young girl is – You can do it. Go for it! It is ok to be ambitious and to be proud of your personal achievements. When you get employment, work hard, volunteer even if the required work is outside the scope of your employment. Women are natural entrepreneurs and problem solvers.

Explore every opportunity there is to serve at work and be diligent while at it.

With a doctorate in law and a prestigious job with a leading organization, what is your message to girls on education?

 I think education is the most powerful tool any parent should equip their child with. It is a fact that girls perform better than boys in school.

They are more diligent at doing their homework, follow instructions and compared to boys, are less prone to peer pressure. I encourage girls to keep that level of diligence and excellence. Every girl can reach their highest potential when given the opportunity. The opportunity is here in Rwanda, I say seize it and run with it.