I recently learned that a woman has been selected as a Chief Executive Officer of a large banking organization in Europe. I always revel in hearing when a woman takes the reins of a major corporation. I know how hard and challenging it is for a woman to attain executive ranks in any organization.
So, I was delighted when I heard that that Ana Patricia Botín was appointed Chairman of Santander Group of Spain, the eurozone’s largest bank by market value. Ms. Botín is now the top female banker in Europe, making her the most powerful woman in European banking. The 53-year old U.S.-educated Spaniard speaks five languages and descended from one of Spain’s most prominent families. She is married and a mother of three sons.
Although Ms. Botín has been groomed since childhood to take Santander’s helm, she endured a serious career setback about 15 years ago, when her father, former CEO, pushed her out of a senior position in the company. Former CEO of Deutsche Bank AG, Josef Ackermann, said, “She went through ups and downs in her career, which made her more resilient and better prepared….” Don’t these words describe many women in business?
I think the “ups and downs” may have fostered a sensitivity to Ana’s management philosophy. For example, she has been committed to providing women with the same opportunities as men. And, she often tries to avoid having the bank hold meetings after 7 p.m. to prevent disruption to families.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Chairman and CEO James Dimon stated this about Ms. Botín, “She knows her stuff, woks hard, gives a damn, never acted like she was going to be owed anything.”
Knows her stuff, works hard, gives a damn….
Let’s watch Ana Botín reach higher levels of success in the world of finance while serving as a role model for other women in the banking world. Read this article to learn about the immediate challenges facing this new star
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