For Salama, success hinges on vision, principled leadership

Dar es Salaam. Boasting over 18 years of illustrious experience in the banking sector, predominantly at the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Salama Mussa is among the women trailblazers for leadership in the banking sector.

In her capacity as Head of Customer Experience, Salama has been instrumental in reshaping the landscape of customer service across various banking segments at NBC, and she was able to share her story with The Citizen Rising Woman platform.

Reflecting on effective leadership qualities, Salama emphasises the importance of strategic thinking and having a vision.

“Integrity and ethics are paramount,” she says.

“A leader must also recognise the strengths and contributions of each individual within the team.”

In line with promoting inclusivity, especially for women aspiring to leadership positions, Salama highlights some of the initiatives implemented by her organisation, which include mentorship programmes at all levels to ensure women’s representation.

Despite the scarcity of women in top positions in the banking and finance sector as a whole, Salama personally invests in mentoring women, witnessing tangible results over the years.

“For me, as a person, I also ensure that I have a few women that I meet up with within the year. And I’ve been doing this for the past five years.

“I can testify that by doing that, I was able to grow more women to get more leadership positions in my institutions,” she shared.

When asked about pivotal challenges shaping her leadership style, Salama underscores the importance of competency, adaptability, and resilience.

She explained that challenges are growth opportunities and have been part of her journey, making her even stronger and more resilient.

“If you experience a setback, you must choose how to recover and return to the correct position. It’s true, we face challenges every day, but it’s how we take those challenges.

Whenever you get an opportunity to grow, you get an opportunity to learn more from different people.

So challenges are there, but they made you strong,” she said.

Reflecting on mentorship experiences, Salama’s journey through mentorship has been shaped by a mosaic of influences, each contributing to her growth and development as a leader.

“As the firstborn in my family, I was expected to lead by example,” Salama shared, reflecting on her upbringing.

“My mother instilled in me the importance of leadership from a young age.

“Whenever there was a mistake, I was the one held accountable, as she believed leaders should guide others.”

Among the influential figures in Salama’s life stands her aunt, a resilient businesswoman who started her ventures at 17 and continues to inspire at the age of 87. ”Seeing her dedication, waking up at 4 am to seize the day, instilled in me the value of hard work and perseverance,” she said.

Transitioning from familial mentors to corporate inspirations, Salama highlighted figures like the current managing director of Absa Bank Zambia PLC, Ms Mizinga Melu, and former Chief Executive Officer of ABSA Group Limited (2009–2019), Ms Maria Ramos, as great inspirations to her. “If you look at those women, they are very strategic. They are very extraordinary leaders. They are very aggressive. But as well, they are very engaging.

And they are there to help others as well,” she said.

Salama’s admiration for these trailblazers extends beyond their professional achievements.

“Mizinga Melu once emphasised the importance of uplifting other women in the workplace,” Salama recalled.

In her role as a mentor, Salama shared her dedication to nurturing young leaders within her institution.

She expressed pride in mentoring two to three individuals annually, providing them with guidance, encouragement, and dedicated time for mentorship sessions.

Salama emphasised the importance of setting goals collaboratively with her mentees and fostering an environment of support and growth. “There have been several women that have been able to support and help.

And the current leaders in my institution,” she said.

When discussing systematic changes to foster a conducive environment for women to ascend to leadership positions, Salama highlighted the importance of organisational policies as a foundational step.

She emphasised the need for comprehensive policies at both national and institutional levels that actively support gender equality and women’s advancement.

These policies should be designed to promote inclusivity and ensure equal opportunities for women across all levels of the organisation.

This involves more than just lip service to gender equality; organisations must actively implement strategies to recruit, retain, and promote women into leadership roles. “We make it intentional. We just don’t say that we are supporting women and not show it,” she said.

Salama advocated for the implementation of targeted programmes to support women’s leadership development.

She emphasised the need for leadership training programmes tailored specifically for women, both at the national level and within individual institutions.

She also underscored the importance of networking programmes for women, providing them with opportunities to learn from both successful and unsuccessful experiences.

When asked about managing work-life balance, Salama Mussa shared a holistic approach that encompasses spiritual practices, physical activity, and meaningful connections with loved ones and the community. “To be honest, I believe, first of all, that life is spiritual. So I pray. And when I pray, that’s the time I find peace.

“I get encouraged to do more. That’s the time when I also feel like there is more that I can do for myself, for my family, for others, and for the country as well,” she said.

Salama stressed the importance of carving out time for her family, friends, and community engagement.

To the young leaders! Salama Mussa’s advice to young leaders is rooted in the power of belief, perseverance, and faith.

By staying focused, confident, and prayerful, she believes that aspiring individuals can overcome challenges and turn their dreams into reality.