TheFace: Samar Al-Nammari, Saudi banker

AN photo by Ziyad Alarfaj
  • I work in the treasury department at one of the largest banks in the country
  • I grew up in a very supportive and active family

I always had a passion for both fashion and banking. However, I chose my career in the banking industry and I have been working in the field for 13 years.

I work in the treasury department at one of the largest banks in the country, in charge of corporate treasury sales covering the eastern and western regions of .

My job is an active job; it is continually changing. Any event that happens in the global market impacts our job; price changes mean strategy changes.

Communicating with people and talking to clients inside and outside the bank is something that I enjoy. We are always connecting and interacting with people, and trying to understand them and what they are looking for, then coming up with the best solution for them.

I grew up in a very supportive and active family. My mother and father both worked, which contributed a lot to the way I think.

Throughout my upbringing, my mother played a huge role, believing that women have to work and be independent. She was a mother, a student, and had a full-time job while having a business on the side.

My father is an ex-banker, and I think that is where my love for banking came in.

I have three sisters and one brother, and I am the eldest in the family. My brother and I were born close together — there is only 11 months difference between us. My brother and I had a strong bond between us, and I used to be his protector.

From a young age, our parents taught us to be independent, and they paid attention to education. We used to have a lot of activities during summer breaks.

We also built a strong relationship with both grandmothers. Having an elder in your life gives a sense of balance and harmony, and you learn respect and responsibility toward your elder loved ones.

I am from Alkhobar in the Eastern Province of , and that is where I live and work. I regularly travel to Jeddah for work. It is a lovely city, especially Al-Balad, except for the city’s stray cats. There are lots of them, and I have a phobia about cats.

Although not married yet, I have two amazing nephews and one niece, and one is on the way. 

I graduated from Bentley University in Massachusetts. I studied corporate finance and accounting and took a minor in government. I had a dream to work in the diplomatic field, but that was not possible back then.

After my graduation I told my father that when I returned to I would work in a bank in the treasury segment. He was surprised because it is not usually a job for females. Banking is a male-dominated industry, and the fewest number of females in the industry are found in the treasury because it is a stressful job, and the employee has to work long hours. However, my father has always been supportive of me.

Being one of the first females in the organization in such a position and reaching this at a young age is a significant achievement for me.

There is a quote that says, “Dream the impossible, seek the unknown, and achieve greatness.” I always want to be a change-maker wherever I am. I want to be in a position where I can do more for the country and the organization and challenge the status quo.

Every year I like to challenge and improve myself. I always like to educate myself and improve my managing and leading skills. I firmly believe that success is not the work of an individual. The whole team has to succeed for you to succeed.