This banker is people-oriented when it comes
to business as well as leisure
Ramy F Zambarakji Managing Director
Bank of Beirut
You need to own your work and personalise it Spending time at airport lounges
If I am travelling on business, I spend my time following up on work. I keep up with what is going on in the business by checking e-mails, and through the Internet. If I am travelling for leisure, I tend to spend time shopping for souvenirs and presents.
Dress code
For customer service staff, I believe it is essential to be formally dressed at all times. But a relaxed dress code can be followed on Thursdays in internal departments and for staff who do not deal with customers directly.
Office parties
They play a very important role in bringing the staff together. We make it a point to note the birthdays and anniversaries of employees in a diary and celebrate them. Having a friendly atmosphere at work is a key ingredient for success.
Working hours
I believe it is healthy for companies to follow international standards when it comes to working hours. Also, it is essential that staff manage their day. If you have to stay back beyond working hours, it means you are either overloaded with work or you are not managing your time properly. Either way, you need to review your tasks.
Advice to those who want to work with you
We have an open-door policy here. And I believe in empowering people. Mistakes are allowed but you have to admit to have made those and correct them. You need to own your work and personalise it.
Your vision of an ideal office
I believe in promoting a proactive policy. The aim of management is to support staff, not scrutinise them. Open communication needs to exist so that employees are relaxed and motivated. My vision of an ideal office is a place where an employee-oriented environment exists.
Had you not been in this industry, what would you have been doing?
I enjoy my job. I do not think I could find a replacement for this career.
Any incident that has left an indelible mark on your career
Work is a continuous learning process. Every day teaches you something new. Each incident gives you feedback. When you get positive feedback, you repeat what you did. If the
feedback is negative, you must learn to do it differently the next time.
Working in a global village
The more cosmopolitan you are, the more you think globally. And thinking globally is a must to grow. One has to be open-minded, and accept ideas contrary to one’s own. If you understand that, you can work anywhere and be successful everywhere.
How do you unwind?
I find that travelling with my family is the best way to unwind. All of us enjoy travelling, and we just take a car and move from city to city. We went to Dubai recently and we have travelled almost all of Europe in the past. I believe you get to know places by interacting with the people there. So people-oriented travel really interests me.
Your big dream
The most rewarding is to see your family happy and make sure that their dreams come true. Family is my source of strength. I work on a daily basis to realise it.
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