"IN AFRICA, WE NEED WOMEN ROLE MODELS"
This is the message of Leila Bouamatou, CEO of GBM, in a portrait published by Jeune Afrique magazine.
In an article published by Jeune Afrique magazine, journalist David Baché profiled Dr. Leila Bouamatou, Managing Director of the Générale de Banque de Mauritanie (GBM), founded by her father Mohamed Ould Bouamatou.
Dr. Leila Bouamatou talks at length about her commitment to the emergence of women in Africa. Not only is she the first female GM of a bank in Mauritania since her 35th birthday, but, as the journalist recalls, she also "initiated the digitalization of the institution, opened it to small and medium-sized enterprises, and created a subsidiary dedicated to Islamic finance".
This portrait looks back at Dr. Leila Bouamatou's career path, from her business school in Switzerland, her master's degree in Spain and her doctorate in the United States, to her time with the auditing firm Deloitte in Tunisia and the BMCE bank in London, before returning to Mauritania in 2008 to take up the position of Head of the GBM’s Treasury Board.
Dr. Leila Bouamatou also reflects in this interview on what she considers to be a challenge and a claim to her skills and legitimacy: "One of the most important challenges for me was not to be seen as just the "boss's daughter". I tried hard to move up the ladder, little by little. I owe my success to my determination. To earn your place, you have to be respected.
Dr. Leila Bouamatou's commitment is to women. "Africa needs more than ever female role models, especially in entrepreneurship and leadership, to encourage young girls and women to aspire to top positions like us. I got where I wanted to go, so my goal now is to be a source of inspiration to other women," she says.
The article also recalls that in 2018, Forbes magazine ranked Dr. Leila Bouamatou as one of the 10 most talented under-40 African women.
The entire article can be read and listened to as a podcast on the Jeune Afrique website: http://www.rfi.fr/fr/emission/20190801-mauritanie-leila-bouamatou-banquiere-femme-forbes-modele
