Banking on it

FROM ISSUE # 159 (March 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Barsha Shrestha,
General Manager, Clean Energy Development Bank

IMAGE: ANUP PRAKASH

It's not everyday that a doctor leaves a career in medicine to become a banker, but when the opportunity came knocking, that's just what Barsha Shrestha did. Nabil Bank was set to be Nepal's first joint venture bank in Nepal when Barsha's friend approached her to join the team. Working two jobs simultaneously in the early days, shuttling back and forth between the hospital and the bank, Barsha is no stranger to hard work.

She stayed on the team at Nabil Bank for more than 24 years. As she helped the bank grow from its infancy into one of the most notable banks in the country, she also managed to start her own family by getting married and having two children. She attributes her career success to her supportive family, including her encouraging in-laws. Without working together as a collective family unit, she might not have managed to thrive as she has. 

After making a career with Nabil Bank and a name for herself, Barsha Shrestha was continually getting offers from other banks. None of them enticed her enough to leave behind the bank she had such a long history with. But that all changed when she got an offer from Clean Energy Development Bank two year ago. The banks two-fold mission of managing regular bank accounts while also having a separate division only dealing with renewable energy projects and accounts intrigued Barsha. "With principles that have the potential to affect the lives of the poorest of the poor, and with the energy crisis we have not only in Nepal but globally, this bank has a lot of potential," explains Barsha who heads the band as its general manager. 

That potential is something Barsha plans to push forth to the top.  Always an aggressive and self-driven individual who hardly settles for second best, her goal is to see this bank not only grow, but become Nepal's number one and most recognised financial institution. Her ambitious goals aren't just born out of self-desire to be the best, but because she wants to see real changes in Nepal as a whole.

Her parting advice to WAVE readers: "Work hard… no work very hard, be positive, and be transparent."  With that ethos, Barsha believes anyone can achieve success.

*Emma Sciantarelli