Women’s History Month with Aisha Naeem: Branch Manager at Amplify CU

We are celebrating Women’s History Month! We asked women across our organization to reflect on their careers, accomplishments, and what Women’s History Month means to them. Throughout March, we’ll be highlighting their answers on our blog and social media channels.

Aisha has over a decade of experience in the financial and banking industries, including a former role as Business Strategy Manager for a mutual fund company. For fun, Aisha taught calculus to college students as a visiting professor at the University of London. She joined Amplify in 2016 as a Personal Banker and quickly became an integral part of our community, becoming Branch Manager in 2019.

With a passion for team-building and mentorship, Aisha’s problem-solving adaptability, and resiliency make her an exceptional leader. We asked her some questions surrounding her career, her experience at Amplify, and her thoughts on Women’s History Month. The following are her responses to these questions.

Why did you choose your profession?

Having an education background in Mathematics and Economics, I was always intrigued by the opportunities in the financial industry, whereby women are notoriously underrepresented in the workforce. My passion for building customer relations resulted in my decision to choose this profession. I hope to break the barriers and stereotypes associated with women in the financial industry, which has made some progress in achieving gender equality but there is still a long way to go.

What do you love most about what you do?

I am a people person and working with people, assisting and serving them, is what I love most about this job. Our culture at Amplify plays a major role in making it an enjoyable experience for both our members and team members.

What made you choose Amplify Credit Union?

Amplify Credit Union’s entrepreneurial spirit to serve the community in Texas is what really attracted me to join the team. My strong interpersonal skills and my “members first” attitude are a great fit with Amplify Credit Union’s member-centric approach. Our members are not just customers but our neighbors, friends, and family who we strongly believe in giving back to.

Tell us about a professional success here at Amplify that you’re proud of.

I joined Amplify Credit Union as a Personal Banker. I then moved into a different role where I felt I had failed, and I decided to take a step back. However, that step enabled me to amass learnings and growth and move ahead with greater momentum, resulting me in being promoted to a Branch manager role within a short span of time.

“My persistence is a foundation of my professional success”

This experience truly transformed a professional setback into a success story.

What do you think is the key for success in a role like yours?

My persistence is a foundation of my professional success and is what motivates me to stand back up in the face of any challenges. I am a firm believer of perceiving challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth. Adapting to change and pivoting to best serve team’s and business needs is also important.

Tell us about a woman you look up to and why.

Lady Diana is the one person I look up to. I look up to her because she was a true people’s person who stood up for her beliefs and challenged societal norms. She was a very strong woman who not only had compassion for humanity but used her influence to make a difference in the world. I feel the world can use more Lady Dianas, and I strive to be like her and follow in her footsteps.

Do you have a mentor?

I have been lucky to find a few genuine mentors during my professional journey. However, the one mentor that truly made an impact in my life is my mother. She was a single mother who raised four kids after my dad passed away when I was really young. She did it with a smile on her face and through that smile I learnt some valuable lessons in life. I learnt how to stand up to adversity and how to manage difficult situations. I learnt how to adapt to change and never give up no matter how tough the going gets. But most importantly I learnt the value of hard work and the importance of one’s own self-belief and self-confidence. I consider myself lucky to have a mentor who encourages me to walk with my head held high and be the best version of myself every day.

“Don’t optimize for the short term”

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

The meaning of success will constantly evolve and that’s okay. Always be honest with yourself on what you really want and don’t optimize for the short term. Remember to play the long game.

Any advice to young women who want to succeed in your field, industry, or just in general?

The one advice I would give to women is that be true to yourself and don’t let anyone put you down. The world is your oyster!

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Careers are not linear. They are full of ups and downs. Growth happens in the shadow of failures.

How are you breaking barriers faced by women in your field?

Despite belonging to a visible minority, my passion for my job has enabled me to leverage cultural diversity, and now I am successfully leading teams and various initiatives in the financial field. I want to set an example for women who are talented but hesitant to find opportunities in this space.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate women’s diversity and success stories that are deeply entwined with persistence and struggles, various women made through the course of time. It is because of those struggles and sacrifices women are able to have a seat at the table and be where they are today.

Supporting Our Team

Whether you’re starting your career or an established professional, we all have something valuable to learn from every woman at Amplify. Join us over the next few weeks as we continue to highlight more of our team members. We invite you to listen, share, and support these amazing women.

Curious about a career with Amplify? Head over to our Careers page and apply today!