Deanna Oppenheimer, CEO of retail banking in the UK, Barclays

From retail to retail banking

I grew up in Idaho and after working in a  variety of jobs – including shop window designing – I became a bank lobbyist. This sparked my interest in financial services and I soon joined Washington Mutual, which at the time was a small lender in the US but later grew to become one of the biggest retail banks in America. At Washington Mutual I held various senior management positions across home loans, insurance, small business banking and marketing before moving to Barclays, first as the COO of the UK bank and then progressing to become the CEO of retail banking in the UK.

'I quickly learned I didn't need to "outman" a man.'

Making my way

When I first started working in financial services it was a typically male-dominated industry, in which the majority of senior management roles were held by men. I’m pleased to say that things have changed since then and businesses are recognising that a diverse workforce brings success. However, at the time I quickly learned that I didn’t need to ‘outman a man’ and that I could contribute just as well as anyone else.

I’ve also learned that what matters most is having a positive attitude to learn from the job and those around you. I’ve had the opportunity to see organisations through significant change and it’s fulfilling to be part of this, building teams and instilling rewarding performance cultures.

What I love most about retail banking is that our business is all about people: customers and employees. It is incredibly satisfying to see our employees supporting customers in a crucial area of their lives – their finances.

Tips from the top

I’ve always been encouraged to push boundaries throughout my career and would advise graduates to do the same: have confidence in yourself, shoot for the moon, try things out until you find a role that you can be yourself in and find a mentor that you connect with.