Banco ADOPEM has received the Award for Excellence in Leadership from Women’s World Banking for promoting gender diversity among its workers and supporting low income women to help them get ahead.
“Banco ADOPEM’s proven dedication to serving women clients in the Dominican Republic is paralleled by their commitment to creating opportunities and developing high potential women leaders in the bank”, said Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. The announcement was made to coincide with International Women’s Day: “It is no coincidence, as Banco ADOPEM is truly a global model of gender diversity and inclusion”, added Iskenderian.
50% of the vice-presidents in this bank belonging to the BBVAMF are women. They also represent approximately 75% of mid-level executives, 100% of tellers and customer service providers in the branches, and 49% of senior management.
“Investing in the development and leadership of women is fundamental. It is part of our culture at ADOPEM, since we are an institution that first emerged thanks to the initiative of a group of women” says Mercedes Canalda, the bank’s executive president.
The Internal Committee for Gender Equality was set up in 2012 to ensure the advance of women in the organization. One of its first initiatives was the Institutional Career Program which encourages women’s professional growth by developing their capabilities. Since the launch of the program, the number of women accessing mid-level management positions has risen by 10%.
Supporting low income women, a mission shared with Women’s World Banking and ADOPEM
For over 35 years, Women’s World Banking has worked with financial institutions to demonstrate the benefit of investing in women as customers and leaders. Headquartered in New York, it works with 40 institutions in 29 countries to create access to finance. For its part, Banco ADOPEM supports almost 400,000 vulnerable entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic. 67% are women who set up a business to guarantee their future and that of their family.