Meet Victoria Chanza

She struggled through her first year of university after finding herself in a ‘wrong’ programme. But her courage and determination saw her find the way to a career of her dreams. Now the same persistence has seen Victoria Chanza, 35, become the first CDH Investment Bank’s Banking Centre Manager. She shares her story with EveryWoman.

Who is Victoria Chanza?

I am the fifth child in a family of six. I am married to Teddie Chanza. He is also a banker working with Malawi Savings Bank as the Head of Retail and Business Banking. We have two lovely girls—Sally, 10, and Sheryl, 3. We also have a 13 year old niece who we have embraced as our own. I am 35.

My late Dad, Lloyd Nkoloma, was a horticulturist and worked for Bvumbwe and Chitedze Research Stations before joining Natural Resources College as a lecturer. Upon retiring from the civil service, he joined the National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens as a Curator. My mum, Margaret Nkoloma, was a nurse but didn’t work for a long time partly due to her poor health and that she decided to spend her life raising us.

What is your academic background?

After my primary school in various places, I was selected to Ludzi Girls Secondary School. Thereafter I went to do my Bachelor of Business Administration at Polytechnic. I am currently pursuing an Executive Master’s Degree program. Professionally I have an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services (credit). I was selected to do Engineering at Polytechnic. A year later with a lot of help from my dad, who persistently pushed the University of Malawi, I changed to do Bachelor of Business Administration.

Why did you change programmes?

I did not have it easy in my first year. It was not my choice. Apparently many women didn’t apply for the engineering programme during entrance examinations in that academic year. So they just picked six of us. But my challenge was that I did not like the course. It needed someone who liked physics. Furthermore, we needed to be strong since the practical part required a lot of manual work. Imagine we were cutting steel and using heavy machinery. I applied to be transferred, but I met a lot of resistance. Eventually, I was given a condition that I could only be considered the next year if I passed the first year of my engineering programme. I worked hard, sweated and almost gave up. But I knew I had to do it if I was to switch programmes. Out of the six girls, two were withdrawn, two of us switched, and only two continued. Although I did first year again in the new programme what mattered to me was that I was allowed to switch.

Why did you choose Bachelor of Business Administration?

When you do this course your horizon becomes wide. It can be applied almost everywhere in different fields e.g finance, banking, economics, management, accounting and even human resources. Since I was not sure what I exactly wanted to become, it was wise to cast my net wide. It has worked!

Take us through your growing up.

I was born at Queen Elizabeth Hospital while staying at Bvumbwe Research Station. From there we moved to Lilongwe. Thereafter we stayed in Zomba. I grew up in a very strong Christian family. My dad was a church elder and my mum was a member of the women’s guild. Since we were only two girls in our family we grew very close to our brothers and that bond is still there.

What makes you stand out?

The fact that I am one of the women who are working extra hard to get into top managerial positions in this country. It is challenging to raise a family, work in such a demanding job, at the same time study. However, it is doable if you sacrifice a lot.

What were your childhood dreams?

I had a cousin, the late Mrs. Lexa Banda, who was working for Air Malawi as an air hostess. I thought I would one day be an air hostess. However, my dreams changed when I worked for National Bank of Malawi during my first year’s college vacation. I decided I was going to be a banker.

How did you become a banker?

I joined Standard Bank formerly known as Commercial Bank in 2000 as an assistant business analyst. After two years, I underwent training as management trainee in different departments of the bank. In 2003, I qualified for my Advanced Diploma in Banking. I have risen from clerical to managerial positions in Standard Bank. In 2010, I joined CDH Limited as a Business Development Manager for the Southern Region. In April 2012 when CDH Limited converted to CDH Investment Bank I became the first Banking Centre Manager for Blantyre Branch.

How is this success or a vote of confidence in your abilities?

I believe that this is a very big vote of confidence for the bank to entrust me with their first ever banking centre.

What are the challenges in this job?

There so many challenges. One needs to sacrifice their time and energy. At times, one may knock off very late (as in after midnight); and sometimes work during weekends. The job requires visiting clients. Sometimes you meet clients that are difficult to handle; who may at times be irate and shout at you. However, with all this comes the experience that brings professional and career growth.

What does your job entail?

My job entails taking full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of the banking centre. These include implementing the bank’s business policies; providing effective leadership to my team; and meeting banking needs of our valued customers, among others. I also look after banking relationships in the Southern Region of Malawi.

What has been your experience as a woman working in such a busy industry?

The experience has been good and challenging, I have been working in a men’s environment and I have been getting a lot of support from my superiors who are men in most cases and my husband. Although it has not been easy to balance my family and work life I have support from both my family and my superiors.

What is the advantage of having your husband work in the same industry as you?

He understands the pressure that I face. He also helps me in some business decisions that I make. It is good that we talk the same language.

How do you make time for each other?

We usually go to church together with the kids. Sometimes we make time to eat out and visit interesting places on Sundays when we are both free.

How did you and your husband meet?

We met at Polytechnic while I was in the first year and he was in the final year. After I graduated we got married in 2000.

What do you like about your job?

My job makes me meet a lot of people. I have exposure to people that are decision makers in the corporate business market. It also helps me to acquire a lot of knowledge from customers who are in different industries about their industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to service industries.

What have been your worst moment?

It was when one client on my portfolio sued my previous employer and I had to go through the court process during my maternity leave.

Do you have any regrets in your life?

Yes a few, I wish I had done my Master’s Degree straight after school and also if I didn’t have a big gap between my kids.

Which is your favourite holiday destination?

I would say Cape Town.