Rushain Smith: Banking on talent and grit
GROWING up, Rushain Smith dreamed of being the captain of a ship. While he did not achieve that goal, he did manage to steady the ship of his own career, navigating and excelling in sales.
As a youngster Smith never saw banking as a career choice as it was not a popular field then. But he is now happy, despite not sailing the seven seas. Self-assured yet humble, and having a knack for persuasion, he noted that this, instead, was fate as he was always able to “sell the benefit of a product or a service to [anyone]”. This innate talent has taken him well on his way to achieving other dreams.
Recently, Smith was named First Global Bank’s (FGB) Personal Banking Officer (PBO) of the Year. A consistent top performer since joining the bank in 2013, he was named PBO of the Year in 2018, 2020, 2021 and in 2022. This latest achievement has already opened many doors for him, including increased referrals and other opportunities such as being selected for the FGB mentorship programme.
Reflecting on his journey, he said his success is due to his passion for client service and his champion spirit.
Known as Gold Rush among clients and colleagues, he has become a reliable and knowledgeable financier, always ready to provide solutions to client issues. He attributes much of his growth to the meritocratic culture at FGB.
“To say that the journey here at First Global Bank, and by extension the GraceKennedy Financial Group, has been spectacular would be an understatement. As someone always seeking to be the best in everything I do, I am happy that FGB celebrates champions and top performers so it feels awesome and encouraging to be the top performer. No matter what the task assigned, I will give my all,” he said.
Like many in his field coming from very humble beginnings, the banker admitted, “Somehow, I always knew that there was greatness within me. I have always been a very driven and competitive individual.”
Smith, who started in the finance field over 17 years ago as a customer service representative/teller, says of his childhood, “Growing up, I was outgoing, innovative, and sociable. Whenever an opportunity came up I’d answer the call.”
Thinking back on fun memories, his early days saw him in a large household with other siblings and relatives. Smith is the firstborn in a set of fraternal twins and, being competitive by nature, standing out was always a part of his personality. Living in Mandeville, he shared, “has helped me to be more focused and driven because, at times, it [can be] harder to achieve outside of the Corporate Area in some career fields”.
After spending four years at a credit union a desire for greater opportunities led him to FGB, where he has shone. Today, he is grateful for what he does and the impact his job of care has on allowing his customers to realise their financial goals.
“I wanted to join commercial banking ever since as it would allow for greater career movement in becoming a career banker,” he said.
He recalls the first time he was asked to enter the field of sales. “When I first started out I was cautiously optimistic; I knew I could do it but at the same time I was nervous about failing. Kerrene Grant, my then branch manager at FGB, and Suzette Dawkins, AVP retail banking, encouraged me to get into sales. Since then I have proven to be excellent at it, winning top salesperson for the Mandeville branch and for the entire bank consistently.”
Smith is known to be honest to a fault, in keeping with the GraceKennedy values of honesty, integrity and trust. The dedicated career man also tries to find time to unwind. A lover of photography and travel, he says beaches, rivers, and music play key roles in his relaxation. He believes that being relaxed influences feelings of holistic health and contentment by decreasing stress and tension.
“To be honest, being relaxed helps me to manage my time and be effective at the task at hand. It helps me to be productive, but I like some fun.”
Adventurous like the heroes in his favourite movies National Treasure and Indiana Jones, this country music fan also enjoys cooking, rest, and spending time with family and friends — all part of his wellness and mental health regimen that is the creative outlet which complements his professional rigour.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Northern Caribbean University, Smith plans to pursue professional courses, including obtaining his real estate licence. He aims for a senior position in banking sales and is preparing to start his master’s degree, confident that he can balance his demanding job with his academic goals. When asked how he manages to keep his focus when flustered, the confident rep says he lives by the motto, “Tomorrow might be better or at least better than today”.
“I definitely want my legacy to be one where I am remembered to have left an impact, however small, on the people I am around,” he said.