RAMON Richards may not be the doctor he once dreamt of becoming, but life steered him towards a path where he can build a legacy and positively impact the lives of others.

The newly appointed corporate banking manager (CBM) at First Global Bank’s corporate headquarters in New Kingston is resolute in his ambition to become a household name in the financial sector. Describing himself as committed, self-motivated, and dedicated, Richards believes in achieving success at any ethical cost.

“Despite what’s happening, I know what the targets are and what I need to do to achieve them. Once I know what I need to do, I’m going to do it,” he stated with conviction.

His story is one of persistence and demonstrates how redirection can lead to repurposing. Unlike many of his colleagues, Richards did not immediately pursue tertiary education after completing his secondary studies at Clarendon College. Instead, at 18, he entered the workforce, starting with a job at a driving school. He later transitioned to a position at First Global Bank (FGB), the banking arm of the GraceKennedy Financial Group, marking the beginning of his journey to conquer the banking sector.

“I went back to school at 27. But I can tell you that it worked better for me because I was already in the field. Unlike someone coming out of college and starting from the bottom, I already had my foot in the door. That combination of experience and education gave me a strong foundation on which to build on,” he explained.

Though his path to success has been unconventional, Richards remains grateful for the lessons he’s learned and believes he is on track to achieving his goals. He views his early introduction to the working world as a valuable training ground for navigating various workplace personalities.

Reflecting on his early experiences, Richards admits that he didn’t have the best relationship with his first employers. However, he sees setbacks as opportunities for growth. “That experience helped me strengthen my customer service skills and taught me how to deal with different personality types in the workplace,” he shared.

Richards began his career at FGB as a teller in 2014, where he remained for two years before his promotion to customer service representative. Based on good work ethics and exemplary customer service, he was selected to serve as the acting customer service supervisor at the New Kingston branch, the flagship branch of FGB. That role, though, in an acting capacity, Richards says, adequately prepared him for the role that he believes had the most profound impact on his career to date. In his CBA role, he was to the then vice-president of corporate banking, Norman Thompson, and to his then manager, Mishka Samuels Francis, their support on the ground while they met with clients. This opportunity to work in close proximity with the senior management team of the bank empowered Richards, and it was in this capacity that he received superb guidance and mentorship for the role he currently occupies.

Always rising throughout the company, receiving several glowing client testimonials along the way, Richards’ career took another unexpected turn when he transitioned from operational banking to sales to become a business banker. The client experience he offers, as relayed by his leaders, is one that not only sets the bar, but it also became the bar. As a business banker at the Portmore branch, he nurtured and developed relationships with businesses — both small and large — to truly meet their banking needs.

Though initially apprehensive about the transition, Richards exceeded their set expectations, significantly boosting the branch’s performance during his tenure.

“Entering the sales arena was frightening, because I had never done sales before. But I have an attitude of “I will not fail’’, so I decided to bring that mindset into sales. Surprisingly, as a business banker at the Portmore branch, I performed exceptionally well,” he shared.

“I became the top POS [point-of-sale] salesperson for the year. I exceeded expectations in credit card sales, loans were performing well, and overall targets were met. That’s when I realised I could do it.”

Fuelled by this realisation and his go-getter attitude, Richards set his sights on the management side of corporate banking, which he viewed as the next step in his career. Now, just a few months into the position as a CBM, he is confident in his abilities and aims to master the role within the next five years.

“This [job] is my five-year plan. I will become a strong corporate banking manager. Currently, I am still learning how to structure deals, seek business — the whole works — but by then I’ll be accomplished. I also plan to complete my master’s in corporate finance within that time,” he shared.

In addition to his commitment to his wife, Richards is the definition of a modern man who prioritises his health, wealth, and family in the life he now boldly leads. His formula for achieving mental, financial, and physical wellness includes taking breaks, living within his means, and eating as healthily as possible.

He also gives back to his community as a mentor in the GK mentorship programme and as a volunteer with Jehovah’s Witness group, sharing “comfort from the Bible”.

“In light of everything happening around us, we need to hear something good during these times,” he added.

A far cry from his humble beginnings in May Pen, Clarendon, this outlier of First Global Bank believes those early days laid the foundation for the bold, honest, and ambitious man he has become today. He encourages the next generation of bankers to aim to be even better than him no matter what life throws your way.