WHEN Rashina Cope-Malcolm reflects on her journey from the second city of Montego Bay to Kingston’s bustling financial district, she does so with a mix of humility and pride. An accomplished banker with over 13 years’ experience, she has established a reputation for consistently exceeding targets, strengthening client relationships, and elevating the standard of customer service.

Today, Cope-Malcolm is a corporate banking manager in the Corporate and Commercial Banking Unit at First Global Bank (FGB), part of the GraceKennedy Financial Group. However, her story is not just one of professional success, it is a testament to ambition, resilience, and the belief that dreams, when pursued with persistence, can indeed shape destiny.

Growing up in Montego Bay, Cope-Malcolm always knew education would be her route to success.

“As a young girl growing up in Montego Bay, I knew that getting an education was my way of becoming successful,” she recalled.

After high school, she wasted no time preparing for the future. She polished off her résumé and started knocking on doors, determined to secure her first opportunity.

“I needed a job, so I did my résumé and started dropping it off at financial institutions and other companies, including the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The financial institution called me, and I took it from there and started at the entry level.”

Her first role as a member service officer at her then-employer, another financial institution, was eye-opening. While she embraced the experience, it was far from easy. “It was very physically tiring and looking around the bank at the different career options, I knew that this was not where I wanted to be for a long period of time,” she admitted.

With an ambitious spirit, she set her sights on Kingston, the city she believed held greater opportunities and the chance to “make an impact and level up”.

That drive fuelled her growth, where she worked across the island in various positions. These included financial administration assistant, credit writer, senior branch sales representative, operations support officer, and relationship officer. Each role challenged her in new ways, developing the versatility that would later define her career.

“Life in banking taught me to adapt,” she said. “Every position brought its own lessons, and every step prepared me for the next level.”

But after years of growth, she set her sights on something bigger.

Her leap to First Global Bank (FGB) marked a significant turning point in her career. Attracted by its reputation for innovation, inclusivity, and its ties to the GraceKennedy brand, Cope-Malcolm knew the transition would give her room to grow professionally while contributing to an institution with deep Caribbean roots.

“My role includes managing corporate client relationships,” she explained. “Like most jobs, it has had its challenges. There is never a dull moment. It is very rewarding, especially when you see a project come to life. It brings great joy to see our clients happy.”

Behind her confidence is a strong academic foundation. She holds a BSc in management studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and a postgraduate diploma in financial services management from the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Her studies specialised in credit risk management, compliance, ethics, and corporate governance, disciplines that prepared her for the demands of the corporate banking world.

For Cope-Malcolm, success is not only about climbing in the corporate world, but also about creating space for others to rise.

“As a young person, you have to go above and beyond your call of duty,” she advised. “You also must note your achievements so that you can present them. I would encourage young women to go after their dreams, the sky is not the limit.”

Balancing a demanding career with her roles as a wife and mother has not always been easy, but she credits her team at FGB for providing her with the flexibility to thrive in both worlds.

“I am grateful to my team at First Global Bank, who have given me the flexibility to create balance in my life,” she said. That balance, she believes, is essential for long-term success.

She is equally passionate about the role of women in leadership. “We play a very important role in the workplace. We bring different perspectives to leadership, and we will continue to break down barriers and show younger women that they can achieve that level of professionalism and success.”

Her life’s philosophy is simple but powerful: work hard, aim to make a difference, and trust the process.

From the young woman who once journeyed through Montego Bay, handing out résumés, to the corporate leader shaping client experiences at one of Jamaica’s leading banks, Rashina Cope-Malcolm embodies determination and grace.

Her advice to other young women who wish to follow in her footsteps? “Strive to make a difference,” she said. “Try to make an impact, do your best, and God will do the rest.”