Smita Kanwar –
Migrants, it would seem, have what it takes to be entrepreneurs, independent professionals and be self-employed. With an increasing number of people of Indian origin going on their own, the community boasts of more wealth creators than wage earners.
Behind the success of many of them are bankers, who identify the potential of people with business acumen and help them start their new life in a new country.
Among them is Smita Kanwar, Channel and Business Development Manager, International & Migrant Banking at ANZ.
Representing the younger generation with an insatiable appetite for innovation, team spirit and progressive career, she is a people’s person, enjoying their company, and more important, anxious to be a catalyst in their success.
Harsh realities
Born and raised in Delhi, Smita demonstrated the diligence and determination of her mother, who had to raise three daughters on her own, after her husband succumbed to a heart attack. Smita was only a tweenager then but understood harsh realities of life and told herself that a strong foundation of education would help structure her career and life.
The Year was 1999 and attracted by the high quality education programmes offered by tertiary institutions in Australia, Smita landed in Sydney to a qualification in Computing, followed by a Diploma in Business Management.
Setting priorities
The urge to study more brought her to New Zealand in 2001 and she obtained a double major – in Marketing and Management at the Manukau Institute of Technology.
She understood her priorities– study well, take up a part time job, work towards gaining permanent residence and become a part of a large corporate with a successful career that brings recognition and more important, job satisfaction.
Contrary to popular belief that international students from India are opulent, youngsters like Smita are challenged by high costs of education and living. Like hundreds of her peers, she too had to utilise the 20-hour-a-week work permit to earn for her sustenance.
Dignity of labour
She joined a McDonald’s restaurant and performed a variety of duties, serving burgers and coffee, mopping the floor and cleaning the powder rooms – almost everything in fact that taught her dignity of labour and be a good team member.
About two years later, Smita arrived at the Auckland International Airport to work at the Duty Free Shop as a Location Supervisor.
“Assigned to improve sales in general, my responsibility was to look after arriving passengers and ensure that they are served well. In many ways, it was a challenge since arriving passengers would suffer jet lag, fatigue and a volley of emotions.
“It was a joy meeting people of varied vicissitudes and welcome them to New Zealand with a smile. Duty Free shopping would their first activity on arrival. Our team work was effective with increasing productivity and profitability,” she said.
Banking beckons
The dream of becoming a corporate person began to show the dawn of reality in 2008 when Smita was accorded the golden opportunity to join ANZ Bank as Assistant Manager as a branch opened within the St Luke’s Mall in Central Auckland.
In many ways, that was the beginning of a new chapter in the life and career of the young woman. With competition that was rife and expectations that were high, she sensed a new challenge in the banking environment.
“Customers will appreciate the ambience, sophisticated technology and strategic location of a commercial bank only if they receive efficient and quality service. ANZ has continued to demonstrate this fact through its staff. As a part of an eight-member team, I enjoyed serving corporate and individual customers. The bond that we establish with them gets stronger by the day,” Smita said.
The Green Challenge
About two years later, she responded to an in-house advertisement to work at a branch of National Bank (now fully merged with ANZ).
“The branch offered a unique opportunity to grow and a unique challenge to make it grow. It was a great moment of satisfaction from I and my team learnt that the branch was ranked among the top ten within the network. Mission accomplished, I was soon looking for a fresh opportunity,” Smita said.
That opportunity sent her to the Manukau (Lambie Drive) Branch of ANZ.
Enthusiasm and ability to work with a team yielded results and prepared her for the next major challenge, which she manages in her current role.
“ANZ has motivated and encouraged me to continuously seek excellence in my performance, which indeed has been the secret behind the success of people in this great institution. My ambition is to scale greater heights in the Bank, be recognised as a professional and serve our growing communities. I always remember my modest beginnings and the goals that I set for myself. The first has taught me humility while the other urges me to work harder,” Smita said.
