Business: Business: Branch Manager
Business
Branch Manager:
Lianne Uradomo
by Mike Yoshiura
"You MUST be passionate about whatever it is you do in life," said Lianne Uradomo, who understands that with success comes a lot sacrifice.
On The Contrary
On the contrary to popular belief, "there are lots of branch managers that don't have a degree in business." Lianne Uradomo is a vibrant 30-year-old, who graduated from the University of Hawaii in August 1998, with a degree in Psychology. PSYCHOLOGY?? "Most people think that a business degree is needed to go into banking, but all you really need is a strong background in customer service."
The Real World
Welcome to the real world, and I'm not referring to the tell-all-reality show on MTV! Still testing out the job market, Lianne accepts a job as a data entry specialist for a temp agency. After only 14 days on the job, she immediately knew it wasn't the right fit for her. "I needed to find a job that had more contact with people. I like meeting new people, the conversations and getting to know them on a more personal level." Uradomo wasn't content being a data entry specialist so she decided to find something that she was passionate about.
It Fits Like A Glove
Ready for a career change, Lianne accepted a job as a consumer-banking specialist with Bank of Hawaii in 1998. Uradomo's passion for her work was evident, and soon enough she was rewarded with a position as branch manager, after only her third year with the company.
Opportunity Knocks
Lianne has been employed with Bank of Hawaii now for seven and a half years, and she's already managed four different branches. These days, Lianne is settling down at the Chinatown branch, where she's been situated for almost a year. "Going from branch-to-branch gave me an opportunity to experience the difference in demographics. I encounter different situations that I may not have had at another branch. Sometimes you need to go where the opportunities are and make sacrifices to succeed."
A Passion For Life
"You must be passionate about whatever it is you do in life." Lianne Uradomo is passionate about everything she sets her mind to, and it's her love for life that put her on the pathway to success. There are many different opportunities in the banking industry for someone with the same passion and people skills as Lianne: investment banking, mortgage lending, business banking or even corporate communications. The skies the limit!
There's NO "I" In TEAM
"The job can be overwhelming at times, but it's all about how you overcome things." Uradomo's staff helps her to reduce her stress levels with their sense of humor, and in turn she attributes her individual success to her team. This branch manager believes that teamwork is fostered through openness, communication and a certain comfort level amongst peers. "You cannot succeed at all if you can't work together as a team. I'm not one to take credit for myself."
A Supporting Cast
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going…Straight to mom's house!! "My parents are my support group. They're always there for me, to listen to me and make me feel better." This Mililani native lives only ten minutes away from her parent's house, a familiar place, somewhere to go when she can't endure the pressures of everyday life. "When I'm stressed it's straight to their house, and they know exactly how to make my problems disappear."
Lianne's Words of Wisdom
"Just study hard because you don't need a business degree…Get some cash handling experience in the retail industry." Lianne got her first retail job working at the Sanrio Store in the Mililani Town Center paving the way for her career in banking. To most teenagers it may seem like your average part-time job, but Lianne really took home more than just her paychecks twice a month because she received the necessary customer service skills, product knowledge and money handling experience to find success in a future career.
There are 72 Bank of Hawaii branches in the state of Hawaii, and 80 percent of the branch managers are female.