Banking News – Every career path requires some form of motivation, and individuals often weigh the pros and cons before making a decision to enter a field. Shikha Adhikari Regmi, Deputy Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, shares that her decision to pursue a career in banking was motivated by the lifestyle of bankers.

Born and raised in Biratnagar, Shikha had a joyful childhood and completed her SLC there. She recalls the early days of schooling when the concept of “boarding schools” was just emerging, and her school lacked windows. Her academic journey started in a boarding school, where she learned to adapt to the system.

“I never really had clear career goals as a child,” Shikha said, reminiscing about her younger years. “But I always believed that whatever field I entered, I should do my best.” Though she considered studying science, Shikha eventually focused on management and decided to pursue it. Once she started studying management, she was determined to excel in the field.

After completing her management studies, Shikha entered the banking sector without looking back. While still pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she worked at Standard Chartered Bank. She began her banking career there and worked in a contractual position for about 3 to 4 years before moving on to Everest Bank, where she continued her banking career for the same period.

Influenced by the ‘Lifestyle’ of Bankers

The ‘lifestyle’ of bankers played a significant role in Shikha’s decision to enter the field. “At that time, I didn’t fully understand the economy, but seeing how well-dressed and confident the bank employees were, and hearing about the good salaries, I thought this could be a good career path,” she recalls.

Having started her career in private banking, Shikha faced challenges working late into the night, which led to some issues. However, after joining Nepal Rastra Bank, she found that such problems were no longer an issue. She has now completed 13 years at the central bank, although she still faces certain challenges.

Shikha’s family consists of her husband, in-laws, and children. She had no prior plans to join Nepal Rastra Bank but was pleasantly surprised when she cleared the selection process on her first attempt. She now believes that the banking sector has proven to be an inspiring and encouraging career choice for women.

She emphasizes that, while working in the banking sector is challenging, managing responsibilities is part of the job. Shikha expresses satisfaction with her work in banking and believes that the challenges faced by women in the sector will diminish over time. She stresses the importance of education for women to increase their participation in the banking sector and believes that hard work leads to success. Shikha is confident that women are capable of taking on leadership roles in banking and encourages women to pursue education to enter the field.

This feature is part of a week-long special series by Banking News, highlighting the contributions of women in leadership roles across the banking and insurance sectors in celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8, or Falgun 24 in the Nepali calendar).