Banking News – Rita Pathak, the Head of Corporate Sales at Citizens Life Insurance, was born and raised in Ratnanagar, Chitwan. From a young age, she was entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings, a role she fulfilled successfully. As the eldest daughter, she took on the responsibility of managing the household after her mother.

Born into a middle-class family, Rita started her education at a government school, which was considered the best in the district at the time. She excelled in her studies and completed her SLC from the same school. Reflecting on the importance of SLC during those days, she recalls, “At that time, passing SLC was a big deal, as only a few students managed to pass.” Rita completed her SLC at the age of 15, marking the beginning of a new phase in her life.

After completing her SLC, Rita enrolled in a Commerce program at a college opened by her grandfather and father in Chitwan, where she studied ICom and BCom. This was the only college in Eastern Chitwan offering these courses at the time. While studying ICom, Rita got married and later moved to Kathmandu with her husband.

After marriage, Rita enrolled at Shankar Dev College to pursue her Bachelor’s degree, but her responsibilities as a wife and mother made it difficult to attend college regularly. She managed to attend only for exams, balancing her studies with other activities. During this time, she also became a Lady Rider and was actively involved in sports. She always had a passion for taking risks and enjoyed proving that women could do anything, despite societal stereotypes.

Soon after marriage, Rita had children, and her focus shifted to her responsibilities as a mother. She gave priority to her children’s needs and was unable to focus on her career initially. She lived in a joint family, and with her husband working outside, she also took on the responsibility of managing the household. As her children grew, Rita enrolled them in school and eventually began working outside the home.

Rita has now spent 20 years in the insurance industry. She had initially considered working in a bank and even appeared for the Loksewa exam but did not pass. It was through a connection with someone already in the insurance sector that Rita learned about the industry. The flexibility it offered, allowing her to manage both work and family, was appealing, and she chose to begin her career in insurance.

She joined Citizens Life Insurance and began her career in marketing. Initially, being a woman in the insurance sector was challenging, with Rita facing countless questions and doubts from society. However, with the support of her understanding husband, she was able to pursue her career in insurance with relative ease. Rita believes that the environment for women has changed positively over time. She points out that even in the education sector, there was a noticeable difference back then, and now, the working environment for women has also evolved.

When Rita entered the marketing field in the insurance sector, it was far from easy, and she faced numerous negative questions about her ability as a woman. The pressure was immense, and at one point, she had to take painkillers to get through the workday. Despite these challenges, Rita remained committed to fulfilling her responsibilities. She has a deep love for her work and believes that every sector has both positive and negative aspects.

She emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility and handling it with diligence. According to Rita, the insurance industry currently offers good opportunities for women, and women are showing great dedication. At Citizens Life, women now make up 40% of the workforce. Rita encourages women not to view themselves as weak because of their gender. “We can achieve our goals through our hard work,” she states. She believes that women are multi-talented and should love and respect themselves.

(This article is part of the Banking News’ weeklong special series for International Women’s Day (March 8 / Falgun 24), focusing on women in leadership roles in the banking and insurance sectors.)