Kathmandu – To perform any task effectively and efficiently, one must gain experience. Experience requires a strong will, and along with that, a genuine interest in the subject is essential. Therefore, individuals must identify what they are most inclined to and passionate about.

One such woman who has excelled in multiple fields and found clarity in her strengths is Sarina Maharjan. Over the course of her 15-year banking career, Sarina has worked in various sectors, taking on diverse roles. Known as an athlete during her school years, she transitioned to journalism after high school. Sarina worked for six years in economic journalism at Annapurna Post before making the switch to banking. Her decision has now led her to become the branch manager of Nepal Bank Limited’s Lazimpat branch.

Having led a branch for over three years, Sarina began her banking career at Kumari Bank. She recalls, “Though I was passionate about journalism, my academic background in management made me think about which sector to pursue. After completing my bachelor’s, I chose banking. I saw a vacancy at Kumari Bank, applied, and got selected.”

Always eager to learn, Sarina enjoys keeping herself busy to gain knowledge. “Even though I started my banking career at Kumari Bank, I was interested in all aspects of banking,” she shares. Initially working as an assistant in the bank’s CEO office, Sarina soon realized that she wanted to be directly involved in banking operations. “I was not satisfied with the assistant role. What I really wanted to learn was banking. I kept asking for extra tasks because I felt my time was being wasted,” she says.

After a year at Kumari Bank, Sarina joined Manakamana Development Bank. As an officer, she quickly learned the aspects of banking she had hoped to understand. “I always worked with a view to progressing in my career. Staying in one place was never an option for me, so I followed new opportunities,” she explains. Soon after, her master’s results came out, and a vacancy for a management trainee opened at Siddhartha Bank. Sarina applied, passed the written test, and started working as a treasury back office in the bank.

Her desire for more experience led her to further her education. Sarina later appeared for the written test at Nepal Bank, where she was selected for the sixth level. “Even though I took the exam in Kathmandu, my posting was in Chitwan at the Narayangadh branch,” she recalls. There, she worked in the customer service and cash departments, directly interacting with clients, which helped her understand their mindset and needs.

Sarina’s pursuit of knowledge did not stop there. After five years at the branch, she sought further new experiences. “Having worked at four different banks, I had done most of the tasks, but I still felt there was something missing,” she says. She was particularly interested in learning about Letters of Credit (LC) and non-funded loans. When a vacancy opened, Sarina took the opportunity and furthered her career. After working with LCs, she passed another exam and was promoted to the seventh level. A year later, she was transferred to the new branch in Hattigauda as the branch manager.

As a manager, Sarina aimed to expand her experience and ease the process of solving customer issues. She pursued a postgraduate diploma in Sound Selling Psychology to bridge the 10-year gap in her studies. In addition to her professional growth, Sarina finds time for her love of music and literature, using them as tools for relaxation and personal development. Through books, she continues to gain knowledge and make her profession and life more meaningful.