Welcome to #WiMMeets - a series of short interviews with marketing leaders from across Africa and around the world. The series will present a different side to senior professionals with the aim to share the things that matter to them and inspire others.
In this interview, we sat down with Gillian Hammah, the Group CMO at Databank Group. She has over 25 years’ experience in financial services. She leads a Marketing team comprised of project managers, copywriters and graphic designers, plus a sales team of over 120 staff across 19 branches.
Prior to joining Databank, Gillian worked for Invesco Canada – a leading asset management firm in North America, with branches in over 20 countries. She has proven success creating and executing award-winning marketing campaigns, both in Canada – where she lived for 19 years – and in Ghana.
Gillian is recognized for her strong management and strategic planning capabilities. She is inspiring and decisive, and is motivated by excellence and results. She was recognized as one of the 50 most influential CMOs in Ghana for 2019.
Gillian holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from York University (Canada) and a Masters in Marketing Strategy from the University of Ghana Business School. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate, pursuing a PhD in Business Administration at Nobel International Business School. She has been married for 24 years and has three children.
WiM Africa: What gives you energy and drives you forward when you are not feeling at the top of your game?
GH: I would say three things.
WiM Africa: Which advertising campaign, from any brand, has been the most memorable for you and why?
GH: My favourite campaign, which I think in many ways reflects the way I approach things and how driven I am, is the Avis Rental Car Print ad series from 1962 (yes before I was born). It was called “We try harder.” The premise behind the ad was that they were number 2 to Hertz Rental Car and that meant they tried harder at everything, the end result of which was better service to the customer. So they were able to turn being number two into the best argument for better service. That message connects with me, because as a woman I am often seen as number two to men, so I am willing to try harder. And guess what, I have never lost by taking that approach. Rather, I have only gained more.
WiM Africa: What three pieces of advice would you give to a woman marketer aspiring to a senior position about getting to and staying at the top of their profession?
GH: Hmmmmm…that’s an interesting question, but I love it.
Add value – always. As a woman, I have found that I have had to work twice as hard as the average man to get to where I am. But it’s okay. The fact that you have to work harder just makes you stronger, more knowledgeable, more dynamic. You don’t lose by working harder. And I have found that when you add value, after a while people stop seeing colour, gender – all those defining variables. They see your value first and that makes people seek you out to hear what you have to say about important issues. However, some women feel that the way to get to the senior positions is on their back. It may help you to get there, but it won’t keep you there. You will lack the depth required to sustain you in your role and grow further. So my advice is to earn your way to the top through the value that you bring as a leader and influencer.
Own your “womanness” but don’t let it define you – that’s not a word, but it epitomises what I want to say. Too many women are afraid to use their voice even when they get a seat at the Boardroom table. So they shrink into the background or hesitate to challenge the input of men because they may come across as overly aggressive or risk being called the “B-word.” But I cannot overemphasise how important it is to own your role – learn your craft (and more), share what you know and make your voice heard. Making your voice heard is not about idle chatter, but about speaking with knowledge and authority. I have also found that many men (definitely not all) expect women to behave a certain way because we are women. In fact, one man once told me that I should be a “mother” to my team. Lol. I told him that I only have three children and they are at home. In the workplace, we are here to do a job, so I am not about to be anyone’s mother. As I said recently to a group of young ladies at a Women’s Day event: Inequality does not mean inferiority. Be proud of your “womanness” and own it.
Don’t forget yourself in the process – As a woman, while you are rising to the top, you are also likely starting your family. That balance can be really tough sometimes. And many women (myself included) feel guilty to just pause and take some time for ourselves. Know that (as far as I have learned and observed), there is no perfect work-life balance, no matter how much people clamour for it. At every stage of your life, something will take more priority over others. When the kids are young, you will need to spend more time with them which means that you work longer hours (when the kids are asleep) to try and keep pace with others. But it is really important that you take some moments for yourself and find things that fill your tank – not your husband’s tank, your kids’ tank or your employer’s tank. Take care of you. Find moments for you. Unfortunately for me, I only started to do this in the last few years – even though I have been working for over 25 years. But the important lesson is: It is never too late. Take care of yourself and DON’T FEEL GUILTY for doing it. You help no one by falling apart or running yourself into the ground.
WiM Africa: Which one person, dead or alive, would you say inspires you the most and why?
GH: I would say my father – who is still alive. When I was growing up, we had our moments where we didn’t always see eye to eye, but the one thing I always admired and still do, is his work ethic. He is driven, exceptionally hard working, has never allowed challenges to break him (even though they may have slowed him down), has never limited himself based on his race or background, but has always defined himself by the value that he brings to every situation. That’s my dad! And when you meet me, you will see that I am very much like him. We just never quit and second best is never good enough. So I strive for excellence in everything I do (admittedly I go overboard sometimes) and push for the same with everyone that works with me or for me; we may not always hit it, but as the saying goes “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you will land among the stars.” That’s what I learned from my dad and that’s what I try to impart to everyone whom I interact with.
WiM Africa: If you were stuck on a desert island what three things, excluding electronics, could you not do without?
GH: Oh my, my first response was my phone then I read the question again and realised that wasn’t allowed (Lol!). I guess it also depends on how long I will be stuck there, and I will assume that I was on a ship and so I washed up to shore with clothes and food. Then, I would want to have:
1. Notebook and pen (preferably one of those old school pens that had the four colours of ink in one pen so that the ink won’t run out as quickly). I like to write short stories, poetry, various musings so I would take this opportunity to capture what inspires me and reflect on lessons I have learned that perhaps I can share with others in the future
2. Aluminium water bottle – the kind that can keep liquids cold for 24 hours. On a desert island, you will need to find ways to stay hydrated and cool. I am assuming there are coconut trees.
3. Umbrella – shade when it is sunny or when it rains. Also good to help beat away small animals if some should appear; if there are some bigger animals hiding then I am toast; my umbrella won’t get me very far.
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