One woman travelled a great distance recently to spend some time on the West Shore.

Esther Kafui Akumani B次元官网网址� she likes to be called Miss K B次元官网网址� is from Ghana and spent roughly 10 days in Greater Victoria as part of the Canadian Co-operative AssociationB次元官网网址檚 WomenB次元官网网址檚 Mentorship Program.

During her time on the Island, she stayed with Langford resident Lisa Verwolf, who is Island SavingsB次元官网网址� director of credit process and compliance. The two spent countless hours in different branches, sharing more than just banking procedures.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e kept her busy,B次元官网网址� Verwolf said, laughing.

Akumani spent the week learning about the credit unionB次元官网网址檚 human resource policies, lending policies, marketing strategies, leadership and many other skills employees use in the work place every day.

She was especially blown away with the different ways Canadians can deposit cheques. Verwolf demonstrated how, using some of the different technologies. The next day, Akumani spent some time on the inside to see how they are processed. B次元官网网址淭heir credit union doesnB次元官网网址檛 even have an ATM,B次元官网网址� Verwolf said. B次元官网网址淔or us in Canada, we have specific risk management strategies. That was a new thing for her.B次元官网网址�

Verwolf noted a recent flood at the West Shore branch caused some superficial damage to the building, but no data was lost. At the credit union where Akumani works, data is stored on site in each computer, so if something such as a fire were to happen, all that data would be lost. Seeing the way it is stored here was a big eye-opener for her.

She was also surprised by how personally employees interact with clients. In Ghana, she noted, you donB次元官网网址檛 have those meaningful conversations.

B次元官网网址淚 just love the welcoming attitude of everyone everywhere I go,B次元官网网址� Akumani said. B次元官网网址淚t makes you feel at home.B次元官网网址�

In Ghana, she added, there is always a level of authority surrounding superiors that can make them unaccessible. Often, employees have to book appointments just to speak with their bosses.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e not seen anyone called B次元官网网址榤isterB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榖oss.B次元官网网址� It makes you relate.B次元官网网址� In her country, she noted, high-ranking company officials always have a title and it is not customary to call someone above you by their first name. She noted it goes a long way in helping employees feel comfortable here in Canada.

After sitting in on a senior leadership meeting her first day here, Akumani noted the personal level of interaction among the group. B次元官网网址淎fter every meeting they talk about who needs help B次元官网网址� It makes it one of the skills and tools I will carry back.B次元官网网址�

She was often the recipient of hugs when meeting new people, including those higher up in the chain of command. B次元官网网址淚t makes you feel comfortable to deal with a person.B次元官网网址� She said she would be trying to take that approach home with her.

Miss KB次元官网网址檚 ultimate goal is to take the information she has learned home to help make herself and others around her more successful.

For Verwolf, the exchange has been an opportunity to provide some insight and examples of different ways things can be done. But she noted, B次元官网网址渢he mentorship is about many different layers, not just work.B次元官网网址�

It was also an opportunity for her to B次元官网网址減rovide Esther with some understanding how we in Canada have that balance of work and family life they are trying to realize in Ghana.B次元官网网址� Verwolf pointed to her own home as an example. Her husband often cooks dinner, a fact that surprised Akumani. In Ghana, she said,  women traditionally cook the meals and do all of the work inside the home.

She was also surprised to see animals inside VerwolfB次元官网网址檚 home. B次元官网网址淵ou hardly see that B次元官网网址� Normally, we donB次元官网网址檛 allow them in our room.B次元官网网址� Often dogs are only kept as security and cats as a way to control unwanted pests.

Akumani also got a bit of a surprise when out shopping with her mentor. In Ghana, taxes are included in the display price, not afterwards at the till. You also donB次元官网网址檛 have to pay for bags. Verwolf took the opportunity to explain some of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 recycling policies.

The plan is for Akumani to spend about a month in Canada, spending a little time in different areas before reconvening in Ottawa with 10 other participants in the program. Once there, she and the others will talk about their experiences and develop strategies to implement some of what they have learned back home.

VerwolfB次元官网网址檚 advice for that part of the exchange was simple: B次元官网网址淢ake your list and then rank your priorities, because you canB次元官网网址檛 do it all.B次元官网网址�

The experience has given Akumani much.

B次元官网网址漈hey opened my eyes to many things I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have dreamed of B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e really learned a lot in terms of business and family,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his has influenced my life in ways I couldnB次元官网网址檛 have imagined.B次元官网网址�

Verwolf echoed those sentiments.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a fantastic experience,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the staff at Island Savings has really gained some valuable insight from B次元官网网址淢iss K.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com