My Career Path Has Taken Me From Wall Street to Entrepreneurship to My Most Fulfilling Work Yet

My Career Path Has Taken Me From Wall Street to Entrepreneurship to My Most Fulfilling Work Yet When Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham describes her career path as rich trust us, shes being modest.Today a Senior Relationship Manager for the Global Commercial Bank at Bank of America, Kiggundu-Bentham originally got her start on Wall Street, where she spent close to 10 years in capital markets and research roles. Then, the recession occurred and it happened to coincide with a family members illness. Choosing to pause her trajectory in finance, Kiggundu-Bentham took a career break that, in reality, doesnt sound like much of a break at all.I had two mora boys (I already had one son), and I founded a childrens clothing geschftlicher umgang in Brooklyn, she said, adding that starting a business is a career move shes particularly proud of. As a result, I am much more confident and willing to take risks both personally and professionally.Given her own hintergrund of taking risks did we mention shes also published a mystery novel under a pseudonym? its perhaps fitting that helping clients with risk management is part of her work at Bank of America today. Kiggundu-Bentham came to the bank in 2014 after completing its Returning Talent program, re-embarking on a corporate career that she says is helping her make an impact.The discounted sports tickets in a household of three boys and a husband, she added, arent too shabby either. Recently, Kiggundu-Bentham shared with Fairygodboss what shes learned from her career pivots, the difference that separates industry leaders from the ordinary ones and what makes her role today so fulfilling.Tell me a bit about your current role. What are your priorities, and what about the role excites you most?I am a Senior Relationship Manager for the Global Commercial Bank. In my role, I am responsible for maintaining the firms banking relationships with middle market companies ($50 million to $2 billion in annual revenue) in Northern New Jersey. Th e commercial bank provides treasury (cash management) and credit for its clients, as well as foreign exchange, risk management and international banking. In addition, we connect our clients to our investment banking and wealth management platforms.Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham, Senior Relationship Manager for the Global Commercial Bank at Bank of AmericaWhats the first and last thing you do at work every day?In addition to checking emails for urgent requests, my role is really about relationship management, so I have either in-person meetings or calls with prospects and clients at the very beginning of each day. At the end of each day, I create my to-do list for the next day and organize that list by priority. Lets talk about your career path. What sequence of events ultimately brought you to Bank of America?I have had a very rich career path. I first joined Wall Street in 2000, when I was hired by Bear Stearns out of business school. I spent eight years in Collateralized Debt Obligation s in Capital Markets and Research at Bear Stearns before I went onto writing fixed income research and covering Asset managers at Standard and Poors. I took a career break in 2009 before joining Bank of America in 2014.Why did you take a career break, and what ultimately made you come back?Two things happened. First, in late 2007, I learned that my fathers colon krebs had returned, and then due to the financial crisis of 2008, Standard and Poors discontinued its Relationship Coverage of Asset Managers within the Structured Products Team. The credit downturn was financially challenging but also a blessing. It gave me some time to visit my father before he ultimately passed in June 2008. In addition, I had two more boys (I already had one son), and I founded a childrens clothing business in Brooklyn. I returned to the corporate world through Bank of Americas Returning Talent program in 2014 when I realized that my childrens clothing business was not going to scale and that I also did not have enough capital to sustain it.Whats your favorite aspect of your companys culture and/or your favorite company perk?It has always been very important for me to work for a company that shares my fundamental values. Social responsibility has always been very integral to my being, so I love the community service aspect of the bank. We do so much locally in New Jersey, both through employee volunteerism and financially. My favorite perk has got to be the discounted sports tickets. With three boys in my household and my husband, we have enjoyed going to see Yankee, Jets and Nets games.Whats something youre especially good at work?My background in entrepreneurship, relationship management and research helps with prospecting and finding better ways to deepen relationships with clients.What about outside of work?At the moment, I am focused on my eldest son who is going into high school next year, but other than that, I have coached each of my sons basketball teams. I have also publi shed a fiction thriller under a pseudonym.Whats the one career move youve made that youre most proud of?Starting a business. As a result, I am much more confident and willing to take risks both personally and professionally.Whats the most memorable piece of career advice youve received?Of all the skills of leadership, listening is the most valuable and one of the least understood. Most captains of industry listen only sometimes, and they remain ordinary leaders. But a few the great ones never stop listening. Thats how they get du sagst es before anyone else of unseen problems and opportunities.--Fairygodboss is proud to partner with Bank of America. Find a job there today