Mar Amara on Women's Evolving Role in Cambodia's Banking Sector

Ms. Mar Amara, Senior Group Chief Financial Officer of ACLEDA Bank Plc., reflects on the significant evolution of women's roles within Cambodia's financial sector over the past few decades. Amara, who began her career at the Ministry of Planning in 1986 and joined ACLEDA Bank (then an NGO) as a junior accountant in 1993, has witnessed a profound shift from a predominantly male-dominated paradigm to one where women are increasingly occupying strategic leadership positions. She now oversees ACLEDA Bank's Finance Division and Budgeting & Control, while chairing key committees such as the Assets and Liabilities Committee (ALCO) and the Investment Committee. She highlights that the rise of women in leadership demonstrates the essential role of active listening, strategic empathy, diversity, and relational intelligence in high-performance management. This progress is further supported by a favorable macroeconomic and social ecosystem cultivated by the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the National Bank of Cambodia, and other relevant stakeholders. Amara also emphasizes the commitment of modern female banking leaders to continuous education and professional development, citing her own extensive training at institutions like Harvard Business School and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Financial inclusion remains a core focus for Amara, who states that ACLEDA Bank has been instrumental in poverty reduction and socio-economic development since its inception. The banking sector, she argues, is a critical engine for driving equitable opportunities and sustainable wealth creation by enhancing household resilience and providing vital capital to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). For the next generation of women leaders, Amara advises a commitment to lifelong learning, ethical leadership, innovation, and the continuous development of people and institutions.