Salisbury, NC |Students in Livingstone College’s George E. Battle School of Business recently had a chance to gain banking industry insights when the NC Bankers Association brought its Future Bank Leaders Program to campus, featuring Irene Kyere, Senior Vice President and Team Leader at Southern First Bank in Greensboro.  

The class, led by commercial banking executives, explains concepts related to the field and shares stories of their journeys of achievement and the resilience needed for success. Kyere spoke with the students about perseverance, goal setting, and the importance of developing successful strategies for achieving one’s dream.  

Born in Ghana, West Africa, Kyere’s family faced many struggles after her father’s passing when she was 11. Kyere understood the significance of education and how attending college in the US would enable her to pursue a better life and achieve the goals she had set for herself. 

“I encourage you all to dream big,” Kyere told the students. “Envision yourself in a position beyond your current circumstances; once you have that dream, set concrete goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Be prepared to work hard, and if your initial strategies don’t yield results, be flexible and adapt. Challenge yourself, remain dynamic, and rise again when faced with adversity!” 

Malachi Coleman, a junior business major and member of the college’s football team, was deeply impacted by Kyere’s words. “It was impactful,” he said. “As a student-athlete, time management and juggling responsibilities are always a challenge, so it’s easy to want to take shortcuts because we’re busy and get tired. She made it clear that we can achieve whatever we want if we want it bad enough, or we can make excuses. Don’t make excuses. Do whatever it takes. That’s what I plan to do.” 

As for the students’ impact on Kyere, “It was an honor to meet these students,” she said. “I wouldn’t have missed this opportunity for anything.”