Bank Gaborone Managing Director, Sybrand Coetzee said the bank continues to empower graduates through its Graduate Trainee Programme to increase the bank’s diversity profile and reduce unemployment rate among youth.

There are currently seven graduates with diverse qualifications, which include finance, accounting, banking and business management. The Graduate Trainee Programme is part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility, aimed at empowering and equipping the youth of Botswana with quality knowledge and skills.

Coetzee said graduates will have the best possible opportunities to learn and grow and become part of a developmental pipeline for key roles in business units. “This programme is inspired by our drive to be connectors of positive change, in this instance; it is by proactively addressing the unemployment problem that Botswana is facing.

The selected seven graduates will be primed to become productive professionals, who are contributing to the growth of Bank Gaborone and Botswana’s economy.” The selection criteria of the programme was first and second class upper division graduates from any university, a positive attitude, creativity and innovation.

During the programme, the candidates will rotate between departments as part of the programme. Each candidate has been partnered with a seasoned banker, to mentor and guide them throughout the programme.

Bank Gaborone, Head of Human Resource, Bokani Kalake said one of the bank’s strategic choices is to prioritise diversity, equity and inclusivity focusing on differently abled people and young talent to represent the demographics in the market, including future fit leadership as a catalyst for growth.

“Our graduates bring in the diversity on young talent as well as in creative mindset. The ultimate plan is to identify the right fit for the graduates and ensure they have a clear career path within the bank. We want to train them to become the future leaders of the bank.” The 2019 graduates are now employees of the bank, placed in various departments.