From Law Graduate to Banking Leader: The Inspiring Journey of Marijo Samneh

Marijo Samneh

A Serendipitous Start in Finance

Marijo Samneh’s career trajectory is a testament to the power of seizing unexpected opportunities. Originally a law graduate with aspirations for a legal career, her path took an unforeseen turn during her master’s studies. A friend’s suggestion led her to a training opportunity at a financial institution, which she embraced to fulfill a four-month internship requirement. This decision marked the beginning of her profound journey into the banking sector.

Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Marijo shares, “I never actively chose this industry; it unfolded naturally. As a law graduate, I planned to pursue a legal career. While completing my master’s, a friend recommended training at a financial institution. Needing a four-month internship, I seized the opportunity, leading me here.”

Cultivating a Culture of Love and Respect

One of Marijo’s most significant achievements is the establishment and preservation of a culture of love within her bank. As the institution’s first employee, she played a crucial role in shaping its atmosphere. Beyond her foundational role, she led the creation of the Legal and Compliance and Human Resources departments, fostering an environment of mutual respect and positivity.

Marijo emphasizes, “My biggest achievement is establishing and preserving the culture of love within my bank. While I was the first employee and had the opportunity to help shape the atmosphere, my true accomplishment lies in leading the creation of the Legal and Compliance and HR departments, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and positivity. This is important to me because I genuinely love my bank and my colleagues, and maintaining this supportive culture is something I deeply value.”

Overcoming Early Career Challenges

Embarking on her career at a newly established financial institution, Marijo was tasked with building a compliance department from scratch. Without prior experience, she faced the daunting challenge of writing policies and procedures independently. This experience compelled her to learn swiftly and adapt to new responsibilities, laying a solid foundation for her future endeavors.

She recalls, “I began my career at a newly established financial institution, tasked with building a compliance department from scratch. With no prior experience, writing policies and procedures alone was extremely challenging, but it pushed me to learn quickly and adapt to new responsibilities.”

Balancing Multiple Roles

Currently, Marijo serves as the Head of Legal, Compliance, and HR at Arab Bank (Switzerland) in Lebanon, while also acting as the board secretary. In addition, she runs her own consultancy firm, Corporate Code, focusing on Legal, Compliance, HR, and corporate governance, and provides courses and training in compliance. This multifaceted approach allows her to leverage her expertise across various areas, aligning perfectly with her career goals.

Marijo reflects, “Currently, I’m balancing two roles: I serve as the Head of Legal, Compliance, and HR at Arab Bank, Switzerland, Lebanon, while also acting as the board secretary. In addition, I run my own consultancy firm focused on Legal, Compliance, HR, and corporate governance, and I provide courses and training in compliance. This combination allows me to leverage my expertise in multiple areas, and it aligns perfectly with my career goals. I see this as the right path for me over the next five years, as it enables continuous growth and contribution to the field.”

Finding Inspiration in Leadership

Throughout her career, Marijo often reported directly to the CEO, lacking traditional mentorship structures. However, her current chairman, Mr. Maroun Asmar, has been a significant source of inspiration. Coming from the governance world and working in compliance and risk, his knowledge, strategic approach, and leadership have set an example Marijo deeply admires.

She notes, “Throughout my career, I haven’t had the opportunity to work with someone more senior than me, as I’ve always reported directly to the CEO. This lack of a traditional mentorship structure meant I didn’t have a direct figure to guide or inspire me. However, my current chairman, Mr. Maroun Asmar, has been the most inspiring person in my career. Coming from the governance world and working in compliance and risk, he has set an example I deeply admire. His knowledge, strategic approach, and leadership position inspire me to follow in his footsteps and aspire to reach the same level of expertise and influence.”

Navigating Challenges with Determination

When facing challenges or setbacks, Marijo stays motivated by focusing on her drive to succeed and solve the issue at hand. While she acknowledges that maintaining positivity isn’t always possible, her inner belief in achieving her vision propels her forward.

She shares, “When facing challenges or setbacks, I stay motivated by focusing on my drive to succeed and solve the issue at hand. While I don’t always stay positive, I have an inner belief that I must win and get things done as I envision. I always aim for perfection and keep the idea of being a winner at the forefront, which helps me push through difficulties and focus on resolving the situation.”

A Defining Career Lesson

At 26, as the head of compliance at a newly established financial institution, Marijo encountered a situation that would profoundly impact her approach to compliance. After expressing strong reservations about a particular transaction, her decision was overruled by the CEO. Subsequently, the transaction was revealed to be fraudulent, leading to legal challenges that spanned a decade. This experience underscored the critical importance of documenting decisions and standing firm in one’s professional convictions.

Marijo recounts, *”When I was 26, I was the head of compliance at a newly established financial institution, fully owned by one person who also served as both the CEO and chairman. There was a transaction that came through the institution, and I had strong reservations about it. Instead of formally rejecting it, I went to the CEO and expressed my concerns, telling him I didn’t want to admit the transaction through the institution. Unfortunately, the CEO overruled my decision, and I resigned shortly after. Two months later, it was revealed that the transaction was a fraud—$1,760,000 was stolen from a company. The financial institution and CEO were sued, and because I was the head of compliance, I was also named in the lawsuit, accused of being an accomplice for accepting the transaction. This was all because I had failed to properly document my rejection.

I spent the next 10 years navigating tribunals in an effort to resolve this issue. While I was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing and removed from the case in April 2023, the case itself is still ongoing. This experience was a turning point in my career and taught me the hard way how crucial documentation and compliance are in this field.”*

Looking Ahead

Marijo Samneh’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. From an unexpected start in finance to becoming a leader in the banking sector, her journey exemplifies the importance of embracing opportunities, cultivating a positive work culture, and standing firm in one’s professional convictions. With her continued dedication and expertise, she remains a powerful force in the financial world, inspiring the next generation of leaders. Do follow her on Instagram.

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