Introduction
On this edition of Insider Tales, we’ll be introducing you to Joyce Jacob who is currently the Head of E-Business at Sofri. She takes us through her day-to-day and gives us some insight into her life and her experience working with Sofri so far
Describe your job in three words.
Exhilarating, Challenging, and fast-paced.
What did you study in school, and how did you transition into your current role?
I studied Sociology in school.
My journey from studying Sociology to becoming a successful Banker is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary thinking and adaptability.
My deep understanding of human behaviour and societal structures combined with my financial expertise, not only allowed me to thrive in the digital space but also contributed to my ability to make well-informed decisions and foster meaningful connections with clients and colleagues.
What is your day-to-day like? (What does your role entail?)
I start my day by checking my emails and reviewing any urgent messages or notifications.
I block my calendar for all scheduled meetings and then prioritize my tasks for the day using a to-do list. I then check the performance of all E-business channels, ensuring that they are running smoothly.
My day typically concludes by reviewing all outstanding projects on the project tracker to determine if adjustments are needed based on timelines, market trends, and business goals.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
I am working on the development of some new features for the Sofri mobile app.
In simple terms, I am currently prioritizing the product our customers need the most, which is the Nano Loan.
We will be providing customers with a simple dashboard where they can take loans and see all their previous loans and activities directly on the app.
There are some new and exciting features we are working on incorporating into the new app build as well.
Priority is placed on ease of access as well as improving the overall customer journey, so watch out for the new SOFRI PRO APP.
What is the best thing about being part of the Sofri Team?
One of the best things about being part of the Sofri team is the “Sense of Collaboration.” Working as a team allows us to collaboratively analyze challenges from different angles and tackle issues effectively.
It really helps to know that even while you take ownership of your professional responsibilities, you have a team that is always willing to work with you to maximize results.
What has been your proudest moment while working in your current role at Sofri?
The Sofri Launch was a big moment for me. Managing and collaborating with diverse teams to successfully complete and launch the Sofri Mobile App was definitely a milestone.
While we progress every day, being able to demonstrate effective planning, resource allocation, and project management skills, delivering high-quality results, achieving the project’s objectives, and delivering outputs that exceed stakeholders’ expectations are significant accomplishments for me.
What job would you most like to swap places with for the day?
That would definitely be cybersecurity. What I currently do involves managing digital channels, so I am very aware of the importance of cyber security in protecting business systems and digital channels as well as ensuring all software data and applications from digital attacks, unauthorized access, or damages.
In today’s interconnected world, most businesses and organizations rely heavily on digital tech for their various activities, so the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overemphasized. it is important that while we are growing our technologies, we also put in place measures to help protect them. I have always found this aspect of protecting digital assets quite fascinating.
What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a newscaster. I really loved watching the news, and I would always tell my parents and siblings that I wanted to be like the newscasters we saw on TV. Even as a kid, I was very outspoken and I had very solid communication skills. I would speak, and people would listen because of the type of confidence I had.
Growing up, I also realized how much I enjoyed engaging in intelligent conversations that would open my eyes to views and perspectives of salient matters. So, the world of journalism was always a thing of interest to me, in fact, I had planned to study Mass Communication at the university to fulfill my dreams of becoming a newscaster but I guess life happened.
What website do you visit the most?
I would say the Punch website. I personally believe that Punch gives me accurate and reliable information on any current happenings I need information on.
There’s no information I need on politics, the money markets, or the rest that I don’t see on the Punch website. So I’m a subscriber, and I can easily just log in and search for any information I need at any time. It’s way better than relying on random websites or social media for news.
Tell us something interesting we don’t know about you.
I love cooking. It’s a different type of joy I derive from just putting together different recipes, playing around with flavours, and experimenting.
Most times after my experiments I would come out with a very nice and yummy dish that everyone would love and praise me for.
I think cooking would be my special talent and hobby because the kitchen is where you would most likely find me when I’m not working.
