Aba Quansah

Aba Quansah is a finance expert and works at Citi as an AVP Senior Compliance Analyst, a position she has held for 3 and half years. Before that, she worked at Capital One for 3 years at various finance-related roles. She entered Capital One as an AML Investigative Analyst and through hard work and determination, she rose to the position of AML Senior Investigator. Aba’s career in the finance world started at US Bank where she worked as a banker between 2008 and 2010. She then moved to MV transportation where she worked as a Reconciliation Specialist for close to two years. In pursuit of skills development and passion for banking, Aba left and joined Bank of America where she worked as a fraud analyst before her career move to Capital One. Aba’s impressive career is anchored on her academics and other industry credentials. She holds a degree in finance from Northern Kentucky University. She also has several industry certifications that includes ACAMS. Aba is also an avid communicator and has strong oral and written communication skills. She also has a good masterly of Microsoft Office application and database management skills. She is proof that passion, hard work, and dedication are key to success.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

I always had a passion for finance and this is what drove me to pursue a degree in finance. From there I put in the work, and that’s how I got to be a senior-level analyst.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical day entails investigating large and sensitive cases and report any suspicious activities by filing the appropriate reports. I also engage with my team daily to ensure everyone is on the same page in regards to any updates within the organization.To make my day productive, I wake up early and workout. It gives me the energy to face the day’s challenges.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I run my ideas through fellow finance experts within my cycle. If they like it, I go ahead and implement.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am most excited about artificial intelligence in finance. Advances in this technology are changing risk modeling in finance.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I consider myself an intrapreneur and use my ideas to drive innovation within the organizations I have worked for. To become more productive, I invest a lot in empowering those around me, then delegate ideas implementation to them. This makes it easier for me to implement ideas.

What advice would you give your younger self?

To my younger self, always follow your passion and stay focused on your goals. These are the two attributes that make all the difference between success and failure.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I am convinced that blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies will change money as we know. Many think it will never happen, but the reality of the technology’s adoption paints a different picture.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I am always on the lookout for new ideas. I would urge all entrepreneurs to do the same, because that is how winning ideas come along.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

As an intrapreneur, my winning strategy is to always share ideas with those around me. The feedback they give helps me refine my ideas.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I have had many, but one I remember most was a consultancy firm that I started with a friend. While the friendship worked, the business relationship was terrible and it failed. I simply absorbed the losses and moved on.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Honestly, I can’t pinpoint one. I would have implemented it already.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I spent $100 buying food supplies for several homeless families. They were so happy about having something to eat during these tough times and it melted my heart.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Slack a lot. It helps me in organizing work with my team. Lately, I have been using Zoom a lot too, and it is helping me avoid unnecessary contact.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I would recommend, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. I love it because I have successfully implemented its recommendations in my life.

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is play by the rules but be ferocious by Phil Knight. It’s a quote that is practical for anyone looking to rise to the top in the business world.

Key Learnings:

• Passion
• Hard work
• Teamwork