Kareem James’s best advice for anyone starting out in his industry is to “master the art of networking,” and he is certainly leading by example.
He was recruited for the management training programme at Butterfield while still at university, after attending their student networking reception at York University. This first position helped James establish an excellent foothold as well as an indispensable set of contacts, and he has not looked back since.
James is lucky to have a skill set and passion that allow him to do more than just an ordinary office job. In his role as an associate relationship manager for Butterfield, where he manages a book of LLCs, captives, corporate trusts and foundations, a typical week might include a corporate reception at an insurance conference, a client lunch or otherwise rubbing shoulders with influential people locally and abroad – all of which involves cultivating mutually beneficial relationships with current and prospective clients.
Though still cutting his teeth in the sales and business-development field, James is starting to become a respected face and name in the Bermuda market. He says his business mantra is “the bigger your Rolodex, the bigger your business.” The ambitious young professional’s ultimate goal is to see his early success develop into recognition in the global market.
James is taking advantage of all the opportunities that his role in client-relationship management affords to attend overseas conferences and develop new business, but he cannot help thinking of home when he is away. “I feel like an ambassador for Bermuda,” he explains. “I take every opportunity to not only discuss what my company has to offer, but I am continually preaching and advertising Bermuda’s qualities as a business jurisdiction, a tourist destination and a residential paradise.”
Timeline:
2005 Graduated from Warwick Academy
2009 Graduated from York University in Toronto with a bachelor of arts degree in public policy and management
2009 Employed with Butterfield Bank as a management trainee
2011 Promoted to associate relationship manager, corporate banking
2011 Recipient of Butterfield’s Service Leader Award for April 2011
Check out more of the 2013 Rising Stars, HERE!
