FirstBank believes there’s unity in diversity. In February, we observe Black History Month by recognizing and celebrating some of FirstBank’s strongest Black and African-American leaders.

Today, we’re featuring South Jefferson Vice President Lolita Dukundane.

Hometown: Bujumbura, Burundi

Years at FirstBank: 5 years

Other positions held with organizations/boards:

Young Professionals Advisory Board Member at the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

In 3 to 4 sentences, describe your experience in getting to where you are today.

I was born and raised in Bujumbura, Burundi. At age 18, I went to Angers, France for my undergraduate degree. I went back home to Burundi and worked for one year as a Community Manager for IWACU, a renowned newspaper in Burundi. I came to Colorado in January 2015 to pursue my Master’s in Finance and Risk Management at the University of Colorado Denver. I started working at FirstBank in March 2018 right after I graduated from UC Denver.

I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to work at FirstBank. I have learned so much.

What gets you motivated to come to work and do your best?

I love helping people. Knowing that I get to come to work and help people become financially successful motivates me to do my best every day.

How has “banking for good” impacted your life and your career?

Banking for good has impacted all the choices and decisions that I make in my life and my career. I always think about the good I am doing for our customers, community and employees. I apply the same principle in my personal life.

Given that we’re FirstBank, what is the first piece of advice you would give someone on their first day at FirstBank?

Be authentic to who you are and get to know your coworkers. We spend so much time at work and we have to enjoy the time we spend at work and what we do.

Considering February is Black History Month, which historical figure(s) would you most like to meet and why?

• Thomas Sankara for his Pan-Africanism.
• Melchior Ndadaye because he fought for the democracy in Burundi. He was the first democratically-elected president of Burundi, taking office in 1993.
• Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr for the causes they were fighting for in their respective countries, South Africa and USA.

Nelson Mandela became the first post-apartheid President of South Africa in 1994, after spending 27 years as a political prisoner.

Want to learn more about FirstBank’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity efforts? Visit our About Us page.

Check out the rest of our Smart Cents blog content for financial health tips and more community stories just like this one.

“This page may contain links to external websites. These links are displayed for your convenience. FirstBank does not manage these sites and assumes no responsibility for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy.”