- From Design to Banking: Adelaide Nettey’s Creative Journey Through UBA Ghana’s GMAP
When Adelaide Phoebi Nettey graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, she did not imagine that her passion for design would eventually lead her into banking.
Today, she is a Graphic Artist at UBA Ghana, having joined the bank through its Graduate Management Acceleration Programme, a platform designed to give young professionals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds the opportunity to learn, grow and build meaningful careers.
Her story forms part of UBA Ghana’s “My GMAP Journey” series, which highlights the experiences of young professionals who are being shaped by the programme.
For many graduates, the transition from school to work is often uncertain. Some struggle to find roles that match their interests. Others accept opportunities in fields they never originally considered. For Adelaide, GMAP became the bridge between creativity and corporate banking.
Before joining the programme, she admits that her understanding of banking was limited to what most customers see from the outside.
“To be honest, I thought banking was mainly about the people you see in the banking hall,” she said. “I had no idea how much work happens behind the scenes. The biggest surprise has been seeing how many different departments, teams and processes work together to keep everything running smoothly.”
That realisation changed her perception of the industry. Banking, she discovered, is not only about tellers, relationship officers and customers walking into branches. It is also about strategy, operations, technology, risk, compliance, communication, design, internal coordination and brand execution.
As a Graphic Artist, Adelaide’s role sits within that less visible but equally important space. Her work supports how the bank communicates visually, presents its brand and connects with customers and stakeholders.
Before GMAP, Adelaide had worked as an outsourced staff member. But the programme gave her a deeper sense of belonging and showed her that she could grow beyond the limits she had placed on herself.
“The programme taught me to embrace opportunities when they come and showed me that I am capable of growing beyond my comfort zone,” she said.
That growth did not come without challenges. One of her toughest moments was learning alongside colleagues from different African countries. The diversity of the programme gave participants a wider continental experience, but it also came with communication barriers.
“Communication wasn’t always easy because many discussions required translation, but there wasn’t always enough time for that,” she said.
There were also technical challenges, including difficulties with the exam browser. But Adelaide says she was able to overcome those moments through teamwork and support from her Ghanaian colleagues.
“We prepared together, encouraged one another, and kept reminding ourselves why we started,” she noted.
Her experience also corrected another common misconception about banking: that back-office roles are less demanding because they do not involve direct customer interaction.
“Personally, I think a lot of people assume that if you work in the back office, your job isn’t very busy or demanding because you’re not dealing directly with customers. That’s far from the truth,” she said. “There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes, and it requires you to multitask, collaborate with others, solve problems quickly, and deliver quality work within tight deadlines.”
For Adelaide, the most important skill she has gained is adaptability. While school gave her the technical foundation for design, the workplace has taught her how to adjust quickly, learn across functions and support other parts of the team when needed.
“I’ve also learned how valuable it is to understand different parts of the team’s work so I can step in and help when needed,” she said. “I developed these skills by being willing to learn, observing my colleagues, asking questions, and taking on new responsibilities whenever the opportunity came.”
The experience has also changed how she sees her career. What began as an unexpected move into banking has become a confidence-building journey.
“This experience has shown me that I can achieve more than I ever thought was possible,” Adelaide said. “It has taught me that with dedication, hard work, and a willingness to learn, I can succeed in banking or any career path I choose to pursue.”
Her advice to young graduates considering GMAP is simple: keep an open mind.
“Come with an open mind and be ready to learn. The programme is challenging, but every experience helps you grow,” she said. “Also, don’t let your academic background limit you. Be willing to learn, adapt, and take on new opportunities.”
Adelaide also remembers the emotional significance of receiving her first salary. For her, it was not only about money, but confirmation that effort, discipline and persistence can produce results.
“Receiving my first salary felt unreal because… I mean wow,” she recalled. “It reminded me of the fact that hard work pays off and that motivated me to keep giving my best.”
Although she cannot remember the first item she bought for herself, she clearly remembers setting aside her tithe as a gesture of gratitude to God.
Beyond the title and salary, Adelaide says GMAP has helped her grow both personally and professionally. It has built her confidence, expanded her knowledge and strengthened her willingness to embrace new challenges.
She is also clear about whether she would recommend UBA Ghana as an employer of choice.
“Absolutely. I would recommend UBA any day because it provides great opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge yourself,” she said. “The work environment is supportive, the people are always willing to help, and you’re encouraged to think on your feet and develop new skills.”
Adelaide’s journey reinforces one of the strongest messages of UBA Ghana’s GMAP: talent does not come in only one form. A bank needs economists, accountants and relationship managers, but it also needs creatives, communicators, designers, technologists and problem-solvers.
By investing in young professionals from diverse backgrounds, UBA Ghana is creating a pathway for graduates to discover new strengths, build confidence and find their place in a changing financial services industry.
For Adelaide Phoebi Nettey, that place is at the intersection of creativity and banking.
