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ABOUT IVANA
Ivana Lonjak Dam is the Chief Risk Officer at UniCredit Bank Hungary, with a career spanning over two decades in the banking industry. She holds an economics degree and an MBA from Zagreb, Croatia. Ivana joined UniCredit in 2004 and has held various expert positions in Business and Risk Management. Her journey took her from a small countryside branch to international executive roles in Vienna and Milan. In 2020, Ivana was appointed Chief Risk Officer, leading her team through multiple global crises. She is committed to lifelong learning and is currently pursuing an Executive Master in Change Programme at INSEAD. Ivana’s leadership is characterized by resilience, authenticity, and a deep commitment to empowering others.
BECOMING IS BETTER THAN BEING. MY PERSONAL GROWTH JOURNEY IS BASED ON CONTINUOUS LEARNING, PUSHING MYSELF OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE, AND EXCELLING IN MY WORK.
Ivana Lonjak Dam
IVANA IN A NUTSHELL
Chief Risk Officer
UniCredit Bank Hungary
area of expertise
Finance / Banking / Investment / Accounting Croatia 🇭🇷
companies Ivana has worked for
IVANA AS A LEADER
Ivana’s leadership philosophy emphasizes self-awareness, continuous learning, and balancing empathy with decisiveness. She believes in the importance of living a well-balanced life with a sense of purpose, encouraging her team to focus on personal growth and professional development. Ivana is committed to fostering an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning and growth.
Leadership is not about leaders.
Great leaders engage in act of caring, inspiring, supporting people towards transformation or stability, providing direction, protection and purpose.
The future of leadership is moving towards "what if" we could find a solution together, where both leaders and followers develop.
When I think of a leader, I think of the pursuit for truth and courage to be oneself.
THE BEST MEASURE OF PERSONAL SUCCESS IS LIVING A WELL-BALANCED LIFE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE.
Ivana Lonjak Dam
IVANA ON BALANCING FEMININE AND MASCULINE LEADERSHIP TRAITS
Ivana’s biggest challenge has been balancing feminine and masculine leadership traits, especially in an industry where being direct can be misinterpreted as aggression. She tackles this by embracing authenticity and encouraging her team to be curious and courageous. This balance allows her to navigate complex situations with clarity and strength, fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and grow.
IVANA ON SUPPORTING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
As a member of the DE&I Council of Group Risk Management, Ivana sponsors initiatives aimed at closing intergenerational gaps and supporting women through executive sponsorship. She mentors senior female managers and young, talented women, helping them develop adaptive leadership skills. Ivana’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in her efforts to inspire and empower women to aim higher and be more ambitious in their careers.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS BALANCING FEMININE AND MASCULINE FEATURES OF LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY BEING A WOMAN AND SOMETIMES BEING LABELED AS AGGRESSIVE OR INTIMIDATING. THIS CHALLENGE HAS GIVEN ME CLARITY AND AUTHENTICITY AS A LEADER, ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND TRY SOMETHING NEW.
Ivana on becoming a better leader
INTERVIEW
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