Dovilė Grigienė

CEO of Swedbank Lithuania

Photo credits: Greta Skaraitienė

It doesn’t matter if people around you do not support you. If you believe in something, just go ahead and do it.

Dovilė Grigienė

My work helps me reach self-actualization. It is a big part of my life, and without it I would not be able to achieve what I have in terms of contributing to society.

My business philosophy is very simple. First, in any given situation, try to do the best you can with the resources you have. Second, treat everyone the same way you wish to be treated. It’s not just a business philosophy; it’s a way of life.

I have an active and determined personality and would go so far as to say I’m a workaholic. In my family, our values rest in our work – our work and what we can accomplish through it.

I frequently travel and meet new people. The experience of working with and for people from various backgrounds gives me a lot of joy.

I am usually successful at my endeavors. However, what most people do not know is that I only strive to accomplish goals in which I truly believe. After consciously turning away from projects for which I feel an initial doubt, I can then focus my energy on only a select group of chosen projects.

People often ask me how I built my career, and I am not shy to share my story. I always advise and share personal views on how to challenge yourself and achieve more. However, in our society we still have gender gaps on the level of CEOs and board members, and I dedicate my personal time to closing this gap. This is a concrete way to build a better society.

Nothing happens without determination, and nothing can go forward without it. It is the only way.

Influence is very often undervalued. I believe every individual has more influence than he or she thinks. A person’s strongly-stated opinion inspires others to make this world a better place and influences how the society is built. However, the organizations and societies we build have more power than any individual. Therefore, organizations have the responsibility of motivating the individuals within.

Being the CEO of a bank, I always try to stress the importance of education and fiscal responsibility.

I believe that large organizations could do so much more to make a positive impact on society. Swedbank, for example, has instituted a summer program that supports the volunteering efforts of its staff.

The most undervalued aspect of life is interpersonal relationships. In our busy lives we tend to forget the importance of those closest to us, but our happiness is greatly dependent upon the strength of these relationships.

I pay no mind to the way people look.

The last 26 years of independence have been a huge success story. The struggle for independence and the milestones we, as a country, have managed to achieve to get to where we are right now make me a very proud citizen of this nation.

I am a believer, and I do not even allow myself to think otherwise. I think this type of belief serves a great value. If you have the fortitude to go the extra mile, there are no glass ceilings you cannot shatter or goals you cannot conquer.

Twelve years spent abroad taught me tolerance and patience. They also broadened my way of thinking and developed my personality. Those years were priceless, and I would encourage everyone to go through such an experience and then bring the accumulated knowledge back to our homeland.

Experience is a gift. The more experience you gain, the wider your way of thinking becomes. Even negative experiences prove to be valuable and necessary; though the disappointment might be hard to swallow in the beginning, it hones your way of thinking and gives you and advantage in the future.

Everyone has the right to be whoever they want to be and to pursue their dreams.

My family always comes first. A good environment at home matters a great deal, and fostering my own home naturally makes my life better.

I am convinced that Lithuania is on the right path. Young people should seize the opportunity to follow its current trajectory and take more initiative in politics and reforms. They are the ones who will lead Lithuania to an even higher ground, and that is why we need to invest more in our youth.

I would like to see a continuous improvement in our society.

It doesn’t matter if people around you do not support you. If you believe in something, just go ahead and do it.

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