Esnat Chilije Suleman’s latest recognition as one of the women in influential decision-making roles in Malawi’s investment industry is a milestone built over nearly two decades.
Recognised by the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) Society in 2026, her career has taken her from a trainee economist to the leadership of a bank operating beyond Malawi’s borders.
CFA is a global not-for-profit organisation that provides finance education for investment professionals.
But behind Esnat’s recognition is a journey shaped by education, discipline, perseverance and a determination to keep growing.
The FDH Bank Mozambique SA managing director entered the financial sector in 2008 as a trainee economist at Continental Discount House, now CDH Investment Bank.
Since then, Esnat has worked across banking, investment management, corporate finance and capital markets, holding senior positions at Nico Asset Managers, the Malawi Stock Exchange and FDH Bank.
The foundations for that career were laid much earlier.
She is the fifth of seven children in a family where her father worked for the Malawi Police while her mother managed the home.
The family went through periods of plenty as well as times when resources were limited. But Esnat’s parents never compromised on education.
“I recall my father always telling us to work hard in school and that it was the only thing that would open doors for us. He constantly told me that anything I wanted to have in life, I would be able to afford if I had a good education and a good source of income,” she said.
Because of the nature of her father’s job, Esnat attended six different schools before completing secondary education.
In 2002, she became one of the first two students from Nkhamenya Private Secondary School to be selected to University of Malawi (Unima), formerly Chancellor College.
For Esnat, the achievement was validation that the discipline demanded by her parents could change her circumstances.
“When I saw friends that came from wealthier homes, I was not envious, but motivated to work even harder,” she said.
At Unima, she studied for a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, majoring in economics.
She said her economics class was highly competitive and had only two female students.
But Esnat says working in a male-dominated profession never felt particularly unusual to her.
“To be honest, it feels normal. It is what I have become accustomed to,” she said.
“I learnt very early to associate with the opposite gender as peers.”
Her interest in finance was sparked during her third year at university when Continental Discount House recognised her as one of three outstanding economics students.
After completing her degree in 2007, Esnat joined the institution in February 2008 as a trainee economist.
It was there that she began learning about the financial sector, money markets and was introduced to the CFA programme by a colleague.
The CFA qualification would test the discipline she had developed growing up.
“There were no classes to attend, no lecturers or tutors to clarify points, no classmates to hold discussions with,” she said.
“All I had to succeed were books shipped to me all the way from the USA, the limited time on my hands and the philosophy I had been raised with.”
In 2015, she became one of eight CFA charterholders in Malawi at the time. Three people qualified that year, including two women who became the first female CFA charterholders.
By then, her career had already taken her to Nico Asset Managers, where she rose from investment officer to senior investment officer responsible for portfolio management.
Esnat later spearheaded the establishment of the company’s corporate finance department, where she worked on group projects, corporate advisory services and asset structuring.
Later, the same year, she joined the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) as operations manager.
She also served as the MSE project manager during implementation of the automated trading system and championed the establishment of the exchange’s annual newsletter.
In 2019, Esnat joined FDH Bank as senior manager for Treasury and Trade Finance.
Two years later, she was promoted to head of treasury and investment banking, with responsibilities covering liquidity management, asset and liability management, fixed-income investments, custodial services and investment banking.
In March 2026, she became Managing Director of FDH Bank Mozambique, responsible for the bank’s strategic direction, governance, business operations, risk management, compliance and overall leadership.
“Working in Malawi and recently in Mozambique has further broadened my perspective. It has allowed me to appreciate both the complexity of emerging markets and the need for strong and customised strategies to deliver positive results and attain growth,” she added.
Her career has brought other recognitions.
In 2024, Wealth Magazine named her among its 100 Inspiring Women in Malawi.
In 2025, the Pan African Learning and Growth Network recognised her as a Woman of Substance in the financial markets segment.
The 2026, CFA Society recognition has now added another marker to that journey.
For Esnat, however, recognition is most meaningful when it reflects a deeper commitment to her profession.
Away from the financial sector, she is a wife and mother of four.
Esnat says family, faith, personal development and the pursuit of balance remain central to her life.
“Meaningful success is multidimensional: it is measured not only by what one achieves, but also by the values one upholds and the people one positively influences along the way,” she said.
She also credits mentors who challenged, inspired and encouraged her to reach beyond her capabilities.
That experience has shaped her interest in mentoring young people.
Esnat said she occasionally makes presentations to businesses, professional bodies and individuals on financial markets and products, savings and investment, personal financial management, career development and corporate finance.
Her ambitions now extend beyond personal achievement.
“I believe Africa’s financial future will depend increasingly on professionals who combine technical competence with ethical leadership, regional understanding and a genuine commitment to sustainable economic progress,” she said.
“I hope to be part of that generation of professionals who can help strengthen financial institutions, develop markets and create greater opportunities for individuals and businesses across the continent.”
She describes her story simply as “one of intentional growth”.
From building expertise in banking to embracing the intellectual demands of the CFA journey, Esnat continues to challenge HERself and learn more, contribute more and aspire higher.
