Cambodia Leadership Review
Romny Theam is Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer, Regional Manager at ABA Bank, Cambodia’s leading commercial bank. She leads strategic engagement with government institutions, business associations, development partners, and other key stakeholders. With nearly two decades of experience in banking, finance, digital transformation, and business development, she has actively supported initiatives for SMEs, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and the digital economy.
A Fulbright Scholar, Romny holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Akron, USA. She is actively involved in Cambodia’s business and professional community through leadership and board roles with business associations and youth and entrepreneurship organizations, with a strong commitment to supporting women’s leadership and Cambodia’s economic development.
Your Leadership Journey
CLR: Looking back on your career, what inspired you to pursue a career in banking and communications, and what have been some of the defining moments that led you to become Chief External Affairs Officer at ABA Bank?
When I look back on my career, what first drew me to banking was my interest in finance and business, and the broader role banking plays in an economy. Banking is closely connected to how businesses grow, how people access opportunities, and how capital is mobilized. In a developing economy like Cambodia, I saw banking as more than a financial service – it is part of the foundation that supports economic growth and helps create opportunities for people and communities.
When I started my banking career more than 16 years ago, I focused on learning, delivering results, and serving customers. As Cambodia’s banking sector evolved and digital transformation accelerated, I embraced opportunities to adapt, innovate, and take on broader responsibilities. These experiences gave me not only a deeper understanding of banking, but also a broader perspective on the economic and business environment in which banks operate.
A defining stage of my career was seeing firsthand how the impact of banking can be multiplied through strong relationships and strategic partnerships beyond the bank itself. As my responsibilities expanded to Chief External Affairs Officer, I now work closely with government institutions, businesses, industry associations, development partners, and the broader community. I became increasingly involved in building relationships, understanding different perspectives and policy priorities, and working with stakeholders around areas of shared interest. I saw how meaningful collaboration can extend what a bank can achieve on its own. This journey ultimately shaped my role as Chief External Affairs Officer at ABA Bank. Today, my work goes beyond representing the bank. It is about strengthening strategic partnerships and connecting ABA’s capabilities with opportunities that can create value for our customers, our partners, and the wider economy.
As a woman, I am also inspired by how much the landscape has evolved. More women are stepping forward with confidence to lead, influence decisions, and contribute to important conversations. For me, progress is not simply about having more women at the table; it is about having women whose voices help shape agendas, influence decisions, and create meaningful change. What continues to inspire me is the opportunity to bring together my experience in banking, communication, and external affairs to contribute to something bigger than the organization I represent – to create opportunities, build connections, and contribute, in my own way, to Cambodia’s continued development.
Growing as a Woman Leader
CLR: Every successful career comes with challenges. As a woman in one of Cambodia’s leading financial institutions, what lessons have shaped your leadership style, and how have those experiences helped you grow both professionally and personally?
My career has allowed me to see banking from both the frontline and a broader strategic perspective. As a Branch Manager, I saw firsthand how access to financial services could help families plan their future and entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Today, from a broader leadership perspective, I also see how a strong banking sector can contribute to Cambodia’s economic development.
These experiences have shaped the way I lead. I have learned that effective leadership starts with understanding people – their needs, their challenges, and what motivates them. It has taught me to listen before making decisions, stay grounded in the realities of the people and businesses we serve, and bring different perspectives together to find practical solutions. As my responsibilities have grown, I have also learned that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about helping and empowering others, creating clarity and having the courage to make decisions when they matter.
My journey has made me more resilient, more confident, and more comfortable stepping outside my own area of expertise. Working across different parts of the banking and business ecosystem has taught me to adapt, stay open to different perspectives, and, above all, keep learning. Professionally, it has broadened my view of what leadership can achieve – not only within an organization, but through collaboration and influence beyond it.
As a woman, I have also learned that leadership does not require changing who you are. For me, it is about having the confidence to bring my own perspective, while being open enough to learn from others. I have become more intentional about using my voice, taking on difficult conversations, and creating space for others to grow.
One belief has remained constant throughout my career – banking is ultimately about creating opportunities. For women entrepreneurs especially, access to finance can be transformative – not only enabling them to grow businesses and build financial independence but also creating opportunities for their families and communities. That belief continues to shape who I am as a leader and the impact I want to make.
Empowering Women Through Banking
CLR: Throughout your career at ABA Bank, you’ve seen how access to financial services can transform lives. From your perspective, how can banks play a greater role in empowering Cambodian women—whether through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or creating more opportunities for women to succeed in business?
Throughout my career, I have seen how access to financial services can change the trajectory of individuals, families, and businesses. For women, I believe that opportunity can be particularly transformative, not simply because access to finance helps them grow a business, but because it can build confidence, financial independence, and the ability to make decisions about their future.
Banks can play a greater role by looking beyond lending alone. We can help women build the financial knowledge and confidence to manage their businesses, understand financing options, adopt digital tools, and make informed financial decisions. Financial literacy and digital literacy are therefore just as important as access to capital.[IZ1.1]
I also believe that uplifting women through banking means creating pathways for them to move from informal to formal businesses, from small businesses to growing enterprises, and ultimately to stronger, more sustainable businesses. When women have the financial capability and confidence to grow, they create jobs, support their families, and contribute to their communities and the wider economy.
At ABA, we see financial inclusion as more than simply increasing access. It is about building confidence, capability, and trust that allow people to use financial services effectively. For women, this means not only opening the door to finance, but also giving them the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to walk through that door and grow.
Ultimately, empowering women through banking is about giving them more than capital. It is about helping them build the capability and confidence to turn financial access into opportunity and turning individual opportunity into broader economic impact.
Leading with Purpose
CLR: Your role brings together corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact. How do you hope your work at ABA Bank contributes not only to the organisation’s success but also to inspiring more women to pursue leadership careers in Cambodia?
People often associate external affairs with communications, but for me, it is fundamentally about building trust, creating meaningful partnerships, and generating long-term value. My responsibility is to help ABA Bank navigate and contribute to the wider ecosystem – working with government, regulators, industry partners, the business community, and society in ways that support the bank’s success while also contributing to the development of Cambodia’s financial and business environment.
For the organization, I believe my role is to create value beyond individual transactions or engagements by strengthening ABA’s reputation, building strategic relationships, contributing constructively to policy dialogue, and identifying opportunities where collaboration can support financial inclusion, digital transformation, investment, and sustainable economic growth. My experience from the frontline, through branch and regional leadership, and now in external affairs allows me to connect what is happening on the ground with broader strategic and policy perspectives.
But I also see my role as carrying a responsibility beyond the organization itself. I want my journey to demonstrate that women can build strong careers, take on influential roles, and have a meaningful voice in areas that shape business and the economy. If my experience can give another woman the confidence to put herself forward, take on greater responsibility, or believe she belongs in the room where important decisions are made, then I believe that is an impact worth creating. I hope to do this not only by speaking about women’s leadership, but by creating opportunities for women around me through mentorship, sharing experiences, opening networks, giving them visibility, and encouraging them to take on challenges before they feel completely ready. Sometimes what women need is not another reminder that they are capable, but someone who believes in them, gives them an opportunity, and helps them see what is possible.
Ultimately, I measure my leadership not only by what I achieve for myself or ABA Bank, but by the people I help grow along the way. My legacy is not only what I deliver, but the leaders I develop. During my time leading the region, I had the opportunity to develop Branch Managers – both women and men and seeing them grow into confident leaders and take on greater responsibilities has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. It has reinforced my belief that leadership is about creating more leaders, not followers. As a woman leader, I hope to continue creating opportunities, sharing my experience, and encouraging more women to step forward.
Advice to the Next Generation
CLR: Many young Cambodian girls and women will read your story and see you as someone who has built a successful career through dedication and perseverance. What message would you like to share with them about believing in themselves, embracing opportunities, and becoming future leaders in their own communities?
If there is one lesson my journey has taught me, it is that leadership is rarely a straight path. I began my career in academia before moving into banking, later taking on regional leadership and eventually external affairs. Looking back, every stage taught me something different. At the time, I did not always realize how those experiences would prepare me for future opportunities, but together they shaped the leader I am today.
I would also encourage women to step out of their comfort zones and not wait until they feel completely ready before stepping forward. Some of the greatest growth comes from accepting responsibilities that feel challenging or unfamiliar. Every role, no matter how small it may seem, is an opportunity to build credibility, discipline, confidence, and resilience. And when opportunities come, dare to put your hand up.
Do not define success by titles alone. Leadership is built through integrity, hard work, the value you create, and the trust you earn from the people around you. Find people who can guide and challenge you, learn from those who have walked the path before you, and when you grow into a position of influence, remember to bring others with you. I have learned this through my own experience of developing both women and men into stronger leaders.
Most importantly, I encourage young women to use their talents and opportunities to create value beyond themselves. Get involved in your communities, support causes you believe in and find ways – big or small – to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We each have an opportunity to shape not only our own future, but also the future of those who come after us. Together, we can contribute to building a stronger, more prosperous Cambodia.
The true measure of leadership is not what we achieve for ourselves, but the positive impact we leave on others.
If I could leave young Cambodian women with one message, it would be this: believe in your own potential, be willing to step forward before you feel completely ready and never underestimate the impact you can have. Build your own path with courage and integrity, and when you reach the next level, help another woman rise with you.
