It was a scene of warmth, elegance, and utmost honesty at Prudential Bank Limited’s Head Office as the Bank’s female staff gathered to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).

Far from a stiff corporate ritual, the event was set up as a serene "girls' tea session," complete with a beautifully arranged space, all purple showing in dress and decor, a hearty breakfast, and lunch.

However, the real nourishment came from the conversation, as three formidable women took the stage in a panel discussion to dissect the perennial struggles of "Work-Life Balance and Office Romance" in the high-pressure world of banking.

Head of Human Resources, Lilian Antwiwaa Asante; Unit Head for Branch & Channel Monitoring, Nancy Evelyn Korkor Oheneba-Dornyo; and Branch Manager at the Ring Road Central Branch Elsie Kumordzi took turns to share thoughts and personal experiences on the topic.

The central theme of the morning was quickly established: "balance" might be a myth. Lilian Antwiwaa Asante challenged the very definition of the topic. "You can't balance," she stated bluntly, drawing a parallel to a busy morning taking care of the house and ensuring that you are at work on time to prepare for tasks. "Home comes to work, work comes to home."

Lilian argued that the pursuit of perfect equilibrium is futile. Rather women should focus on achieving a level that brings equity.

Echoing this sentiment, Elsie Kumordzi shared her journey from a relaxed working environment in her earlier career to the intense to the intense working world.

She painted a vivid picture of the strain it placed on her early relationship. Her conclusion was that survival requires being "intentional" about carving out 'me time' amidst the chaos.

Nancy offered a compelling reframe, suggesting "Work-Life Integration" as a more accurate term than balance.

She illustrated that perfection is unattainable: "In life, there's no perfection anywhere," urging the audience to prioritize well-being and self-care to avoid a complete breakdown.

When the conversation turned to office romance, the panel shifted from theory to lived experiences, offering insights on how to nurture a relationship while managing a demanding career.

The discussion deepened as the panel explored the foundation of any successful workplace relationship: self-awareness. The speakers agreed that before entering an office romance, a woman must know what she wants and stand firm in her values.

The consensus was that while the heart wants what it wants, a successful office romance requires both partners to respect each other's professional obligations and personal boundaries, ensuring that ambition and affection can coexist without compromise.

The event was put together by the Bank’s Human Resources Department to create a platform for senior female staff to encourage younger colleagues to have self-belief, and to arm them with tools to excel in their endeavours both within the Bank and beyond.