68TheBahamasInvestorEXECUTIVEFOCUSRisingfromhumblebeginningsinNassautohavingasuccessfulcareerinfinancialservicesthatspansnearlythreedecades,AntoinetteRussell,trustcentreheadandlocalmanagingdirectoratCreditSuisseTrustLtd,hasovercomeaseriesofchallengestogettowheresheistoday."Icamefromasingle-parentfamilyandgraduatedfromhighschoolattheageof15.Forpersonslikeme,collegewasn'tnecessarilyanoption,"sheexplains."IrealizedatquiteayoungagethatifIwasgoingtoachievegreaterthings,Ihadtodoitformyself."Thatprocessbegansome30yearsagowhenRussellgotajobasasecretarywithSFEBankandTrust,asmallFrenchbankthathadapresenceintheoffshorejurisdictionatthattime.Admittedly,saysRussell,thechoiceofindustrywasentirelybychance."IactuallythoughtIwoulddosomethinginthetourismindustry,butonceIbecameexposedtotheexcitingworldoffinancialservices,itjustfeltveryrightforme.Ithenhadtodecidewhatsectoroftheindustrysuitedmebest.Ifoundtheideaofassistingpersonstoplanfortheirfutureandorganizetheirpersonalaffairsveryexciting.Therefore,trustservicesseemedanaturalfit."Theoffshorefinancialenvironmentintheearly1980swasfairlyelitist,however,anditwasatoughindustrytoexcelin,AntoinetteRussell,thefirstwoman,firstBahamiantobetrustcentreheadatCreditSuissebelievessuccessisallabouthavingtherightattitudeBySteveCotterillThepowerofpositivethinking