48-year-old Kiko Davis is the majority stockholder of Detroit-based First Independence Bank, one of the top 10 largest Black-owned banks in the United States. This makes her the only Black woman in the country with a bank.

During an interview with Rolling Out, she said that what makes her unique as an African American female leader is her ability to connect with people and inspire a culture of synergy genuinely. “It’s a God-given talent that comes naturally,” she said. “People tend to lend the very best of themselves when they feel leaders are passionate about them and their environment.”

Her inspiration

Kiko says she is greatly inspired by Shirley Chisolm, the first Black congresswoman and major-party Black candidate to run for president in 1972. Her favourite quote by Chisolm is, “In the end, anti-Black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing: anti-humanism.”

She is also inspired by her late husband, Donald Davis. After his untimely death, she created a foundation in his name to perpetuate his legacy-building efforts and initiatives that he envisioned and developed.

How to win

Kiko says that taking risks is very important if you want to become successful. “Without risk,” she says, “there can be no reward… Your mistakes will bring invaluable knowledge that will ultimately become your strategy for winning.”

She also strongly believes in maintaining a positive attitude and attributes her success to prayer, eating healthy, and exercising.