I joined the Standard Chartered Bank, Mumbai, in 2001 as a member of the India Finance team. I have held myriad finance roles in diverse markets, such as India and Singapore, covering Financial Control, Global Markets, Wealth Management and Private Banking. My career includes roles in Performance Management, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Financial Controls, Systems Implementation, Due Diligence and Integration.

Standard Chartered is committed to developing talent; it provides employees with many career opportunities and challenging assignments around the world. When I joined the Private Bank in 2006, it was essentially just a concept: Build a great business. I saw the role as an opportunity to broaden my experience, assume greater responsibility and contribute actively to the success of the Bank.

The Private Bank team is committed, hard working, energetic and young at heart. Mine was a steep learning curve, but it has been an amazing journey with memorable milestones, such as developing the Private Bank model, launching it in numerous markets and the integration process.

Standard Chartered is committed to training and talent development. I have had the opportunity to grow in my role, and have earned a number of professional qualifications. People are the ‘life blood’ of the business and Standard Chartered Bank recognises this. You are not just a number in an office. The Bank is alive with career opportunities, and you are encouraged to develop as an individual.

Be open to new ideas and do not look for roles within an immediate vicinity. Breach your comfort zone. Find a mentor who understands the Bank and understands you; a mentor can guide you towards making the choices that best suit your skills. Also, once you are in a new role give it 100%. Success will be gradual so do not expect to shine overnight.

The future is exciting and full of challenges. We are poised to achieve our growth aspirations and we continue to be recognised as one of the best private banks around.