The Soul of Banking

When I was growing up, my aspirations did not revolve around the finance industry. At different points in time, I wanted to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a teacher. Life sometimes takes us to places we had never imagined. Little did I know that I would be a banker one day. After reading Economics and Philosophy at the National University of Singapore, I was drawn to a career in banking, as Singapore was an emerging financial hub in the 1990s and the industry was becoming a vibrant and attractive sector.

Like many of my peers who wanted a foot in the door, I applied and was fortunately selected to be a management trainee in Standard Chartered Bank. I spent the next 22 years in various roles that spanned corporate banking, trade finance, technology, and operations. I also had the privilege of working in and travelling across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe before joining DBS in 2016. At every step of my journey, I often asked myself—What is my purpose in banking?