Women in Finance: Standard Chartered Corporate Visit 2025

BizCare had the incredible opportunity to host an exclusive Women in Finance corporate visit at Standard Chartered, where students engaged with inspiring women leaders shaping the financial industry. This event provided a unique platform to gain insights into the evolving role of women in finance, leadership pathways, and career opportunities within the bank. The visit featured a presentation on Standard Chartered’s business, an office tour, and a career growth panel, where attendees engaged with professionals to gain industry insights and key skills.

Introduction to Standard Chartered

Jacelyn, from Standard Chartered Recruitment Team, provided an overview of Standard Chartered’s global operations, emphasising its international presence and flexible work culture. With over 50% of its employees working remotely, Standard Chartered stands out in the banking industry for its flexibility. She highlighted how this flexibility contributes to employee satisfaction and retention, with many former employees returning to the bank.

She also emphasised Standard Chartered’s core purpose: to drive commerce and prosperity through diversity, along with its three core valued behaviours that are crucial for interviews: do the right thing, never settle, and be better together.

Moreover, she explained that Standard Chartered operates across three main divisions: Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth and Retail Banking, and SC Ventures, which includes initiatives like TrustBank, a collaboration with FairPrice Group.

Jacelyn also introduced the bank’s early career opportunities, such as the Summer Internship Programme, a 10–12 week experience that provides hands-on projects, networking, and mentorship, increasing the chances of securing a place in the Graduate Programme. This 18-month Graduate programme offers in-depth exposure by allowing participants to stay within one team and role while developing expertise, with the flexibility to explore different career paths afterwards. She stressed the importance of applying early, as applications open in September and are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Panel Discussion: Owning Your Career Journey

Moving on, we were privileged to have a dynamic panel discussion featuring accomplished women leaders at Standard Chartered: Jennifer Doherty (Managing Director, Head of Business Change & Enablement, Transaction Banking), Arlene Gan (Global Head, Implementations, Transaction Banking), and Winny Wong (Executive Director, Head Corporate Sales Singapore & ASEAN Corporate CES Head). They shared their experiences navigating careers in finance, breaking barriers in male-dominated fields, and shaping the future of banking.

The panellists highlighted the importance of embracing challenges and staying adaptable, with Winny emphasizing that struggles are essential for growth and professionals must continuously learn to keep pace with AI developments and financial trends. Jennifer and Arlene spoke about the value of building a personal brand, advocating for oneself, and fostering workplace connections to support career progression. The discussion also underscored the power of networking and mentorship, with Winny encouraging young professionals to seek meaningful connections, engage in coffee chats, and leverage networking opportunities for career advancement.

Sharing personal experiences, Arlene recounted taking a career break due to a family emergency and the resilience required to return, while Jennifer reflected on leaving her job during a financial crisis without a backup plan—an initially daunting decision that ultimately proved to be the best of her career. Winny advised setting personal challenges each year, whether by taking on a new project, expanding responsibilities, or deepening expertise in an unfamiliar area. They all agreed that taking on challenges drives growth and is essential for long-term career success, pushing individuals to develop new skills, embrace change, and seize opportunities.

Office Tour

Attendees explored Standard Chartered’s office space, which embraces a hot-desking system. Unlike traditional banks, Standard Chartered provides employees with the flexibility to book desks as needed, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment. The bank’s strong emphasis on work-life balance stood out as a key factor in attracting and retaining female talent in the financial sector.

Final Reflections on the Visit

The Standard Chartered Corporate Visit provided an invaluable opportunity to understand the bank’s dynamic work culture, early career programs, and industry insights from inspiring women leaders. Attendees walked away with essential lessons on professional development and career planning, including:

• Flexibility and Adaptability: Standard Chartered’s work culture prioritises work-life balance, which is rare in the banking sector.

• Continuous Learning and Growth: Staying updated on financial trends and AI developments provides a competitive edge and always seek to learn new things and take new opportunities. 

• The Power of Networking: Connections with industry professionals open doors to career advancement.

• Resilience in Career Challenges: Facing setbacks with a positive mindset and adaptability leads to long-term success.

  
  

A huge thank you to Standard Chartered and the speakers for their insightful sharing! 

Do give us a follow on our Instagram: @nusbizcare and LinkedIn: NUS Business Career Development to stay updated on future events!

Written by:

Jeun Minju

Strategic Content