Read Elena's story
I was motivated to apply to HSBC specifically first of all because of the diversity and the cultural awareness the organisation has. Another important reason I have chosen HSBC is the corporate responsibility. HSBC partners with the WWF and an array of other charities, and I genuinely feel proud to work for an organisation such as HSBC which was the first FTSE 100 company to become carbon neutral in 2005
What has surprised me most about HSBC was how approachable and helpful everyone is in the organisation, and this goes up to the most senior level within the company. There's a great team spirit and a great culture and a sense of ownership. Whatever project you do, you have your own part which you have complete responsibility for and that is the best incentive you're going to get, believe me.
One of the latest transactions I was involved in was a high yield bond issuance for a client of ours. It was a longstanding HSBC relationship, however, during the financial crisis they realised they needed to diversify their financing structure, and they decided to issue a bond. It was a seven-year £250 million bond which was a great milestone for both HSBC and the company itself. I was really happy to get involved and was extremely pleased to see this from the start to the very end, and felt a sense of accomplishment that I did something quite important.
What the investment banking industry will look like five years from now, nobody knows. If you'd asked the question four or five years ago everybody would say it would be bigger and bolder and they'd all be wrong.
I believe the future of investment banking lies within emerging markets. By 2050 two thirds of the world's largest economies will be within emerging markets and we are already doing a lot more with our clients globally and their focus is shifting towards the developing economies. I believe HSBC is extremely well positioned for this because we have historically come from emerging markets. We have unique capabilities, unique expertise that we use, and the local knowledge. And also we provide our clients with unique connectivity solutions because they need to improve control over their finances globally. The bigger they get, the bigger the problem gets, and HSBC can provide them with tailor-made solutions that allow them to create more control and less expenses.
The best part of my job is probably the people I work with. My team is the best: they're really nice people and they're really willing to teach me and help whenever I need help, and they always offer me advice. This is true of everyone, even the very senior members of the team. When I first joined, I felt a little bit shy, but they encouraged me to come forward if I don't understand something, not to be afraid of it. So now I can really approach any member of our team, even the most senior ones, and ask a question. They are really happy to help. That's the brilliant thing about HSBC.
