"The Bank is keen to ensure employees are in the right roles for them to truly excel."
Lina OSMAN
Associate,
Structured Trade Finance
What is your background?
I am a Lebanese, but was born and grew up in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. I graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Accounting and Finance and a minor in Economics. I joined Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai in September 2006 as an International Graduate.
Why did you join Standard Chartered?
I chose Standard Chartered for many reasons. I wanted to start a career in the banking industry, and the International Graduate Program at SCB was a great place to commence and build a solid foundation. This program, with its opportunities for postings in different business units and countries, demonstrates that the Bank is willing to invest in my growth. It has also been encouraging to know that the Bank believes in my abilities to become a leader in the future.
How is your career so far in the Bank?
So far, I have just completed a few rounds of developmental job rotations. I started in Dubai, where I worked in Origination & Client Coverage and Market Risk. Currently, I am in Singapore on a short-term assignment for a few months with the Group Wholesale Bank, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Office. In October 2008, I will start my next role as an Associate with the Structured Trade Finance team in London.
What does your current role entail?
Currently, as an Associate in the Group WB COO Office, I work on various operational risk projects, which include key risk operational controls, enhancing communication procedures, and ensuring certain documentations are maintained. In my upcoming role as an Associate in Structured Trade Finance, my role will entail supporting the team of originators in delivering Structured Trade Finance transactions to corporate and financial institution customers in Africa and in meeting their profitability targets. This will include sourcing and structuring transactions, drafting credit applications and annual reviews, and providing additional support through research, analysis and modelling as required.
What do you like about your job?
What I like the most about my job is being given the opportunity to work in different countries. Moreover, I get to work closely with people from different cultures and different backgrounds, in addition to the constant interactions with Senior Management. This gives me exposure to a wide base of expertise, and the amount of information you can gain through this exposure is overwhelming! I also enjoy the fact that colleagues and seniors are very approachable, and everyone is willing to help you out and explain things when you need them.
What is it like to work at Standard Chartered?
Working at Standard Chartered is all about team work. You need to have good communication skills and cultural awareness, as diversity is one of the Bank's strengths. You get a lot of support from various sources across the Bank and the network, which makes it a very friendly environment. Moreover, there is so much flexibility in moving around in order to build on your strengths. The Bank is keen to ensure employees are in the right roles for them to truly excel.