Employee Stories

Anyu Liu-Ishikawa

My career journey

How have you got to where you are now in your career? Tell us about your career journey so far?

After studying Finance in the UK, I decided to move to Germany to seek a full-time job in the post-global financial crisis era. Given my Chinese background, it was natural to start with a Chinese company, especially since I did not speak a word in German. I began my career at a Chinese bank as a retail banking intern and then transitioned to clearing and settlement, focusing on payments. Subsequently, I moved into client-facing roles in Correspondent Banking and Corporate Banking, while learning the German language and earning the Chartered Financial Analyst charter.

With a decade of experience in Asian banks, I wanted to work in a more dynamic and international environment. This led me to join Standard Chartered in Frankfurt in 2024 as an Financial Institutions Coverage Banker for Investor clients. So far, my journey with Standard Chartered has been both exciting and rewarding.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?

Maintain and nurture your professional network, regardless of whether you remain within the same company or industry. You never know what opportunities or collaborations may come from these connections in the future.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced when working?

Becoming engrossed in daily tasks often diverts my attention from my long-term career aspirations. Therefore, it is crucial to set aside time each week to reflect and ensure I am on the right path toward achieving my goals. Additionally, I seek guidance from my People Leader or a career coach to stay aligned and receive valuable external support.

If you didn’t do the job you do now, what would be your other career choice?

I would have opened a dim-sum restaurant in the financial district serving only lunch hours.